Review: Matt’s Bar “Jucy Lucy”
Author: indianapoliseater | Filed under: Food Reviews, Location: Minneapolis, MN, On The Road
Matt’s Bar
3500 Cedar Ave South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
http://www.mattsbar.com
I’ve written on this site ad nauseum about how seemingly all I do is watch Food Network or food shows on the Travel Channel. Because of this, I’ve seen countless shows on both channels that like to profile the “Juicy Lucy” war in Minneapolis. I’ve seen this on Man v. Food, Food Wars, and Chowdown Countdown, among others. For those of you that have never seen this or heard of a “Juicy Lucy”, check out the profile at Wikipedia to read what it is and see how the battles over the burger are fought in Minneapolis. I was in Minneapolis for a seminar recently and since I’d seen so much of this on television, I decided to give one of these places a shot. Research told me that my hotel was closest to Matt’s and since it has been rated the best multiple times, this was my choice.
What I Got: Jucy Lucy; $5.50. And yes, the misspelling is correct. Check out the Wikipedia history for why.
As you can see from the blurry picture of the menu above (it’s hard to not look like a dopey tourist and take a decent picture), Matt’s Bar is a place that has been in business for quite sometime. It’s a small place and when I arrived just BEFORE the dinner rush, I was still the seventh person in line, had a twenty minute wait and was fortunate to squeeze into a spot at the bar. By the time I left when the dinner rush was happening and the line was twenty deep on a Sunday night. The point is, if you are ever going to go, don’t expect to be seated quickly. Also, since it takes time to melt cheese inside a burger, don’t expect the food to come out quickly either. Now, onto the burger…
As you can see, there’s nothing fancy about this burger. It’s basically two thin patties smashed together with a pile of American cheese melted in the middle served on top of a store bought bun and then wrapped in wax paper. You don’t even get a plate or a glass for your Diet Coke, so Matt’s is clearly a no frills type of place. The burger is topped with a couple of pickle slices and you have the option to get grilled onions on top of your burger and I took advantage of that.
Taste-wise, this was nothing special. Honestly, it tasted like a bigger and thicker White Castle hamburger with melted cheese in the middle that was also exceptionally greasy. I’m not completely against that since I’m one of the crazies that like White Castles, but this burger tasted so similar to those that I can’t classify this in the “special” category like so many television shows and also the residents of Minneapolis have done previously (they’ve won multiple local best burger awards and have them posted on the wall).
Would I Buy It Again? I’ll probably won’t be in Minneapolis anytime again soon, so I really can’t give a fair answer on this one. If I was in Minneapolis, I’d have to say no. I’d try some of the other Juicy Lucy options first before I ever made a return visit here.
Oh yeah, I’ve been holding off on this entire time (was the suspense killing you?). When I first placed my order, one of the locals sitting next to me at the bar told me the best way to eat the burger is to take a bite (careful, the cheese is scalding hot!), then hold it vertically and squeeze it so that the cheese oozes out so that you can get the full experience. So, without further delay, here is your food porn for this post…
To sum the Jucy Lucy all up by comparing to White Castles again, if I was a Minnesota resident, I would eat it if I was in the neighborhood. but that’s about it. If I was a tourist like I was, it’s worth a visit to say you’ve done it and to have had the experience, but other than that, there’s no reason to go back unless you really, really like the interesting environment.
-IndianapolisEater
Tags: awards, Burger, chowdown countdown, Food, food network, jucy lucy, juicy lucy, man v. food, matt's bar, minneapolis, television, travel channel
I was surprised to see a Minneapolis establishment in your posts today! I lived there for several years and visited Matt’s on many occasions for the Jucy Lucy.
The thing I enjoy about it is not the taste, the flavor, or really the burger. The thing I enjoy is the nostalgia and what a Jucy Lucy stands for.
Much like I enjoy a cold can of nasty Hamm’s beer on a hot day, sitting in my garage, in a woven-mesh seat and back lawn chair, with a newspaper on my lap, I enjoy a Jucy Lucy.
The Hamm’s kindles up memories of my grandfathers. The Jucy Lucy kindles up memories of times past, friends and family and others that I have shared time with at Matt’s.
It’s not a fantastic burger. But it’s at Matt’s. And Matt’s is a fantastic corner bar in a Minneapolis strewn with corner bars. It gives Matt’s something to stand for, and something to look forward to for those that venture back.
Sinking Ship in broadripple makes a stuffed burger I’ve brkn wanting to try.
Kind of disappointing, but the concept is what is so attractive. Hopefully it spreads a lot more than it already has.
I’ve been to Matt’s twice. Liked the burger both times but hated that they serve cans of coke. Don’t remember them tasting anything like white castle burgers. I took pictures while I was there too, of the burger and the grill to the right of the bar. Prefer the Nook…you have to wait there too but it is worth it. Flying in to Minneapolis next Wednesday and the first place I’m going is the Nook for dinner. Haven’t been there since it re-opened. Can’t wait.
I went to The Nook a couple times when I was visiting; I think I liked the Paul Molitor burger, which was stuffed with pepperjack.
I haven’t had the original, but after seeing these on the same shows you did I decided to make one for myself. I, however, didn’t use little patties. I patted out two quarter pound patties and stuck a few pieces of pepperjack between and pressed them together. Needless to say, it was wonderful.
I doubt I’ll do this very often as it’s much easier to just put cheese on top of the burger, but it was fun to try.
@Michael: I’ve made them before for a tailgate using just the frozen patties you get at the store (I defrosted them first) and put blue cheese inside them. They were magnificent.
@Helldog/Aaron/Ross: If I were ever back in Minneapolis, The Nook would be on my list. I’d also like to give the 5-8 Club a shot, but I have a feeling that it would be just like Matt’s as it would be more for nostalgia than anything.
@Brent: You better get to The Sinking Ship soon before the neighborhood association finds a way to shut it down.
@Show: You are right, it is a great concept in theory. I just wish more people would do it around here (and do it well).
I have tried something like this with herbed goat cheese in the middle–yums!
I agree with the mention of the 5*8 club- but it will not be for the sheer joy of trying- the burger is actually a thousand times better. Being from Minnesota – I am looking forward to getting one the next time I visit, now that I am a Hoosier!