I enjoyed Burger Boys during its first incarnation on Chapman Hwy. It was a shame to see it close up shop, but I was happy to hear about it making a comeback on Broadway in July. And this time, the space would offer interior dining to go along with those big ol’ burgers and free fries.
For the second week in a row, I couldn’t line up my schedule with The Grub Spouse’s, so I made a solo dinner trip to see how things were going with the all-new Burger Boys.
It was a little warm in the restaurant when I stepped inside. Not as if the air conditioning was completely broken, but perhaps it wasn’t working as efficiently that day. Otherwise, the interior space is inviting and offers a variety of seating options - high tops, low tops and even leather-style
chairs - an unusual find in the fast-food space.
Except for the one-pound Big Dom burger, all burgers are a whopping half-pound in weight. Options include the Kobe burger (sauteed onions, green peppers, steak sauce and veggies), the Dante (onion straws, light mustard and American cheese) and the Vol burger, which allows customers to name their toppings.
I ordered the Lil Dom ($8.75) for myself. It’s made with mayo, ketchup, jalapeño peppers, pepper jack cheese, tomato and lettuce. I ordered a Lil Dre ($9.75) for The Spouse. That one comes with cheese, bacon and a variety of veggie toppings. Although fries are included with each burger, I ordered a couple of sides anyway. I picked small servings of potato salad and macaroni and cheese, passing on mashed potatoes and collard greens.
Rounding out the menu are chicken livers, chicken gizzards, whole chicken wings (5 or 10 pieces) and a wings meal that comes with two sides. There’s also sweet potato pie and cheesecake for dessert.
Proprietor Andre Bryant was hard at work behind the counter when I arrived. I requested my burger for dine-in service and The Spouse’s burger and two sides to go. I didn’t see any fountain drinks available that day, so I ordered a bottled water. Andre let me have it at no cost. I saw him do that with other customers as well. I don’t know if that’s a temporary measure or not, but it was certainly welcome on a warm day.
The burger was better than I remembered. It’s a thick patty, making the whole stack so hefty that I could barely get my jaws around it. The beef was delicious, the vegetable toppings were fresh, and I had forgotten that ketchup on a hamburger can actually be a nice change of pace. The fries were a little greasier than I might have preferred, but I’m not one to complain about a freebie.
When I was finished, I returned to the counter for The Spouse’s burger and sides. By that time, customers were backing up at the counter and at the drive-through, so I had to wait a few minutes for the rest of my order to get bagged up. By the time I got it home, it was still tasting good, and The Spouse loved it. The mac and cheese was rich and creamy, and although I liked the consistency and general flavor of the potato salad, it seemed that this recipe skewed toward what I’m pretty sure was a dill or dilled pickle flavor.
My follow-up visit renewed my appreciation of the Burger Boys product. I did notice that prices have gone up a good bit since my original visit in 2018 (Was it THAT long ago???). But even with some inflation in play, this burger is miles above typical fast-food fare and still less expensive than what you’ll find in comparable burgers at most full-service restaurants.
Burger Boys seems to have benefited overall from its move from Chapman Highway to Broadway. Now, it sits comfortably at the intersection of great burgers and reasonable pricing.
Burger Boys
Food: 4.25
Service: 4
Atmosphere: 3.75
Overall: 4
Address: 3000 N. Broadway
Phone: 865-498-3301
No alcohol service
Hours: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday
Bottom line: This local burger source is back in a new neighborhood but with the same satisfying fare.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: All-new Burger Boys still serves tasty, well-priced burgers | Grub Scout
