Marquette
Sobelman's
Milwaukee, WI
What you're getting: The Sobelman
Sobelman's is undeniably Milwaukee, which means the beer selection is enviable (think selections from local breweries like nearby New Glarus or Madison's Ale Asylum) and the burgers are giant and do not skimp on the cheese or bacon. If it's your first time, go with the namesake: it's far from regular, layering American, Swiss, and cheddar on top of bacon, fried onions, and jalapeños. Then, just go ahead an transfer to Marquette: you're going to want to try the rest of this menu.
University of Wisconsin
Dotty Dumpling's Dowry
Madison, WI
What you're getting: The Melting Pot
Madison's best burger joint has changed locations four times (once from... Des Moines!), began as a trinket shop that sold zero cheeseburgers, and has a name that makes approximately negative sense. It also has the Melting Pot, an appropriately over-cheesed (cheddar, Swiss, provolone) meat mound stacked with bacon and touched with the joint's trademark English garlic sauce. But don't overlook other "yep, we're definitely in Wisconsin" options like Stanley's Blue Ribbon (cream cheese, BBQ sauce, and an onion ring) and the new Green & Gold with deep-fried pickles and bacon mayo. Whichever you go with, just remember: cheese curds are not optional.
Generally one would post a link?
https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/2015-best-college-burgers-in-america
This is a credible list - they list Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor. I have never had Sobelmans but Blimpy's would be hard to beat.
Soblemans is all right. It does have some national credibility too. I was back in chicago and was talking to one of my dad's friends and when I brought up marquette, he brought up Soblemans. I personally prefer Oscars.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on October 02, 2015, 12:02:41 PM
Soblemans is all right. It does have some national credibility too. I was back in chicago and was talking to one of my dad's friends and when I brought up marquette, he brought up Soblemans. I personally prefer Oscars.
Pretty sure the guy who made Oscars used to be a chef at Soblemans or Bombers years ago.
He was a chef at sobelmans, and dave sobelman helped him get started. Oscars is very similar but has some fun combos (chorizo and taco spices on a burger are good, who knew?). Both are good. Bombers is meh.
Quote from: LAMUfan on October 02, 2015, 12:23:13 PM
He was a chef at sobelmans, and dave sobelman helped him get started. Oscars is very similar but has some fun combos (chorizo and taco spices on a burger are good, who knew?). Both are good. Bombers is meh.
I love bombers, it's gone down over the years though. I've only had oscars once and I was very drunk but I remember the big "O" living up to its name in every possible way. Sobleman's is always good though. I love what they did with what used to be Angelo's.
I've been to Sobelman's and Rotier's (Vanderbilt). Both worthy of being on the list.
Quote from: keefe on October 02, 2015, 11:41:18 AM
This is a credible list - they list Blimpy Burger in Ann Arbor. I have never had Sobelmans but Blimpy's would be hard to beat.
keefe, would you please 'borrow' a plane and get your arse back to brew city? It's been FAR too long for you.
Sobleman's was better when they weren't mass producing burgers. They have declined imo.
Quote from: Hards_Alumni on October 02, 2015, 02:19:57 PM
Sobleman's was better when they weren't mass producing burgers. They have declined imo.
Agreed. Still pretty good, but not like it was when they only had the joint in the valley.
Quote from: Hards_Alumni on October 02, 2015, 02:19:57 PM
Sobleman's was better when they weren't mass producing burgers. They have declined imo.
I really miss their burgers with the pork on them. The piggyback and the Conway I think they were called. Haven't really gone there too much since the menu change.
I think Oscar's is best in Milwaukee, with Jake's in second in Brookfield and Sobelman's 3rd. Can't go wrong with any of them.
I would definitely recommend Dotty's out in Madison, go there every time I go to Madison.
Capt. Mike's in Kenosha is worth a drive IMO
4th base was once worthy.
soblemans just opened a place out in mequon on port and donges bay-it's been jumpin from the start
Quote from: real chili 83 on October 02, 2015, 06:39:40 PM
4th base was once worthy.
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Any y'all not enjoyin' gettin' yo rocks off there, hey?
A few years back there was talk of soblemans opening in chicago. What ever happened to that?
Quote from: BagpipingBoxer on October 03, 2015, 05:11:15 PM
A few years back there was talk of soblemans opening in chicago. What ever happened to that?
they were going to make it a gun free zone, so dave s said no f'ing way man ;D
Quote from: rocket surgeon on October 04, 2015, 06:26:29 AM
they were going to make it a gun free zone, so dave s said no f'ing way man ;D
You woke up at 6:30am on a Sunday to type that?
I think soblemans is really solid but oscars is better imo. Definitely agree with Bartleys in Harvard square, and I'd also add Charlie's. Eagles Deli near BC is another great college burger spot.
Quote from: mu03eng on October 02, 2015, 02:27:50 PM
I think Oscar's is best in Milwaukee, with Jake's in second in Brookfield and Sobelman's 3rd. Can't go wrong with any of them.
I would definitely recommend Dotty's out in Madison, go there every time I go to Madison.
I personally would have Jake's 1 and Oscar's 2, but that's splitting hairs. In my opinion, those 2 are head and shoulders better than what Sobleman's is now that they have to churn food out so fast to accommodate for so many people. Back when it wasn't as well known and there was only 1 location, it would've competed with Jake's and Oscar's, but now it doesn't quite live up to that in my opinion. But it still kicks ass.
I only go with Jake's because of the cheese sauce. In my opinion, that is the best ingredient on any burger of the 3. That's the difference maker for me.
It's insulting to even mention Bombers with the 3 above. I would put Elsa's 10 steps above Bombers, and Elsa's isn't even close to Sobleman's.
Quote from: wadesworld on October 04, 2015, 02:44:07 PM
I personally would have Jake's 1 and Oscar's 2, but that's splitting hairs. In my opinion, those 2 are head and shoulders better than what Sobleman's is now that they have to churn food out so fast to accommodate for so many people. Back when it wasn't as well known and there was only 1 location, it would've competed with Jake's and Oscar's, but now it doesn't quite live up to that in my opinion. But it still kicks ass.
I only go with Jake's because of the cheese sauce. In my opinion, that is the best ingredient on any burger of the 3. That's the difference maker for me.
It's insulting to even mention Bombers with the 3 above. I would put Elsa's 10 steps above Bombers, and Elsa's isn't even close to Sobleman's.
Isn't this article about burger joints on or very near campus? Most, if not all, of the other places you are mentioning wouldn't qualify.
Quote from: warriorchick on October 04, 2015, 02:47:51 PM
Isn't this article about burger joints on or very near campus? Most, if not all, of the other places you are mentioning wouldn't qualify.
This is true. Guess I (we) went on a tangent to just burgers in the Milwaukee area. Around MU it would come down to Oscar's and Sobleman's.
Quote from: wadesworld on October 04, 2015, 03:47:52 PM
This is true. Guess I (we) went on a tangent to just burgers in the Milwaukee area. Around MU it would come down to Oscar's and Sobleman's.
Not to belabor the point, but Oscar's is over a mile away from campus, well south of Potowatomi Casino. Not exactly in the neighborhood.
Quote from: warriorchick on October 04, 2015, 04:08:26 PM
Not to belabor the point, but Oscar's is over a mile away from campus, well south of Potowatomi Casino. Not exactly in the neighborhood.
I would bet the walk from the AMU to Sobleman's is less than 5 minutes shorter than the walk from the AMU to Oscar's.
Quote from: wadesworld on October 04, 2015, 04:30:20 PM
I would bet the walk from the AMU to Sobleman's is less than 5 minutes shorter than the walk from the AMU to Oscar's.
You know that there is a Sobelman's now where Angelo's used to be, right?
Campus to Sobelmans - 0 minutes.
Campus to Oscar's - 18 minutes
Source - Googlemaps
Quote from: warriorchick on October 04, 2015, 04:38:39 PM
You know that there is a Sobelman's now where Angelo's used to be, right?
Campus to Sobelmans - 0 minutes.
Campus to Oscar's - 18 minutes
Source - Googlemaps
Yeah, but as is the case with almost all restaurants that make multiple locations, the original Sobleman's > Marquette's Sobleman's.
Source - wadesworld
Oscar's over Sobleman's by wide margin IMO.
Quote from: wadesworld on October 04, 2015, 04:55:35 PM
Yeah, but as is the case with almost all restaurants that make multiple locations, the original Sobleman's > Marquette's Sobleman's.
Source - wadesworld
True, if it were a franchise arrangement... not so much when it's the same ownership, staff, vendors, etc.
Is that the same Oscar's on Hwy 100 (108th st) and Lincoln?
If so, could we consider Kopps an MU burger joint?
Quote from: Eldon on October 05, 2015, 11:12:36 AM
Is that the same Oscar's on Hwy 100 (108th st) and Lincoln?
If so, could we consider Kopps an MU burger joint?
No. That's Oscar's custard. We're speaking of Oscar's Pub on 17th and Pierce.
Oscar's beats Sobelman's, but the best burger in Milwaukee is in between the two. The Blackjack at the Firepit Grill in Potowatomi beats either of them.
Quote from: brewcity77 on October 05, 2015, 12:21:58 PM
Oscar's beats Sobelman's, but the best burger in Milwaukee is in between the two. The Blackjack at the Firepit Grill in Potowatomi beats either of them.
Is that supposed to be teal? Wad never a fan of the food at Poto.
Quote from: ChitownSpaceForRent on October 05, 2015, 01:59:24 PM
Is that supposed to be teal? Wad never a fan of the food at Poto.
Im surprised people have an appetite after spending time in there. Stale smoke, depression, and lack of hygiene doesn't make me crave a great burger.
Agreed on Oscar's outpacing Sobleman's to me the real difference is all about the meat. Sobleman's meat is cooked to well done, and the quality doesn't seem to be as good as Oscar's where I can get my burger cooked less than well done.