My Darling, My Brewburger

What happens when you put the shell of a former Braum's location, handmade burgers and a entrepreneurial south Tulsa family in a jar of awesome sauce and toss to cover?

Brewburger, that's what.

How I found out about Brewburger is my favorite way to find out about new locally owned businesses to try: From a friend. And then another friend. And another friend after that.

Until finally, I'm the only one I know who hasn't tried it.

Last summer, when I finally did make my way to Brewburger, I discovered that what everyone had been raving about was something I wasn't interested in living without anymore. I found fresh beef, bison and fish for burgers. I found housemade, fried-to-order tortilla chips. And onion rings so good that I had the distinct urge to slap my grandma. Plus, local art for sale displayed on the walls.

I also found a restaurant owned by a Tulsa family a lot like mine: Two food-loving adults with a small fry in tow. Translation? One of the most kid-friendly restaurants in town with a menu full of thoughtfully made, delicious food.

Hold on. Can we talk about something right quick?

Since when does this kid have legs a million miles long?

Golly gosh darn it, kiddo, I told you to stop that growing so fast.

Now, before you know it, you're gonna have gas bills and homeowner's insurance and car tags to pay for. But when you do, don't come crying to me. I told you early on that growing up too fast was something you wouldn't want to do.

But then you went and did it anyway.

See? He never listens. All he wants to do is eat and grow.

And run around like crazy a lot.

Not only is it easy in the culinary sense to eat at Brewburger, but it's easy on the wallet, too. Mondays, munchkins like this guy here eat for a buck.

On Wednesdays - our favorite day to visit Brewburger, since it's like that extra push we need to make it through hump day and into the rest of the week - two Brewburgers go for $10.

All drinks, including beer, are half-price every Saturday. Which makes this guy pretty happy:

This guy lives with an over-active jumping bean whose emotions can turn on a dime and who can't seem to keep from touching the really expensive, breakable things at the gift shops.

He also lives with a toddler. The man, he needs a drink every now and again.

We started our more recent meal at Brewburger with an order of those made-to-order tortilla chips I was telling you about.

As you can see, an hand full is worth trying to climb the table.

Then, it was burgers all around.

Hey, you fresh, crispy, house-made fries. I see you back there.

I order my son's burgers well done. My husband, he prefers medium-well. But me, I like my burgers pink in the middle, somewhere between medium and medium rare.

For some reason, though, I've had a really hard time getting a burger cooked to order correctly in this town as of late. Nine times out of 10, my burger is cooked well, even when I order it medium rare. I've been nice and have only sent one back (which is really saying something, since I have a friend who's afraid to have dinner with me because if something about my order isn't right, particularly if it's overcooked, I'm pretty likely to send it back), but honestly, I've been irked.

Thanks, Brewburger, for getting it right. With that juicy pink center you left in my burger that Wednesday, you gave me hope in all of burger-cookin' kind.

And that, my friends, is the TDT Tot Seal of Approval.

Brewburger
Where: 6577 E. 71st Street
When: 11am-9pm Monday-Saturday
Call: (918) 591-2818
Web: http://www.brewburgertulsa.com/
How much: $1 for a kid's meal on Monday-$7.50 for the likes of the Turkey Burger, the Fish Burger, the Buffalo Burger, the Brew Wrap and the Mexi Wrap (click here for the full menu)