If you love fine food and wine then you will love Beggar's Banquet. Located in downtown East Lansing across from the storied buildings of Michigan State University, Beggar's Banquet has been providing the "gimme eat" style of service since 1973. Famous for it's casual atmosphere, high class food, extensive wine selection, the best baked brie in Mid-Michigan, and half-off bottles of wind and appetizers on wednesdays, it is a favorite haunt of cultured citizens.
As it can be gathered from the introduction, Beggar's Banquet is not your typical burger joint. However, everything else I have ever had there is excellent, so why not the burger. Their signature (and only) burger, Da' Burger is half-pound, Black Angus burger served with lettuce, tomatoes and onions on a kaiser roll. That sound good, right? Well, there is a lesson to be learned from the next option accompanying Da' Burger. In addition to the aforementioned ingredients, Da' Burger also comes with your choice of any 2 of the following:......... I did not include the options, because it really doesn't matter. When you see this sort of phrase, it is best to stay away. I have never had a burger that would be worthy of the TOP TEN that included a option such as this. Now don't get me wrong, the burger was okay. But, definitely not the best. I ordered medium-rare, I got medium-well (maybe the guy in the picture was cooking that night).
I ordered cajun seasoning (one of my two options), and I got salt (I am assuming, because I didn't taste any cajun's!). The meat was average at best. A little dry, adequately large, and pretty bland. The kaiser roll was indeed a kaiser roll. However, a burger is only as good as what is between the buns (that's what she said!!). Overall, I have to recommend Beggar's sticks to large chunks of baked cheese (again, it is SOOOOO good) and fermented grapes. Da' Burger - **** 4/10
Perks of Beggar's Banquet: HALF-OFF WINE AND APPETIZERS ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT (get a reservation.), BAKED-BRIE (soooo good), and really cool laid back staff and atmosphere.
