Any other Patty Melt fans here? I actually got a great one today from a fast food joint

[Hugh_Lebowski]

Last edited Thu Jul 1, 2021, 05:28 PM - Edit history (1)

Yeah, I know, beef is evil. I try not to eat too much, but sometimes, I just need me a burger. And sometimes, I just have to have it in Patty Melt format.

Unfortunately, the fast food and chain restaurant world is rife with Patty Melt's that fail, often spectacularly, at properly creating what really should be a simple treat.

A proper Patty Melt is like this:

1) One fairly thick, or two thinner, beef patties. 1/3-1/2 lb max total.
2) Two slices of cheese ... Swiss-flavored processed cheese is my favorite, but American is passable, as are real swiss cheese slices, but in that case just one is enough. For some reason, I like the processed stuff better in this concoction. Real swiss is a little strong-tasting.
3) Grilled onion 'rings', not any diced nonsense. They should taste like they're cooked on a grill that beef has been cooked on, like they have a beef grease contingent to them. I don't mean breaded onion rings, just slices.
4) Serious RYE bread, in a CIRCULAR shape. Marbled is great, but the most important part is it should have a STRONG rye flavor. I want it to be crunchy with around 10 caraway seeds in each slice. These must also be GRILLED on a grill you've been cooking beef on, with butter or something that tastes much like it, like a buttery flavored oil.

That's it. Bun, Grilled Onions, Cheese, Patty(s), Cheese, Bun.

1000 Island (or Russian Dressing) is the only acceptable condiment, but with a good Patty Melt, there's not really a need for extra stuff.

So after trying so many of these at 'chain' types of places (Culver's has a particular insipid 'version'), I finally got one today that was MONEY.

Place: Freddy's Steakburgers, which is basically a fast-food joint.

And it was freaking damn near perfect.

Like the kind you'd get at a diner in the 1970's, made by Mel from the show "Alice". I was frankly pretty blown away.

[msongs]

1. best I ever had was at the french quarter on santa monica blvd in west holyywood. awesome nt

[Hugh_Lebowski]

3. Yeah, it's not TOO hard to find good ones if you go to 'real' restaurants

There's a chain out West here called Black Bear Diner that makes a VERY solid one. But it's HUGE and costs like $10 ... finding a really good one for like $6.50 at a fast-food drive-thru was definitely a treat

[vercetti2021]

2. No candle to Whataburger

Best freaking patty melts in the world

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. Yeah? I think there's one not too far away ... I shall definitely try one next time!

So are you also a fan of this concoction, I take it?

[vercetti2021]

5. I absolutely love patty melts

I had one last Saturday for lunch at a local restaurant called Golden Light. I enjoyed it, but I still think Whataburger is the best patty melt. I usually go there twice a month to get just their meal. Fries aren't bad neither. Like it's pricey for sure. A large meal runs about ten dollars and change. Tax included though. But holy moly it's worth it

[Hugh_Lebowski]

6. On your sage advice, I'll make a pilgrimage to Whataburger ... which is like 6 miles away

And handily, right across from an EPIC International Supermarket in Mesa.

Perhaps in a couple weeks when the hankering for a burger kicks back in

[vercetti2021]

8. Technically a patty melt isn't a burger

It's it's own thing. It's magical and will bless your soul. Also try their Dr. Pepper milkshakes! OMG DELICIOUS!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

33. Okay!

At its core, a good one is constructed exactly like a good Reuben Sandwich, only instead of corned beef and sauerkraut, you use a ground beef patty and grilled onions.

I think burger and sandwich are both acceptable nomenclatures

And they are magical when done correctly

[vercetti2021]

36. Never had a Reuben

Are they good?

[CentralMass]

7. That sounds fantastic.

[multigraincracker]

9. The Best burger I've ever had, and now copy,

was a lamb slider I had at a New Zealand restaurant in San Diego. Stuffed with goat cheese on a dark bun.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

10. A Lamb & Goat Cheese BURGER?!?

How dare you blaspheme like this in my Patty Melt thread?!?

[multigraincracker]

11. Out of respect, I'm not going to mention my

Bumper Bambi Road Kill Burger.

[KS Toronado]

18. I like those also, but you need to keep an eye open for chrome plating.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

34. Your deference is appreciated despite its coy nature ;)

[nuxvomica]

12. Swiss and rye are a great combo

It's my preferred grilled cheese. I never knew what a patty melt was till now.

[babylonsister]

13. I thought patty melts were usually on bread,

and for me specifically, rye. Yes, I like me a good patty melt!

[Hugh_Lebowski]

26. That's what I said ... Rye bread :) nt

[babylonsister]

32. How did I miss that? All I saw was bun.

[hlthe2b]

14. Freddy's Steakburgers--hmm. There is one near the Costco I frequent and I've never even thought to

go in (frankly, I've not eaten fast food or really any take-out in a long time). Since I've never eaten there and not really familiar with the chain, I'll take your recommendation. This is a newer fast food restaurant to me--but apparently, its headquarters is in Wichita, Kansas. For your trivia stack this morning...

[DemUnleashed]

15. Thanks

Thanks for the tip...I too LOVE me a good patty melt!! 😋

Will now have to try eating them at Freddy's Steakburgers and at Whataburger!

[Ligyron]

16. Russian dressing.

Not the beet one … the one like in New York deli’s that you put on Corned beef or pastrami.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

27. Fair Enough, Russian and 1000 Island are real similar, either is good on a PM :)

A good Patty Melt is made pretty much exactly like a good Reuben, but with Beef and Onion instead of Corned Beef and Sauerkraut.

[Ligyron]

30. That's true, good comparison.

Russian is just an improved version of thousand Island, IMHO. It’s a bit richer with the egg yolk added and maybe a higher ratio of mayonnaise too.

[KS Toronado]

17. Freddy's Steakburgers makes a great Patty Melt

In fact none of their burgers will disappoint.

[OxQQme]

19. Well that brings back 70 year memories

Dad used to make them, when I was just a pup, just like your description only he used SPAM.
"Spamelts" we called them.
Marbled rye from the local bakery, onions from a farm close by.
I liked a slice of tomato inside.
Cheese from a local dairy delivered into our icebox fridge by the milkman.
Dad didn't always use spam, but with a touch of mustard spamelts were my fave.
Another variation was roast beef melts.

Hugh, you've made my mouth all watery..

[Wounded Bear]

20. Simple, quick, tasty. The way it should be...

I can take a bit of mustard on a good patty melt, but other than that I agree, no condiments is fine, and the grilled onions are necessary.

[East-A-Squared]

21. Eliason Bros. Big Boy in Michigan had a great one.

[Floyd R. Turbo]

22. Best ever!

Beef burger with grilled onions, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing, on grilled sour dough rye bread. 😋

[Hugh_Lebowski]

29. Sourdough Rye ... hellz yeah!

I like 'em how they did it at old school diners I had as a kid. We have a Copper Skillet in the East Bay, not sure if same company. They make a good one for sure.

[Ocelot II]

23. They have onions, which is a non-starter for me.

[Midnight Writer]

24. Steak-n-Shake has good patty melts.

[Fla Dem]

25. No! They were served in my high school cafeteria and tasted awful.

Since then I have no desire for them. Also not a fan of swiss cheese as a result.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

28. They can be made really poorly, as I mentioned

Done right, they're delicious if you like the basic flavors of onion, beef, rye and cheese at least

[tblue37]

31. Haven't had one in decades, but I do love them.

[Kali]

35. we are in agreement

except I prefer real cheese.

a local restaurant has a good cheeseburger they call a patty melt but it is not. no rye bread. sourdough. like I said, good cheeseburger but not a patty melt.

[Hugh_Lebowski]

38. I'm flexible on the cheese, it just has to be really MELTED and I've had some attempts

with real swiss where it just wasn't all the way gooey, and that's a critical part of the experience for me

That's why I kinda like the processed cheese cause that's easy for the cook to get melty.

Aside from the cheese being in a near-liquid state also key is the grilled bread with a strong rye flavor & caraway seed crunch, and the way the onions are cut, and how they're cooked.

[Kali]

41. yeah real swiss can take too long to melt

what is with flavorless ryebread? tons of caraway!

[smirkymonkey]

37. I LOVE Patty Melts!

I also rarely ever eat beef or anything from a skillet, but I do love them and I don't think I have had one in about 10 years. Too long.

It's hard to find authentic ones in these parts (Boston). I was able to find them in NYC and San Francisco. The few times I have seen them on the menu here, they aren't the real thing.

I suppose I could just make them myself, but I love getting them at a real diner like they had in NY/NJ. They were so good!

[FSogol]

39. There's a Freddys near me, I grab work lunch there occasionally. Their burgers are good*.

I usually don't order patty melts in restaurants since they come out either greasy or soggy. I make them at home a lot.

* Not as good as Five Guys, imo.

[TexasBushwhacker]

40. Freddy's patties are very thin, with crispy edges

Most adults get a double patty, and that's their regular offering. They also have hot dogs and frozen custard.