I am Prince Charming. Come visit me in my WHITE CASTLE
Written: Sep 17 '03 (Updated Apr 01 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Cheese Burger is paradise!!
Cons: Chicken rings are for the birds.
The Bottom Line: The White Castle always grabs me when I drive by. Those little "belly bombers"can be addictive.
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| popsrocks's Full Review: White Castle |
The king of burgers in sales is McDonalds. The other guy, Burger King, labels himself as top royalty.
Though both are the regal in the field of fast food neither one can boast a castle like White Castle. So I crown White Castle the Prince of fast food burgers. And I will hang out inside as often as I pass the place.
WHITE CASTLE BURGERS SERVED SOMEWHERE ELSE?
I recently went to the Epinions New York Meet and Greet. It was an occasion where people who write for Epinions had an opportunity to meet those who run the company from its home on the west coast. It was held in a place called the ESPN Zone in the heart of Times Square NY. They served little burgers and many people commented on them looking just like White Castle burgers, only a little bit bigger. They even had that white castle feel in the mouth like no other burger has.
MY WHITE CASTLE
I have a White Castle that is a few miles away from me in the town of Lynbrook, Long Island. The distinctive white, castle like building with blue letters always seems to catch my eye and call me in. It's truly a downfall of mine. But I say to myself. "Oh, the burger is so small, how could they hurt". The key word was "they". I just don't eat one, or two. Or three or four. Or even five and six. I go for more. In fact it is encouraged that you by them by the sack or the large Crave Case that holds 30 of these babies. This goes for $14.70. I'll tell you more about the burgers in a little bit.
My castle has about 16 or seventeen tables that can seat four. It's laid out in even rows. The lighting is florescent on a white drop ceiling.
Blue blue and white colors of their logo are the dominant colors of the inside decor. The tables have a bit of blue on their design. The business has large windows and is well lit.
Most White Castles have gone to the traditional ordering stations in one area. For years they had windows in different parts of the restaurant with supporting kitchens at each station. The windows always seem to be busy, I mean every moment, but don't have long lines often.
I found the help very quick to take an order and very helpful. I happened to ask a couple of questions most people wouldn't ask about the place and they were eager to answer.
The kitchen looked clean enough from what I could tell from the order window.
For a purchase you would give your order, pay, and then be given a receipt with a large print number on it. You would wait for your number to be called and and then retrieve your order.
The tables and floors were fairly clean. I did see the little diced onions from their burgers in many places like the tables, seats and floors. There was help that did clear tables and wipe them down, but not all that well. These little onions seem to be the scourge of White Castle because I always notice them.
The open area of this fast food restaurant also has a soft drink station and coffee station. I found the soft drink, a coke, very sweet and not well carbonated on this last occasion. I never noticed that before. The coffee was self serve with three fixed coffee pots. Morning refills are easy to get.
Soft drinks were priced at $1.10 small, $1.45 medium and $1.75 large.
This particular restaurant does not have a drive up window. Many do! Many White Castles are now open twenty four hours. Check individual hours of each restaurant.
The rest rooms, or at least the men's room was clean and even smelled pleasant enough for what it is.
WHITE CASTLE BURGERS
Known as a White Castles at least in the NY area, the small square burger that measures a bit over 2"x2" sells for $.49 That's a Long Island NY price. I'm sure they are less elsewhere. White Castle's also have other names. They are affectionately known as sliders, belly bombers, and WC's. I have used the term belly bombers for at least the last 25 years. I couldn't tell you how many I have eaten in the past quarter century but this "price charming of the White Castle" has a belly that goes out to....
What makes these burgers so tasty is the way they are cooked. They are steam grilled or is it grill steamed. In any case the ground beef is on a grill. The beef itself has holes in it. This allows heat and juices to flow through and evenly cook the meat and flavor and soften the bottom of the roll. This process also includes steaming. This is done with a bed of cooked diced onions and a pickle and ketchup are added. These are then put into a perfect fit cardboard box. This keeps them hot and also helps maintain their shape. Steaming also helps melt the cheese when purchasing one with that option.
You can't think regular hamburger when you think White Castle. This is a different kind of burger that people, once they have tried it, crave!
It's usually a love it or hate it. Most seem to love it. Hey, the company, that happens to be the oldest of all the hamburger chains, has been doing this since 1921. That's a lot of burgers ago!!
I mentioned the Crave Case earlier. This is packed in a very neat looking suitcase like box stacked with two levels of 15 burgers. These are perfect for that Super bowl party or that rained out picnic.
I have never tried there frozen options of 16 WC's at 8.00 or 16 Cheeseburgers at $9.60 Ha, I could never see me go into this place and buy these frozen ones without downing a few, that's quite a few fresh hot ones. There is a smell when you go in that gets you drooling!
MORE TO COME
White Castle also offers cheeseburgers .60, Double white castle .98, double cheeseburger $1.20 and chicken or fish sandwiches. at $1.98.
A kid's meal special is a soft drink, White Castle and fries @ $2.49
Some side orders are also on their menu. French fries medium and large and with or without cheese. I like their fries. They are crispy outside without being hard inside.
Onion rings Mozzerella cheese sticks and the fairly new chicken rings are also available. I tried the chicken rings. They were very greasy in the batter but the chicken itself was pretty tasty. I wouldn't get them again.
I didn't mention onion rings and fried clams.
Besides the soft drinks, vanilla and chocolate shakes are also available in two sizes $1.39 and $2.29.
Look for coffee, decaf, tea, milk, and OJ too.
BREAKFAST
I didn't get the exact breakfast hours but I can tell you they have the same mini sandwich sizes with bacon, egg and cheese or sausage, egg and cheese at .98 If you want to save some pennies go without the meat. at .49
Coffee, decaf, and tea are always ready to go.
CLOSING REMARKS
My Castle has high chairs for little ones and vending machines for kids to waste money in.
Though I enjoy a regular, full sized, all beef, juicy medium well cheeseburger, there is something special about downing a half score or more of my "belly bombers". I keep going back. Come visit me in my castle one day. I'll be sitting on my throne.
Other reviews by popsrocks of other places on Long Island
Freeport's Nautical Mile A great destination with dozens of fine restaurants.
Long Island So much to so many
More chain eateries by popsrocks
Romano's MACARONI GRILL / KFC / OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE / Wendy's
OUTBACK Restaurant / Cozymel's / Cheesecake Factory / McDonald's / Checkers Burgers / Red Lobster
The White Castle / TGI Friday's / Charlie Browns / Burger King / Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips /
Friendly's / Cold Stone Creamery / Dunkin' Donuts / Krispy Kreme / Ralph's Famous Ices
Recommended:
Yes
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