Food Truck Fridays: Spot Gourmet Burgers, Steaks, and Pork
Food Truck Fridays is a column by sophomore Will Constan documenting all the tasty mobile treats in Philly.
My Favorite Burger Spot
For my inaugural column I decided to go to an old favorite of mine, “Spot Gourmet Burgers, Steaks and Pork” at 33rd and Arch. Spot tends to move around a lot, so if you’re planning a trip take a look at their twitter account (@spotburgers) for their location that day. They are actually moving towards opening a physical location as well, so look out for that in the coming months. I tried out two different burgers, the Butcher burger and the Spot burger, paired with an order of fries.
The Base
Both burgers I sampled used the same brioche bun and beef patty as their foundation. The brioche bun is a strong representative of the genre. It is a perfect density, both in texture and in taste. The crust is thick enough to be noticed, but not so thick that it feels like you are eating some crusty rustic bread.
When I have a burger, the most important part to me is the meat. Sure toppings and a good bun are great, but without the right meat, a burger is just unsatisfying. At Spot, they have clearly put some time into both choosing and cooking their meat. It has a smooth texture and even temperature throughout. They have somehow managed to make the burger flavorful and juicy without it being too lean or messy. This burger is a total winner and could hold its own against any burger you would find in a mid-priced or even high-end restaurant.
Spot Burger
This burger has always been my go-to at Spot, and given that it bears the truck’s name, the owner has put some time into crafting it. Topped with coleslaw, bacon, cheddar, pickles and Spot sauce, the Spot burger also provides a strong variety of tastes and textures.
There is a single thin slice of cheese melted on top of the juicy patty in the center of the burger, allowing the flavors of the other toppings to shine through. The pickles and coleslaw provide a nice crunch and acidity to balance the burger’s richness. My only complaint about this burger is that the pickles could be more acidic and less vinegary.
A slice or two of bacon further adds to the crunch in the burger, and of course adds a subtle smoky taste to the burger. The bacon is not very fatty either, which in this case works well.
Finally there is just the right amount of Spot’s secret Spot sauce, not too much that it becomes messy but not too little so that you don’t notice it. I am not sure what is in Spot sauce, but it tastes like slightly spicy barbecue sauce, with a bit of a chipotle twist to it.
Butcher Burger
This was my first experience with the Butcher Burger, and I am glad that I ordered it. The one of a kind beef patty is topped with a slice of swiss cheese, sautéed onions, tomato, Russian dressing and a horseradish-mayo. Spot uses very high quality and well crafted ingredients for all their toppings. But, what I like the most about their toppings is how they are placed on the burger. The horseradish mayo is heavy on the horseradish and light on mayo, and the flavor nicely complements the burger. Plus putting the horseradish-mayo beneath burger allows it to blend with the juices and flavors of the burger. The Russian dressing is subtle and definitely improves the flavor-profile of the burger, but is a little too runny. Diced tomato adds volume and texture to the burger. Finally, my favorite part of the burger is the onions. Spot places the sautéed onions in between the meat and a melted slice of swiss cheese. I have never seen a burger topped this way and I will definitely attempt this the next time I make a burger.
The Fries
These fries are not to be missed. They have a crispy outside with just the right amount of crunch. The center is a uniform temperature throughout and dense but not mushy, so you don’t feel like you’re eating mashed potatoes in a casing. I would recommend seasoning them with some “Old Bay”, which you can find on a shelf on the left hand side of the cart.
Overall, Spot is a cart where you really cannot go wrong. The only mistake you can make is not getting the fries. Their burgers serve as a warming comfort food in the middle of a cold day, or as a delicious icon of Americana on a sunny afternoon in May. Just make sure to bring your appetite.
-Will Constan