Heart Attack Grill Is Up Front About Slowly Killing You
Posted by Robyn Lee, September 23, 2008 at 3:00 PM
AHT reader Curtis R. gave us a heads up about Heart Attack Grill (warning: website automatically plays music) in Chandler, Arizona, the appropriately name three-year old burger restaurant whose motto is, "Taste Worth Dying For." Burgers topped with cheese, onion, and tomato range from the Single Bypass (single patty) to the towering Quadruple Bypass (quad-patty), and sides include Flatliner Fries (fried deep-fried in lard) and unfiltered cigarettes. Young waitresses are dressed in skimpy nurse uniforms (the subject of controversy in 2006) to fully convey the male-targeted hospital theme, not that they could give you any medical attention if you were to actually have a heart attack.
Are their burgers worth dying for? If you've been there, let us know how it is.
I've actually been there. Basic concept is "Hooters, but with burgers." And the burgers, are, well, meh. Greasy burgers overly laden with cheese, overly charred on the outside, cold on the inside. Despite the disclaimer ("our great tasting burgers may be hazardous to your health"), I've had many better burgers elsewhere. And the skimpy nurse uniforms creep me out more than anything else. It's also one of the least photogenic restaurants in the Phoenix area (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaszeta/1638279201/). Alas, I don't know where I've misplaced my burger shot.
If I'm looking for a good burger in the Phoenix area, I'd rather head over to Tempe and the Chuck Box (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaszeta/2139438858/)
Isn't this a rip-off of The Vortex in Atlanta? They have a Coronary Bypass Burger and a Double Bypass Burger. Theirs is a sirloin burger topped with a fried egg, three slices of cheese, and four pieces of bacon (the double has the bun replaced with two grilled cheeses. Yeah, you read that right.) And it has been around for a long time. (Longer than three years.)
Oh, and oddly, I've noticed that the Heart Attack Grill has seemingly set a record for "most transient" restaurant, having moved twice in the last year (Phoenix->Tempe->Chandler). Odd.
I went when it was in Tempe with my old man and polished off a quad w/ fries. I'm sure there are better places but I didnt think it was too terrible.
Now if any of you have any good places to try in the Twin Cities area (MN) I'm all for trying a better burger.
Twin Cities? Nothing really standout for your basic burger, but I always like a good Jucy Lucy from Matt's Bar, although that's definitely one of those love-it-or-hate it things. If you haven't at least tried one, you should go there or the 5-8 club.
Convention Grill in Edina and Annie's Parlour by the U both do a pretty decent burger as well (or did back in '01). Groveland Tap as well, if it's still around.
(I lived in Minneapolis from '95 to '01, I need to get back more often)
Ha, I can look out my office window and see the building formerly known as HAG, Phoenix branch, linked to above in kaszeta's post. It's now called something like Beer, Buns, and something else B, or maybe Beer, Burgers, and Buns (I'm not so close that I can read the sign). As much as I love trying someplace new when it opens nearby, I couldn't muster the courage. The waitresses look so ridiculous, and there was (may still be) a scantily-clad waitress mannquin propped up in the all-windowed corner. My boss told me he'd wanted to try it, walked over, and just kept on walking to the Burger King a couple of doors down.
I'm with kaszeta--I'd hit Chuck Box and even DeLux. Last week, I drove down the street that the Chuck Box is on, and all I could smell was burgerly goodness. Mmmm.
I ate there in 2007, at the location in Phoenix - the white building looking like a recycled DairyQueen. My friend and I both had the quadruple bypass. I finished mine, earning me the coveted wheelchair ride out to my car afterwards courtesy of the naughty nurse/waitresses. The quadruple is a massive beast, 2 lbs I think or more of cheesey bacony meaty goodness. I quite enjoyed my burger. I would have found it hard to finish if it had been lousy or even average, but it was tasty, perfectly cooked, the meat was juicy and flavorful throughout, and all hot and fresh. Lots of cheese and bacon, the cheese being the prime bonding agent holding the towering mass together - that and the plastic knife thrust down the center.
If I lived there I would go back - maybe not for the quad but just to have a single or double again. I recommend it! Lard cooked fries and a can of Arizona ice tea rounded out my meal. Cheers to my fellow burger lovers.
I've never eaten a DeLux burger, but their fries definitely pass muster. I keep on meaning to try it when I'm home, but I always end up at the Chuckbox...
I just visited there today during lunch time. The restaurant was big enough for the people they had, the whole medical theme I must admit is pretty cool and funny. The table/bar that you eat at is shaped like a red cross and you sit around it. Along with the nurses taking your order with the clip board as to look like a medical chart. I thought that was clever. I had the double bypass burger and could not finish it, these burgers a truly huge! I thought the flavor of the burger was really good, and was plenty juicy. The buns were toasted with butter on them, just like I do when I BBQ a burger at home. The result was a really good burger. I did not like the french fries because they were under a heat lamp and didn't seem that fresh. I had two Coronas with my meal and it seemed just right. The nurses were very easy on the eyes, I'm not sure why they have the mannequins though. It looks like a restaurant that could take off with the proper advertisement and as long as the quality of the food stays the same. I would prefer if the nurses brought you the burgers instead of just telling you to go pick them up. Other than that I would recommend the place and would probably go back if I was in town in the future.
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13 Comments:
Lucky Strikes? I thought the only meal those came with were war rations.
worldcupfever at 3:34PM on 09/23/08
I've actually been there. Basic concept is "Hooters, but with burgers." And the burgers, are, well, meh. Greasy burgers overly laden with cheese, overly charred on the outside, cold on the inside. Despite the disclaimer ("our great tasting burgers may be hazardous to your health"), I've had many better burgers elsewhere. And the skimpy nurse uniforms creep me out more than anything else. It's also one of the least photogenic restaurants in the Phoenix area (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaszeta/1638279201/). Alas, I don't know where I've misplaced my burger shot.
If I'm looking for a good burger in the Phoenix area, I'd rather head over to Tempe and the Chuck Box (http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaszeta/2139438858/)
kaszeta at 4:05PM on 09/23/08
Isn't this a rip-off of The Vortex in Atlanta? They have a Coronary Bypass Burger and a Double Bypass Burger. Theirs is a sirloin burger topped with a fried egg, three slices of cheese, and four pieces of bacon (the double has the bun replaced with two grilled cheeses. Yeah, you read that right.) And it has been around for a long time. (Longer than three years.)
brittj8585 at 8:30PM on 09/23/08
Oh, and oddly, I've noticed that the Heart Attack Grill has seemingly set a record for "most transient" restaurant, having moved twice in the last year (Phoenix->Tempe->Chandler). Odd.
kaszeta at 11:49PM on 09/23/08
I went when it was in Tempe with my old man and polished off a quad w/ fries. I'm sure there are better places but I didnt think it was too terrible.
Now if any of you have any good places to try in the Twin Cities area (MN) I'm all for trying a better burger.
bobfole at 1:34AM on 09/24/08
Twin Cities? Nothing really standout for your basic burger, but I always like a good Jucy Lucy from Matt's Bar, although that's definitely one of those love-it-or-hate it things. If you haven't at least tried one, you should go there or the 5-8 club.
Convention Grill in Edina and Annie's Parlour by the U both do a pretty decent burger as well (or did back in '01). Groveland Tap as well, if it's still around.
(I lived in Minneapolis from '95 to '01, I need to get back more often)
kaszeta at 7:40AM on 09/24/08
@Brittj8585 - The Vortex is truly one of the things I miss most about the ATL. They've got a good burger.
worldcupfever at 9:30AM on 09/24/08
Ha, I can look out my office window and see the building formerly known as HAG, Phoenix branch, linked to above in kaszeta's post. It's now called something like Beer, Buns, and something else B, or maybe Beer, Burgers, and Buns (I'm not so close that I can read the sign). As much as I love trying someplace new when it opens nearby, I couldn't muster the courage. The waitresses look so ridiculous, and there was (may still be) a scantily-clad waitress mannquin propped up in the all-windowed corner. My boss told me he'd wanted to try it, walked over, and just kept on walking to the Burger King a couple of doors down.
I'm with kaszeta--I'd hit Chuck Box and even DeLux. Last week, I drove down the street that the Chuck Box is on, and all I could smell was burgerly goodness. Mmmm.
OneWallKitchen at 12:55PM on 09/24/08
How is DeLux? That's been on my hit-list for a while, but I'm definitely pro Chuck Box (my first visit to the Box was in the early 80s)
kaszeta at 11:28AM on 09/25/08
I ate there in 2007, at the location in Phoenix - the white building looking like a recycled DairyQueen. My friend and I both had the quadruple bypass. I finished mine, earning me the coveted wheelchair ride out to my car afterwards courtesy of the naughty nurse/waitresses. The quadruple is a massive beast, 2 lbs I think or more of cheesey bacony meaty goodness. I quite enjoyed my burger. I would have found it hard to finish if it had been lousy or even average, but it was tasty, perfectly cooked, the meat was juicy and flavorful throughout, and all hot and fresh. Lots of cheese and bacon, the cheese being the prime bonding agent holding the towering mass together - that and the plastic knife thrust down the center.
If I lived there I would go back - maybe not for the quad but just to have a single or double again. I recommend it! Lard cooked fries and a can of Arizona ice tea rounded out my meal. Cheers to my fellow burger lovers.
stevetheburgerguy at 2:01PM on 09/25/08
I've never eaten a DeLux burger, but their fries definitely pass muster. I keep on meaning to try it when I'm home, but I always end up at the Chuckbox...
natty at 1:40PM on 09/30/08
I just visited there today during lunch time. The restaurant was big enough for the people they had, the whole medical theme I must admit is pretty cool and funny. The table/bar that you eat at is shaped like a red cross and you sit around it. Along with the nurses taking your order with the clip board as to look like a medical chart. I thought that was clever. I had the double bypass burger and could not finish it, these burgers a truly huge! I thought the flavor of the burger was really good, and was plenty juicy. The buns were toasted with butter on them, just like I do when I BBQ a burger at home. The result was a really good burger. I did not like the french fries because they were under a heat lamp and didn't seem that fresh. I had two Coronas with my meal and it seemed just right. The nurses were very easy on the eyes, I'm not sure why they have the mannequins though. It looks like a restaurant that could take off with the proper advertisement and as long as the quality of the food stays the same. I would prefer if the nurses brought you the burgers instead of just telling you to go pick them up. Other than that I would recommend the place and would probably go back if I was in town in the future.
sfsimpson at 7:30PM on 10/13/08
Vera's Burger Shack in Vancouver has had a dbl bypass burger since 1977.
gerald tritt at 10:58AM on 10/14/08