First FKM: Bobby's Burger Palace

I found my calling in life... food. And as part of my ongoing quest to consume as much of it, as often as possible, I have teamed up with my close, like-minded friend, Jen, to seek the best food out there.

It started simply enough, with a passing mention of restaurants we both have wanted to try, and it quickly turned into a list, one that continues to grow each day, and a goal to start ticking restaurants off one-by-one. That, is how our simple list became known as FAT KID MISSIONS, a.k.a. FKMs; because deep down inside, we're all fat kids and it is our mission to tell you where to enjoy those pleasures.

Our inaugural mission took us to Bobby's Burger Palace (www.bobbysburgerpalace.com) in Lake Grove, NY, in search of the ultimate burger. A little background: Named after celebu-chef and owner Bobby Flay, I had heard about this restaurant at the New York Wine and Food Festival: Burger Bash. Bobby himself served these little tastes (literally, a slider, served amongst 30+ other burgers) in a meatastic experience that leaves me ill for days, and wanting more! So, after reading and re-reading the BBP menu, hearing numerous conflicting reviews from friends, and seeing the BBP burger mentioned on the Food Network's "The Best Thing I Ever Ate" I KNEW it was time.

An errand in Westhampton found us a short ride from the only New York location, in the Smith Haven Mall. It's location was an obvious draw for the bustling restaurant with people eating and still entering in the late afternoon. We stepped up to the counter and were greeted by the friendly host who instructed us to place our order, grab a seat, and wait for one of the numerous, friendly, smiling waiters and waitresses to deliver our food. Soon, I gave our much planned and discussed order: a Palace Classic Cheeseburger, a Bobby Blue Burger, Onion Rings, and a Black and White Milkshake.

We passed on dining at one of the dark wood communal tables and opted instead for a seat at the "s" shaped counter. Within minutes, our food arrived, looking as bright and fresh as the room we were in. The Palace Classic arrived with a generous piece of American cheese melted over the entire burger. The lettuce and red onion, ordered on the side, arrived on their own plate, to be added to my half for the complete experience. Simultaneously, the Bobby Blue arrived with crumbly, creamy blue cheese dripping over the sides with two large, crispy, pieces of bacon resting on top. Five, thick cut, perfectly browned onion rings came stacked in a cup throwing me into sensory overload; where to begin?!? With a side of sauces within arms reach (ketchup, mustard, "burger sauce", and chipotle ketchup), it was time to dig in.

We cut the burgers in half and I quickly dove into the Classic to begin my Bobby Burger journey. The meat was beautifully seasoned, releasing juicy beef flavor, while melted American cheese added a salty creaminess. Lettuce, tomato, onion, and a sesame seed bun completed the aptly named burger and brought up memories of backyard summer barbeques.

After a few delicious bites, I mustered the strength to put down the Classic for a side-by-side comparison of the messy Blue. As I lifted the burger, blue cheese crumbles spilled over the sides with each bite. The mild blue flavor was masked by the crunchy saltiness of the bacon and the juicy, meat flavors of the burger, making the cheese disappointingly non-existent. Much to my chagrin, with every bite, I hoped the blue flavor world miraculously appear, but that moment never came. Soon it became clear that the bun too seemed out of place on what could have been a most fantastic experience.

Fortunately, the side of onion rings comforted me in my search for more flavor. The large cut rings were perfectly crisp, with soft, slightly sweet, pieces of onion coming though with each bite. A fork and knife proved to be the best way to take on the delectable pieces. While my preference for onion rings leans towards the thin slices, I couldn't hold back from the perfectly crunchy outside and juicy inside.

As we savored the meat and rings before us, our beautifully tan, milky shake was brought to our seats, waiting for us to indulge. The cool, creamy texture came through the straw; hints of chocolate and vanilla melding together in a way only found in diners. Although I prefer a shake that makes your cheeks suck in, a struggle for the next sip, this half melted, half thick, drink perfectly capped our experience.

While I wouldn't necessarily make a special trip to any of the BBP locations, this experience proved that there IS good dining outside the food court... and now your boyfriend will have a good reason to take you shopping!

FKM: Bobby's Burger Palace COMPLETE!