Fancy Rose Lemonade. 

Gulf Shrimp. Uni. Clam Vinaigrette. Fennel. Saffron Mayonnaise.

Chilled Roasted Beets. Sheep’s Milk Ricotta. Red Vein Sorrel and Spiced Pecans.

Crab & Camembert Gratin. Lemon and Fines Herbes.

Cauliflower Soup. Fried oysters. Black Truffle.

Cheeseburger. Sharp Cheddar. Caramelized Onions. B&B pickles. Comeback Sauce. Hand Cut Fries.

Balise’s menu is very different from La Petite Grocery in that it has more small plates on the menu. First, we ordered the Gulf Shrimp, which attracted us since there was uni, clam vinaigrette, saffron mayonnaise, and fennel. Somehow, every component and flavor profile meshed together so well. It was refreshing and interesting at the same time.

For our veg, we ordered the Chilled Beet Salad with spiced pecans and ricotta. A touch of ricotta for richness and the spiced pecans added a ton of flavor. I wish I could make this stuff at home.

I ordered the Crab & Camembert Gratin, because I can’t turn anything crabmeat down! Camembert is a type of cheese, similar to brie. It was yummy! I took the bread and topped it off with some of the crab au gratin.

Next, was the Cauliflower Soup topped with a crispy, fried oyster showered in black truffles. DE. LISH. I sometimes wonder why they give you such small portions, but due to the law of diminishing returns, small delicious bites are meant to leave you yearning for more. I can still remember those few bites of soup…

Despite our fine dining tasting menu that we created,  I am always craving a burger. So we ordered the burger as our main entree. haha..It definitely hit the spot. What makes this burger is the juiciness and the sauce. They call it the Comeback Sauce. It tastes like a remoulade and a buttery aioli at the same time.

What a great meal! If you’re looking for a laid back bar with fine dining, then Balise is for you. It’s worth trying at least once, but keep it mind, it is fine dining so it may be a little on the pricier end. Our whole meal with alcoholic beverages was around $111, but we left completely satiated.

Rating: 4.5/5

The Atomic Burger. Fresh ground beef. Special A.B. sauce. American Cheese. Dressed.

When I have a stressful day at work, I get into my car and drive home thinking “burgerrrr…”. A coworker recommended Atomic Burger as her favorite fast food burger joint so I drove straight to it. The patty was really fresh…even fresher tasting than some local, restaurant burgers. This is a neater-eating burger and doesn’t cause much of a mess. Atomic Burger’s menu is a lot more simplified and sometimes you just don’t want to complicate a burger. Every now and then, I just want my beef patty on burger buns with a side of fries and in that case Atomic Burger has my vote!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

Mooyah Burger. Double meat. Swiss. Dressed. Fried Onions. Mushrooms.

Mooyah isn’t too far from Atomic Burger and is located right next to World of Beer, where they have probably THE widest selection of beer. Unfortunately, the burger joint itself doesn’t sell beer so I couldn’t enjoy a cold one while I ate my burger, but that’s okay. That’s what the bar next door is for! Anyways, back to my burger, there’s the option for a double patty burger and on this particular day, I definitely needed a double. I have to mention that the service at Mooyah is a little lacking. The cashier at the counter wasn’t helpful or friendly  at all. It wasn’t busy and there was only one person behind me. Regardless, the menu is easy to figure out. Mooyah also offers a variety of toppings. I ordered my classic swiss, fried onions, mushrooms burger. Everything was great, but I will say that the bottom bun is thicker and more pillowy than most burgers. The Mooyah Burger is a lot messier, but probably a result of adding a double patty and a multitude of toppings. I like the variety and options that Mooyah offers.

Rating: 3/5 spoons

So it comes down to, who has the better burger???

In this battle of the burger, Atomic Burger wins! Both burgers are great, but when it comes down to flavor and eatability, Atomic Burger’s patties are clearly fresher tasting and ergonomically pleasing.

Shake Stack. Cheeseburger with Shroom Burger all-in-one. Cheese fries.

ShakeMeister Dog. Shack cheddar and American Cheese Sauce. Crispy Shakemeister Ale Marinated Shallots.

I was initially confused when I bit into the Shake Stack and realized the first patty was a whole fried mushroom. It was juicy and lightly battered, but had such a great *crisp* in it’s bite. What makes a Shake Shack burger so delicious is their neat, yet hearty burger drenched in their Shake Shack cheddar and sauce. I ordered non-cheese fries thinking I wouldn’t miss out since cheese is just cheese…but boy was I wrong! I kept eating our friend’s cheese fries instead…

As for the hot dog, it was so good. I loved it’s smokiness and the marinated shallots on top. I debated on getting a Shakemeister burger instead, but my fiance and I decided to share a dog and burger instead to get a little variety. The shallots were so good…I could even eat those fried shallots if they offered it as a side.

Great service. Yummy burgers and hot dogs. Some of our friends did mention that the Shake Shack in NYC was more flavorful and juicy, but I believe it’s all subjective…Is it worth the hype? I’m not quite sure I’d travel far and wide for the burger, but I just might have to journey to NYC to try the original…

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Larkburger. 1/3 lb certified angus beef. Lettuce. Tomato. Onion. Pickle. House Sauce. Cheddar.

Truffle Burger.  1/3 lb certified angus beef. Lettuce. Tomato. Onion. Pickle. Truffle aioli

Truffle & Parmesan Fries. Hand cut fries. Grated Parmesan. Italian parsley. Truffle Oil.

The food is great and they’re all natural so that’s a plus! The burgers aren’t your big, hearty burger size, but they are perfect for lunch. I think I can handle two if I was really hungry, but I can eat a lot so order accordingly. The fries were delicious and had to be my favorite part with the perfect amount of salt, parmesan, and of course, truffle oil.

If you’re looking for a quick and tasty burger, Larkburger is where it’s at! I’d definitely return, especially for those fries! We were at the Northglenn location, but I’m sure their other restaurants are consistent. Enjoy!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons!

Sausage and Seafood Jambalaya. Tasso. Sausage. Shrimp. 

Deep Fried Frog Legs. Excellent when paired with Remoulade sauce. 

Thick Seasoned Onion Rings.  

Caesar Wrap with a touch of Hotboy Sauce. 

1/2 lb Burger with Hotboy Sauce. Steak fries. 

Last but not least…WINGS: (left to right) Hotboy, Chipotle BBQ, Sweet, Lemon Pepper

I’ve basically tried the whole menu and I have to say it deserves more than the “best fast food” title…Every menu item comes out fully garnished, steaming hot, and packed with authentic chef-made flavors. I LOVE that their specialty is wings, but even the burgers are delicious…probably one of the best burgers I’ve had! 

My favorites: Chipotle BBQ wings, Hotboy wings, onion rings, coleslaw, and ALL of the burgers

Local favorites: Jambalaya, Fried Gator Bites, and Fried Frog Legs w/ Remoulade sauce

If you haven’t tried them yet, I HIGHLY recommend this local wing joint. Not into wings? No worries, because I enjoy their non-wing items just as much..if not more! Tell them chefsgirl sent you ^_^ 

At the bar!

Double Cheeseburger and Fresh Cut Fries. 

I really enjoyed the burgers here…cooked perfectly. Juicy. Flavorful. Dressed with fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.  They don’t ask for a temp on the burger, but as you burger eaters out there know…medium is the way to go! But if for some reason you like it otherwise, I’m sure they’ll cook to your liking. The handcut fries were awesome…One order has enough to share between 2 people! They were crispy and had the perfect amount of salt for me. Loved it! 

Word is spreading about their delicious Lamb Burger (pictured bottom left). It’s topped with feta, the house basil mayo, onions, and a chili mint glaze. It was flavorful and juicy…exactly as I had imagined it to be. Too bad I wasn’t the adventurous one who ordered this delicious hunk of meat…the boyfriend did and I got to steal a few bites, but I need to go back for my own!

For those who just want a burger – go for The Company Burger (pictured right). It comes with two thin patties with onions, American cheese, and homemade bread and butter pickles, all placed onto their toasted buttery buns. You have the option of adding a yard egg and/or bacon, for a small fee of course! I didn’t notice this until I sat down to wait for my order so when you try Company Burger, order a yard egg on your bun for me! ^_-

I’m a lover of tater tots so there they are! I noticed they had a unique side item – fried RED ONION rings and I hear they’re tasty, so I’ll definitely order them on the next trip. 

While you wait, make sure you make a stop at the condiment station toward the back wall on the left. The dippings and sauces are so yummy…just a little somethin somethin to tickle your taste buds. 

All in all, great service and pretty tasty burgers. The Lamb Burger is a must try! I really enjoyed the toasty buttery buns…What can I say? I enjoy the fine details. =)