I am standing in a line that snakes around three times before stretching out the door.
FOR A BURGER.
Not just any burger, I tell myself. A burger from Bobby Flay’s new burger joint, on 39th and Walnut. Since its April 6 opening, Bobby’s Burger Palace has been drawing flash mobs at meal times.
Now, I like a good burger as much as the next carnivore, but I haven’t encountered a line this long since my last tango with airport security. I loathe waiting for anything — especially if it’s edible — and yet, here I am, cooling my heels at 1:30 on a Thursday afternoon.
This had better be the best burger in the history of the known world. Or at least of Walnut Street.
Forty minutes later, I finally reach the counter. I place my order for a Classic Palace burger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion) and a black-and-white shake. I pay my $12.42 check, take a number, find a seat.
After 10 minutes, the waitress brings my meal. The burger is tasty, but hardly the best I’ve ever had. And it doesn’t even come with fries. The shake, albeit delicious, is kiddie size. What was I expecting for five bucks?
Scanning the paper menu, there is not a single reference to the surname of the Food Network’s “Throwdown!” star. There’s a Philadelphia Burger and a Miami Burger and an L.A. Burger and a Dallas Burger, but there’s no Bobby Flay Burger.
I look around the restaurant for something, anything, that would link the eatery to Bobby Flay. Zero.
Imagine, for a moment, that you’ve never heard of Bobby Flay. You wander into Bobby’s Burger Palace, wondering why there’s a line and who this Bobby is. You can’t believe they’re getting $7.50 for a Crunchburger (double American cheese, potato chips), but you order it, anyway.
It’s good, but not $7.50 good. As you leave, you ask yourself, “Why did I wait so long for an overpriced burger in a crappy bun?”
And that, my friends, is called getting Flayed.
GAIL SHISTER writes for The Philly Post every Tuesday.





















April 20th, 2010 at 10:19 am
April 20th, 2010 at 12:01 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 12:50 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 12:52 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 1:29 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Phillymag: 1, Bobby Flay: 0
April 20th, 2010 at 2:56 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 3:43 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 5:18 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 7:03 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 7:37 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 10:12 pm
April 20th, 2010 at 10:13 pm
I could have told you anything that hyped up couldn’t possibly be that good. I suggest Copa’s half off burgers on Wednesdays instead.
April 20th, 2010 at 10:25 pm
First, mad props to your little icon picture. I love it.
Second, I can’t believe you didn’t go for the L.A. Burger, sweet potato fries and dark chocolate milkshake– especially after I wrote about it in our class blog! Professor, “make good choices:” please go again and order what I did.
Third, you caught my attention with “cooling my heels at 1:30 on a Thursday afternoon.” I’m imagining you wearing a pair of bling-bling stiletto heels…
April 20th, 2010 at 10:31 pm
April 21st, 2010 at 12:47 am
April 21st, 2010 at 5:56 am
April 21st, 2010 at 10:39 am
April 21st, 2010 at 3:54 pm
He’s way too busy contributing to the mind-numbing programing on the Food Network to be concerned about whether you enjoyed your over-priced burger in West Philly.
Did you really expect more?
April 21st, 2010 at 8:11 pm
’nuff said.
April 21st, 2010 at 10:08 pm
April 28th, 2010 at 12:27 pm
The condiments at BBP are also outstanding- chipotle ketchup, jalapeno sauce, and the burger sauce. The spicy red pepper mayo that accompanies the fries is also addictive. You neglected to mention any of the condiments.
Also, the “kiddie” shake- that shake has 11 oz of Hagen Das ice cream in it. That’s almost a pint. What kid is finishing that?
What I also love about BBP is you can order your burger cooked rare, and they will cook it rare. They do not overcook their burgers.
For a burger, you will not do better than this place.
April 23rd, 2011 at 5:24 pm