Everyone in New Orleans has a favorite burger joint. A friend of mine loves the hand-formed burgers and sweet potato fries at Beachcorner Bar & Grill on Canal Street and another touts the overstuffed baked potatoes and heady Monsoons at Port of Call in the Quarter, but my burger of choice is lovingly made at GB’s Patio Bar & Grill. Located on Maple Street on the river-side of Carrollton Avenue in the Riverbend, GB’s is an unassuming, neighborhood restaurant with a welcoming patio dining area replete with fans or space heaters, as the weather dictates and a small staff that remembers your face and treats everyone like an old friend. John and I were in the mood for a leisurely burger in a comfortable atmosphere and GB’s always fits the bill. I am down a grand total of 42 pounds and this is my 13th cheat.
As soon as we sat down, our waiter smiled at us from across the brick-lined patio dining area filed with large iron tables and chairs. He greeted us with menus in hand and took our order of drinks. As many times as I have been to GB’s, I have never ordered an appetizer, we always go straight for the burger. But, in the spirit of indulgence, we decided to try the Spinach and Artichoke dip in addition to two 6 oz. cheese burgers cooked medium rare and served with a side of French fries. GB’s offers other great sides like a baked potato with lots of extras or a small salad, but I was in the mood for fries.
The dip came out in a timely fashion, piping hot and smelling delicious. It was served with crispy, warm tortilla chips and we gobbled the cheesy concoction down in short order. I’ve had tons of Spinach and Artichoke dips before and this one was really quite good. Initially, I had wanted the potato skins, but John overruled me by choosing the dip and I was not disappointed.
After a comfortable interval, our burgers arrived cooked to order with a large pile of freshly grated cheddar cheese atop the perfectly grilled meat. Fresh toppings like a thick, juicy slice of tomato, some pickles, red onion and shredded lettuce were included on each plate and all of the tables are conveniently equipped with various condiments including mayonnaise and ketchup. I once asked our waiter why the burgers at GB’s are so tasty and he explained that the owner hand-grinds the sirloin and uses his own combination of spices and sauces to create perfection on a bun.
We always enjoy the juicy burgers at GB’s but I can rarely walk away from their homemade cakes. Craving chocolate (as usual) we ordered a slice of German Chocolate Cake. We were served a huge slice, but had no difficulty devouring the moist, rich, chocolate cake with creamy, coconut-laden frosting. As usual, it was absolutely delicious.
Walking away from the restaurant, we were pleased that we had another wonderfully satisfying cheat and comforted knowing a great neighborhood bar (conveniently in our neighborhood) was still offering an affordable and tasty meal in a relaxing courtyard patio just blocks away. Perhaps next week we should range further from home, but it’s nice to taste the familiar from time to time and neither of us could think of a better place for the perfect burger but GB’s Patio Bar & Grill.
