Burgers at The Rail

Wendi and I went to Fairlawn to take advantage of some of our Entertainment Book coupons and to walk around the Summit Mall. As we were walking inside the mall, I decided to check into Foursquare. When I did, I noticed The Rail was at the mall.

So, we decided once we walked for about 30 minutes, we would go in and try a burger from The Rail, which is one of Mike Mariola's enterprises (City Square Steakhouse and South Market Bistro in Wooster are two others). The burger joint has an intimate feel inside. It is like the Cheers of burger bars, where it seems like everybody knows your name. (At least General Manager David Drumm did.)

Wendi opted for the Crouching Burger (Hidden Bacon), and I had a Rail burger with pepperjack cheese and Ohio thick-cut bacon. The Crouching Burger features a patty, smoked pork, a crispy wonton, Ohio thick-cut bacon and Rail sauce. When we received the burgers, it was nice surprise to see the patties were hand-formed. So, instead of being thin and flat, they were plump. It was also nice to see something Mariola started with the South Market Bistro continues at The Rail: An emphasis on local foods. The beef comes from cows raised in Ohio, the milk and ice cream come from Smith's Dairy in Orrville and the adult beverages, of which I do not imbibe, is local, too.

We also decided to supplement our burgers with the loaded potato chips. The tempura chips are covered with cheese, bacon, sour cream and green onions. (We skipped the onions.) These were very good and crispy, and there was enough for us to share. The chips are an appetizer, and we decided to have them before the burgers. Maybe next time, we'll have them together.

When the burgers arrived, they were very tasty. The first thing noticeable is the charred flavor, which I enjoy. The menu lists the bacon as thick-cut, and it surely lives up to the description. It was very crispy, flavorful and thick.

My burger with pepperjack cheese and bacon was very good. Wendi's burger, while tasty, was a little dry. It was ordered medium rare and came out closer to medium. (We ended up sharing the burgers; we each had half of both hamburgers).

The Crouching Burger (Hidden Bacon) is a good concept, but the crispy wonton and smoked pork flavors did not really come through. Unless I saw the wonton, I would not have known I was eating it. The smoked pork flavor was mostly muted, but on those occasions when it shined, it really shined.

Overall, it was a nice experience. I love the decor and feel of the place; the food is good; and the staff is friendly.

IKEA Swedish meatballs

On a whim, my brother-in-law Shaun thought it would be a good idea to go to IKEA in Pittsburgh. Wendi and I had spent the night with Shaun and Randi, Wendi's sister, because of weather conditions.

So, on Saturday morning, we headed for Pittsburgh because Shaun thought it would be nice.

Even though roads were not the best on Friday night, they were clear all the way to IKEA.

Because Marc Kovac has talked about IKEA's Swedish meatballs, I knew I had to try them. They were pretty good and only $3.99. The mashed potatoes were even better. The sauce was very tasty. The Lingonberries, well, not so good. I had never had them before.

Overall, the dish was a good meal and a great deal.