Brixx Bonanza

Good burgers aren't just a summertime tradition

Randy Shemanski

For the past five months, my grill has sat on the landing outside my door, covered up and comatose for the winter, yet taunting me every time I walked into the house.

Every once in a while, I would go into the kitchen and notice the grilling spices I bought last summer and wish I could fire up the propane for some grilling goodness.

(I suppose the only thing stopping me was my desire to not stand over a grill wearing a heavy parka, so I really only have myself to blame for the lack of grilling excitement.)

Then I realized I don't have to wait until the cold weather heads north to have a nice juicy burger that tastes like it came straight off the Kenmore.

So I got off my duffer last Friday, braved the cold rain that seems to fall endlessly over the 570 this time of year, and made my way to 130 Brixx Grille and Tavern at 130 N. Washington Ave. in Scranton.

I've been a fan of the burgers at Brixx for a few years now. I can't remember the first time I had one, but I know it left an indelible mark on my taste buds.

Described on the menu as "8 oz. of fresh ground beef on a roll," these beef babies are much more than that. Cooked to order, the burgers themselves are the perfect combination of juicy, yet dry. (Ever have a burger that's still a bit too juicy in the middle? Yeah, me too.)

The rolls aren't just some simple sesame seed waste - they're soft and fresh, almost like they were baked that day, and maybe they were!

Still sounds pretty basic, right? Think again. There are six different burger choices on the menu.

The 130 Brixx Griller is topped with bacon, mushrooms, peppers, onions, barbecue sauce, plus Swiss, American and provolone cheeses. Add a side of lettuce, pickles and onions, and you've got the works.

The B Be Bee Burger is blackened with bleu cheese and bacon - the three Bs on a basic burger.

My favorite, the 1866 Founder Burger, is topped with Swiss cheese and bacon. By the way, 1866 is the year Scranton was founded, in case you were wondering.

The final three choices are a bit more simple - the Mulberry Mushroom (sauteed mushrooms and provolone), the Barons Burger (grilled peppers and onions), and the Bizz Burger (bacon and barbecue sauce).

Not a beef fan? Try the turkey burger or the garden veggie burger instead.

All are under $7 and include cole slaw and a pickle. Of course, I add fries because what's a burger without French fries, right?

So if you're like me and you can't wait to have a grill-worthy burger, head over to Brixx and be sure to tell them electric city sent ya.