I'd Never Expect to Eat a Great Burger in Raleigh!

Well, I'm back in Raleigh for this post!  And I'm not going to lie, this post really shows you why I named this blog "Pocajama."  I was helping out with a summer camp at my high school a couple of weeks ago and after the camp was over, I went to lunch with a couple of people I volunteered with.  We went to this place called Backyard Bistro, which is right next to the PNC Arena/Carter Finley Stadium in Raleigh, about 10 minutes outside of Downtown.  When you look at this place, you don't imagine that the food you're going to get is anything better than what you'd get at Chili's or Applebees, considering the decor and the way it's designed.  Even the name, Backyard Bistro, is kind of odd in that despite the fact that they throw Bistro in there, the word Backyard makes it seem as if the quality is not going to be top notch.  Little did I know that this place was going to give me a good burger, not to mention one that would knock my socks off.

Now, I know quite a few burger joints in this town.  All of them are good, but they each have their shortcomings.  At some, the fries are good, but the bun is lacking; others have fantastic buns, but the meat isn't great or the fries just aren't anything worth a second pass of the tongue, etc.  But this place... if you like burgers as much as I do, you will enjoy this.

I ordered a Build Your Own Burger with Lettuce, Tomato, Red Onion, Ketchup, Mayo, Pickle Spears, American Cheese, and Bacon, which came with fries.  I wasn't expecting much, based on how I previously described the atmosphere, but boy was I in for a surprise.

Isn't it beautiful?

I would just like to take a moment and take a look at this picture.  Don't you wish you could just reach out and grab that burger?  Well, let me tell you, it was about as delicious as it was pretty.  Just about everything about it was perfect.  The bun was freshly made at a nearby bakery, and was toasted and buttery.  Even the crust was buttery and enticing.  The patty was thick and juicy, with just the right amount of seasoning, and the meat was of very good quality.  The cheese was melted perfectly and tasted just as American should, smooth and mild, and the bacon was as crisp and smokey as bacon should be.  The lettuce, tomato, and onion were all crisp and fresh, and these alongside the pickles and the bacon added a nice crispness to the sandwich.  Ketchup and mayo are ketchup and mayo, but I seriously cannot have a burger without them.  Boy,  was this puppy good.

Even the fries were of excellent quality.  They were home cut and fried, and you could tell by the taste and texture.  They were a tad flimsy, but anyone who has ever made homemade fries will tell you that it is nearly impossible to get a thick potato slice crispy.  It can be done with extreme care, but considering the ambiance of the restaurant, I won't hold it against them.  Besides the slight floppiness, which reminded me of the fries my mother used to make, they had the perfect flavor.  The potato itself was slightly sweet, but with the salt, the balance was kept and the mixture was the absolute prime taste that any fry eater would want.

As I said earlier,  I was not expecting to have an amazing burger when I walked into this place.  I expected to have another mediocre meal in a mediocre restaurant across the street from a major sports arena, much like anyone else would have expected.  It did not appear to be anything special, but the food itself said otherwise.  When I took one bite of this burger, I knew that it was special, and that you can't get another burger like that anywhere in Raleigh.  So, this one is for the burger lovers:  if you want a fantastic burger, go to Backyard Bistro.  You won't be disappointed.