Gary G.
Yelp
Gigantic space popular among locals and not-so-locals for its steaks, burgers and market featuring an extensive selection of meats, sausages, and beers. Heavily hyped by Phantom Gourmet, who've hyped many a disappointment, so it took me years to try them. Glad I did!
I visited on the Friday before a Monday Christmas, so the crowds were heavy, but the hosts and servers were a well-oiled machine, handling the guests with efficiency and good cheer. First good sign.
Our server knew the menu inside out, answered questions about the place, and made great recommendations. Second good sign.
Third good sign was the food. Almost all of it was superb, exceeding expectations.
Steak tips: Available tossed in your choice of sauce, house (Italian dressing-like) or sweet or half-and-half. We went house. Cooked to the requested medium rare, they were nicely charred on the outside, wiltingly tender and juicy on the inside, with a warm, bright red center. Very tender, very flavorful--from the beef, the marinade, and the grill. Another option is going with the smaller steak tips add-on for a salad, even if you don't get a salad; you can add it into anything. No matter how, get the steak tips.
Wings: Available in two options; we went with the Cajun dry rub with an Alabama white sauce. Tasty and juicy. Good, but not the same wow factor as the steak tips.
Steak and Cheese Burger: This isn't more steak tips in sandwich form; it's steak tips ground into a burger patty, grilled, and topped with cheddar and American cheeses. Cooked to the requested medium, it still oozed juices. More importantly, the flavor was very steaky, reaching out even with a bun that was a little too tall and a little too dense. Minor bun quibble, excellent burger.
The Real Burger King Burger: Same bun (a little too dense), different beef blend. Here it was ground ribeye and tenderloin, topped with caramelized onions, smoked bacon, and truffle aioli. No cheese, but not necessary. All of the elements combined to create a wonderful whole, led by the extremely juicy beef (this one we requested medium rare). Another really steaky burger, whose beef quality was a huge upgrade from what you get at most places boasting a great burger. Nice char from the grill, and good contrast with the tender interior. Superb.
Sides: Entrees come with a choice of two sides; burgers come with one. Some are included and some command a premium of a few bucks. The fries were good, though not memorable. The mac and cheese was excellent, with lots of creaminess and lots of breadcrumbs. The mashed potatoes were also really good. Coleslaw creamy and different, with some broccoli in there. While chitchatting with the server, we learned onion strings are available even though not listed on the menu. Got those as an extra side for a few bucks and they were good too: thin, wormy shape, flavorful batter, good crunch, nicely seasoned.
I wish I gave the Tuckaway a chance earlier, because the ambiance, food, service, and value all impressed. It's pretty obvious their employee training and retention are very good. Looking forward to coming back.