Note: If you're wondering where our usual Tuesday reviewer Nick Solares is, he's currently on vacation with limited Internet access (probably for the best so he can actually relax). Thankfully, Serious Eats member Philip Given, aka, Prairie, answered our cry for help and quickly brought us a review with some great photos. Take it away, Philip!
White Rose Bar & Grill
48 N Beaver Street, York PA 17401 (map); 717-848-5369; whiterosebarandgrill.com Cooking Method: Grilled Short Order: A juicy patty, fresh veggies, and a fluffy bun make for a great burger. Prices: Half-pound cheeseburger, $7.95; fries or onion rings, +$1
Few restaurant folks are able to say they are third generation owners, but Tom Sibel is one of them. Sibel's grandparents opened The White Rose Bar and Grill in 1933 in the form of a tiny sandwich shop. The once unassuming joint has evolved and grown into a York institution, consuming over half a city block. It calls York, Pennsylvania, its home, a small city nuzzled between Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Baltimore.
Their menu is a variety show of time tested favorites. Among their named specialties is their volcanic hot rocks (cook your own meat in a primal fashion), fresh made crab dip, crab cakes, and pit beef. Based on past experience, all of these dishes are good in their own way, but we AHT-ers know that sometimes you just want a burger, a slice of cheese, and a golden bun.
The burgers, all of which consist of a half pound of locally raised meat, range from the standard “build as you like” style all the way to the decadent hot crab dip and cheddar-covered Chesapeake Burger. The signature burger, aptly named the White Rose Burger, is a pulled pork barbecue and cheese sauce amalgamation. But for the purposes of this review, we decided to keep it simple.
We ordered their standard burger, medium rare, with cheddar cheese, red onion, lettuce, tomato, and ketchup, accompanied by a side of onion rings. The first thing that jumps out at you about the burgers at White Rose is the height of the top half of the bun. No need to unhinge your jaw Crotalus adamanteus-style here though—the bun is soft, puffy, and overall a perfect match for rest of the burger. I could’ve done with one fewer slice of the nicely ripened tomato, but the lettuce and onion were perfectly portioned, fresh, and crisp.
The patty was hand formed and grilled to a proper temperature. The meat was packed loose enough to retain a good deal of juiciness, which contrasted nicely with the crispy grill marks on the outside. The cheddar cheese (sorry, Nick, I know I failed you here) was not overpowering and, unless you really love dairy with your beef, probably isn’t necessary at all.
With each burger you have the option of french fries, fresh potato chips, and onion rings. Having had the first two in past visits to the White Rose, we opted for the latter. To quote my dining companion: "You know how with some onion rings you bite and the entire onion comes out? These onions know their place in society. They stay right inside the batter."
In their simplest form, the burgers at White Rose Bar & Grill with the hand pattied and grilled beef, fresh veggies, and fluffy bun, are a major win. If you head into unfamiliar territory by adding crab dip or pork barbecue, you are on your own. If you ever find yourself in York and hungry for a burger, swing by the White Rose (and let me know that you are visiting!).
Sounds great, and my sister lives out that way. I think we need to make a special trip next time we're hanging out...I gotta say, I'm very interested in all the specialties you listed here. This may take several trips.
As a current New Yorker that grew up in York, I am very pleasantly surprised to see the White Rose B&G reviewed on AHT. Well done. Next time you do a central PA review, try Vito's cheeseburger sub for something a little different.
I have had many a beef sandwich at the White Rose, but never a burger. Guess I'll have to try it when I'm up that way again. Since we get there only a few times per year, I like the Roadhouse's 10 oz. burgers on old Rte. 30 across form the old Stony Brook Drive-In.
@Prairie - I don't know if we know each other, but I am always looking for good food in York! Its nice to know that there is a decent burg' somewhere other than five guys.
We went to the White Rose yesterday after YorkFest specifically to try the burgers - fantastic! Too big to even finish, but absolutely delicious. Next time I will get a plain cheeseburger, because the meat itself had more than enough flavor that we didn't even need the rest of the fanfare on top. Thanks for the great recommendation!
Well, first off, I have to give kudos for one item at the White rose. We were all very happy with the food (yum salmon wrapped in bacon). But, what happened next will probably keep us all from ever going back.
To start as we were all but finished our food. The (management) came out and canned the entertainment in the middle of his set. (Live acoustic guitar) It was very nice and he could actually sing (on key). As he packed(broke down) his gear; a somber note rang throughout the lounge area as the gentlemen removed his equipment and the management put the awful fm radio back on. As a side note we approached the musician; he shared the little factoid; he was told to quit because he wasn’t right for the crowd. Oddly though that LOTS of people were singing along with him (the musician). Anyway, that isn’t the reason why we will never return just yet.
We were now done eating (an hour and half had passed) and the waitress took away all our plates and utensils. This is when my sister got a text from a friend about dropping by to join us for a couple drinks. He arrived within a few minutes and went up to the bar and got his beer. Then we talked about all sorts of things for roughly 30 minutes. Then another friend texted us and joined us. Now here is where it starts to go under for our party of 6 which just spent over a 100.00 on food not to mention the drinks on top of that. Our new guest went to the bar and got his draft. Now we chatted for another roughly another 10 mins MAX. Then a member of management came over and started to harass our first guest. His ID was cracked; and he was told he could no longer be served and should leave. We all piped up and said perhaps he should check all our IDs (Mind you none of our party was carded at all and served multiple times) – An it should also be noted our latest guest LOOKED like they might be 18 at best, However, our young looking guest is as gay as a 3 dollar bill and Mexican/Native American and perhaps they didn’t want to be so bold as to play that race and discrimination card. Yet, we know now they don’t like people of color, since the person they harassed incessantly was black and was threatened with calling the police. Mind you, this person (our black friend) was as quiet as a mouse during most of our conversations among ourselves. So in closing, if you are a lily white group of people keep it as such, if you want to have a good time. But, if you want to get kicked out and bullied by Bigots – By all means invite your friends of color. It will just make your bloody day. – Perhaps they should rename themselves the ((White Lily)) – Anyway, none of us will set foot in their establishment again. SHAME since they had good food, but, I don’t endorse BIGOTS.
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10 Comments:
Though the photos are great, I really would have liked a true 'autopsy' shot, with a clear view of the wonderful juices!
rvyborney at 2:28PM on 08/25/09
Sounds great, and my sister lives out that way. I think we need to make a special trip next time we're hanging out...I gotta say, I'm very interested in all the specialties you listed here. This may take several trips.
toad3000 at 2:29PM on 08/25/09
As a current New Yorker that grew up in York, I am very pleasantly surprised to see the White Rose B&G reviewed on AHT. Well done. Next time you do a central PA review, try Vito's cheeseburger sub for something a little different.
Gonta at 3:01PM on 08/25/09
YAY, so glad to see York make its way onto Serious Eats! We've got some great food here.
parvax at 4:10PM on 08/25/09
I have had many a beef sandwich at the White Rose, but never a burger. Guess I'll have to try it when I'm up that way again. Since we get there only a few times per year, I like the Roadhouse's 10 oz. burgers on old Rte. 30 across form the old Stony Brook Drive-In.
Oneiron at 4:40PM on 08/26/09
See, now I have an excuse to go to the train show...yeah, I still play with trains.
richopp at 7:20PM on 08/26/09
toad3000 - The crab specialties, namely the crab pretzel, really are great.
Gonta - sweet. How long have you been up in NY? I've been to Vito's on Queen St. but never to try the cheeseburger sub. How is diff. then others?
parvax - Do I know you? Haha. We should get together sometime!
Oneiron - The Roadhouse's burgers ARE good. Especially the english muffin one.
richopp - we
Prairie at 9:28AM on 08/27/09
@Prairie - I don't know if we know each other, but I am always looking for good food in York! Its nice to know that there is a decent burg' somewhere other than five guys.
parvax at 7:08PM on 08/27/09
We went to the White Rose yesterday after YorkFest specifically to try the burgers - fantastic! Too big to even finish, but absolutely delicious. Next time I will get a plain cheeseburger, because the meat itself had more than enough flavor that we didn't even need the rest of the fanfare on top. Thanks for the great recommendation!
parvax at 11:12AM on 08/30/09
Appalled at the Bigotry Oct 3rd 2009
Well, first off, I have to give kudos for one item at the White rose. We were all very happy with the food (yum salmon wrapped in bacon). But, what happened next will probably keep us all from ever going back.
To start as we were all but finished our food. The (management) came out and canned the entertainment in the middle of his set. (Live acoustic guitar) It was very nice and he could actually sing (on key). As he packed(broke down) his gear; a somber note rang throughout the lounge area as the gentlemen removed his equipment and the management put the awful fm radio back on. As a side note we approached the musician; he shared the little factoid; he was told to quit because he wasn’t right for the crowd. Oddly though that LOTS of people were singing along with him (the musician). Anyway, that isn’t the reason why we will never return just yet.
We were now done eating (an hour and half had passed) and the waitress took away all our plates and utensils. This is when my sister got a text from a friend about dropping by to join us for a couple drinks. He arrived within a few minutes and went up to the bar and got his beer. Then we talked about all sorts of things for roughly 30 minutes. Then another friend texted us and joined us. Now here is where it starts to go under for our party of 6 which just spent over a 100.00 on food not to mention the drinks on top of that. Our new guest went to the bar and got his draft. Now we chatted for another roughly another 10 mins MAX. Then a member of management came over and started to harass our first guest. His ID was cracked; and he was told he could no longer be served and should leave. We all piped up and said perhaps he should check all our IDs (Mind you none of our party was carded at all and served multiple times) – An it should also be noted our latest guest LOOKED like they might be 18 at best, However, our young looking guest is as gay as a 3 dollar bill and Mexican/Native American and perhaps they didn’t want to be so bold as to play that race and discrimination card. Yet, we know now they don’t like people of color, since the person they harassed incessantly was black and was threatened with calling the police. Mind you, this person (our black friend) was as quiet as a mouse during most of our conversations among ourselves. So in closing, if you are a lily white group of people keep it as such, if you want to have a good time. But, if you want to get kicked out and bullied by Bigots – By all means invite your friends of color. It will just make your bloody day. – Perhaps they should rename themselves the ((White Lily)) – Anyway, none of us will set foot in their establishment again. SHAME since they had good food, but, I don’t endorse BIGOTS.
manasponge at 8:53AM on 10/04/09