Gordon Biersch (Atlanta, GA)

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Atlanta, GA 30320

 

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants is a chain of restaurants that serve basic American bar food and special beers, notably those from their own brewery. They currently have 35 locations in 19 states, including two in Atlanta, and now a new fairly big one in Atlanta airport.

I get a BBQ Burger ($12.65) and ask for no cheese and add jalapeños. The burger is thick and crusty, but fairly dry (despite ordering medium it comes well done) and burnt on the sides. The bun is thick and quite dry too, the jalapeños fresh but not too spicy, and the bbq sauce basic but not powerful. The fries are standard for a US chain like this: thick, salty, but soggy.

VERDICT: 88:100

It's pretty good for a chain restaurant at the airport.

Fritkot (Brussels, Belgium)

 Inside Train Station Brussels-Midi, Brussels, Belgium

Brussels-Midi (South) is the busiest train station in Belgium, servicing not just trains to everywhere in Belgium, but also abroad (e.g. Amsterdam, London, Paris). It is a huge station with a broad range of little shops. For a long time the food options weren't that good, which is remarkable given Brussels' reputation for good food. Fritkot is one of the new better fast food options that was recently opened. It offers classic Belgian fries and snacks at fairly steep prices. That said, the fries were really good.

VERDICT: 86/100

Quality-wise Fritkot is undoubtedly among the better friteries in Brussels, but the steep price makes it more a location to use when you can't go to one of the better or cheaper options in town.

Gordon Biersch (Atlanta, GA)

Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, A-Gate, Atlanta, GA 30320

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurants is a chain of restaurants that serve basic American bar food and special beers, notably those from their own brewery. They currently have 35 locations in 19 states, including two in Atlanta, and now a new fairly big one in Atlanta airport.

I get a BBQ Burger ($12.65) and ask for no cheese and add jalapeños. The burger is thick and crusty, but fairly dry (despite ordering medium it comes well done) and burnt on the sides. The bun is thick and quite dry too, the jalapeños fresh but not too spicy, and the bbq sauce basic but not powerful. The fries are standard for a US chain like this: thick, salty, but soggy.

VERDICT: 88:100

This is pretty good bar food for a chain restaurant at an airport.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (Athens, GA)

 2050 Oconee Connector, Athens, GA 30606, T: 706-354-0671

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers is a fast food chain out of Wichita, Kansas. It started in 2002 and already has over 100 locations in some 20 states of the US. It's menu is pretty straightforward: burgers, hot dogs, frozen custard with also a chicken and fish sandwich option. All are done pretty old-school, i.e. mostly with mustard and ketchup. I tried to go on the first day it opened in Athens, roughly half a year ago, but it was too busy. When I returned a couple of weeks later, it was still busy, but not too bad.

I get a Freddy's Original Double Combo Meal and a chili dog. The burger is quite big and the patties are a bit crusty. Overall, the burger tastes a bit better than those of cheap fast food chains (like McDonald's or Burger King), but less good than those at higher-end chains (like Five Guys). The fries are shoestring and not very exciting. The hot dog is ok.

VERDICT: 77/100

Freddy's is a dime a dozen fast food chain, which is a bit more expensive and a bit better than McDonald's.

Curry Time by DINEA (Cologne, Germany)

Hohe Strasse 41-55, Cologne, Germany

Curry Time is a small kiosk (Snackfenster) on the outside of the huge Kaufhof department store in the main shopping street of downtown Cologne. It is run by the restaurant part of Kaufhof and offers just a couple of different sausages, which come with bread or fries.

I'm getting a Currywurst with bread (€ 1.50), which essentially is a bratwurst cut into small pieces, covered with a warm ketchup, and sprinkled with spices. It comes with a big fresh crispy roll. Overall pretty standard.

VERDICT: 83/100
Curry Time is a standard currywurst kiosk in terms of quality and price.

Sandwich Bar (Haifa, Israel)

 Sderot, Hanassi 128, Haifa, Israel, T: 04-838-6386

Sandwich Bar is probably the best named shop in the word: a no-thrills sandwich shop. You can choose from two different types of sandwiches, but different toppings, most of them very fresh (from roast beef to schnitzel, from cream cheese to salmon).

I forgot exactly what sandwich I ordered, I think some kind of ham, which came with all the vegetables you want, and is then pressed in a panini press. While I was quite skeptical at first, as it didn't look special or particularly tasty at all, I was soon won over. These people know how to make sandwiches!

VERDICT: 88/100
Excellent no-thrills sandwich shop, with a lot of choice.

Mr. Montana (Geleen, Netherlands)

Rijksweg Zuid 89, 6161 BG Geleen, Netherlands, T: 06-19454759

Mr. Montana is a snackbar that serves traditional Dutch snacks, pizza, and shawarma. It is a fairly large place, which seems to mainly do deliveries. The menu is extremely extensive and the guys who work there are extremely nice and professional.

T. gets a Falafel Plate (EUR 8.50 or $9.25), while I get a Dürüm Döner Kebab (EUR 4.50 or $5). Both are very acceptable and good for a snackbar. What I really like is that they have all the Belgian sauces, so I can put Samourai sauce on my Döner, which makes it much better.

VERDICT: 86/100

This is one of the better snackbar/shawarma places I have eaten at. On top of that, the people are awesome, so go there!