Michael Smith Journal Staff
At first glance when entering Griddler’s is the menu, scrawled neatly in chalk on the board above the servers. The variety is striking with specialty burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes. Burgers are available with a choice of 20 different toppings ranging from ketchup to sauerkraut. They can make a Reuben or Boston hot dog with baked beans, onion rings and barbeque sauce. All milkshakes are made with skim milk, two of which use “infused milk,” in which the milk soaks up the flavors of either Fruit Loops or Frosted Flakes.
In homage to the East Coast, Griddler’s had made a chowder dog topped with clam chowder and the elusive fried clam strips. Soon the clam strips evolved into a side of their own, though the original dog still exists.
The restaurant is located at 204 Cambridge Street, almost connected to the Beacon Hill fire station. Formerly The Federal, Griddler’s is still under the same ownership, only with new management and a new team. The cooks come from culinary positions in fine dining, and the management is devoted to proficiency and professionalism. The staff is devoted to turning out hot food in five minutes, a system the manager calls a “symphony.” The order is sent from the front computer to each station where the cooks receive them. If it takes a burger three minutes to cook and the fried clam strips only forty-five seconds, the clam strips will be put in after two minutes and fifteen seconds.
Despite opposition from Beacon Hill residents, the establishment is attempting to gain the necessary licenses and permits to serve alcohol and stay open until 3 a.m. on weekends. They accept all types of credit cards and in about a month they will be on Grub Hub, so any eager patron can order and pay online for fresh pick-up. They even accept the RAM Account. The management is also planning to open another franchise by the end of this year.
Want something spicy? The Firehouse Griddler is filled with peppers to your heart’s content. Something a little southern? The Barbeque Griddler has barbeque sauce, onion rings and onions. There are veggie patties for vegetarians. General Manager Liam Lynch described the signature Griddler’s Sauce as a “mayonnaise-based sauce with chipotle peppers used not for their heat, but smokey component” seasoned with fresh lemon and herbs.
Maybe you don’t want something so specific. Maybe you are starving and want something larger than your face, something that will finally satisfy cheese cravings. The Gooey Griddler, unofficially dubbed “The Monster Burger,” is two patties filled and topped with with cheese. If that’s not enough, the Double Gooey Griddler holds four patties.
