Review: Burgers & Blues

The Highway 51 chili cheese burger. (Credit: Leah Starnes)

related items

Review: Cool Al's

Award-winning local eatery's fantastic burgers are more than...

Review: Mugshots

Statewide burger champ continues to thrill at new Flowood...

Review: Rooster's

Great burgers and homestyle eats that made chef Nathan Glenn...

Al Stamps, the beloved chef behind Jackson staple (and Metromix’s Best Burger honoree) Cool Al’s, has done it again with a newly-fashioned, more upscale diner and blues club that has only been open a few weeks in Ridgeland. You will find the great eats you know and love from Cool Al’s like the infamous Stamp burgers and more with a great bar and fantastic large outside patio area. They are featuring live entertainment by local artists, and there’s always some toe-tapping blues music playing when there is not a band.

The food: Kick it off with some time tested appetizers that will certainly keep you coming back for more. Al’s famous fried pickles are a must, especially with some of the signature dipping sauces. Get yo mojo workin’ with his famous shrooms, jalapeno poppers, fried cheese sticks, chili cheese fries, onion rings, or sweet potato fries that are made from Mississippi-grown taters.

In the chili mood?  Well it will stand alone as a meal or you can have it poured over just about any food item you choose. I’m a bit partial to the Ramblin mini burgers and the loaded ranch dip packed with cheese, bacon, chives, and served with fries or potato chips. For some dipping with a little twist then check out the Jen’s peanut butter sauce and fries, it’s a favorite of many regulars ($3.45-$7.95).

If you’re going for a salad, then you can check out a whole or half order of a nice selection of offerings. There’s the requisite house, Caesar and chicken (grilled or fried), or you can have the best of both worlds—salad and Stamp burger!—with the Hwy 61 bacon and blue burger salad served over fresh lettuce with bleu cheese dressing ($4.45-$8.95) .

There is literally no way to describe the majesty of Al Stamps’ burgers to the uninitiated.  Trust me and just drop in, pick out your favorite toppings and sit back and enjoy one of the best burgers you will ever eat. They offer three sizes (5-oz., 8 oz. and a full pound) to please any eater with an array of toppings including savory treats like Heinz 57 sauce, Lea & Perrins, jalapenos, hot pepper jack cheese, turkey bacon, bleu cheese, or chili ($5.45-$10.95).

Now the real test is the Whammy, which is three 1-lb. patties with all the trimmings. If you can down this specialty—along with fries and a milkshake, didn’t think it be that easy, did you?— if 30 minutes, then you don’t have to pay for it, and you will also walk away with a free t-shirt, a spot on their wall of fame, and more than likely a stomachache. Otherwise be ready to fork over $29.95.

There’s plenty more to try on the menu, with a patty melt, pizza burger, pimento cheese burger, the “free style” (which leaves it up to your imagination to concoct a favorite of your own), a pineapple express, a veggie style, or even a peanut butter burger. Now that’s just about every type burger you can pull together in one place.

Other sandwich offerings include sloppy Joes, a huge hunk of bologna sandwich, sausage, BLT, chicken tenders, chicken breast, and even a good ol’ fashioned hot dogs (done up Stamps-style, of course).

If you are still capable of having dessert then there’s Blue Bell ice cream, shakes, sundaes and floats to end your incredible dining experience.

The drink: They’ve got the usual soft drinks and iced tea, as well as fresh-squeezed homemade lemonade and root beer that will quench your thirst—and that’s just the non-alcoholic beverages.

The bar offers a huge on-tap beer menu of over 12 domestic and imports served up iced cold in 16 ounce mugs. They also feature over 23 different bottled domestic and imports which will certainly have you testing several of the offerings that can’t be found at other restaurants.

The scene: If you’re used to to Cool Al’s quaint but lived-in atmosphere, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by Burgers & Blues.

The dining area is airy and open with high tables and chairs, a fantastic side porch for outdoor eating and a spacious bar adorned with aluminum siding to give the place a juke joint feel worthy of its name. You can sit at the bar, find a great table, or get it to go, as they seem to be really aiming to make this a must visit new venue and well needed in the area.

A number of televisions with one huge screen over the bar rivals the setups at some local sports bars, and there are several video games in the back or a few at the bar for your gaming enjoyment. If you stay for the live entertainment be sure to check their web site for upcoming attractions.

The bottom line: Burgers & Blues may very well be the answer to many Stamps burger fans' prayers. It combines the delicious menu offerings and mom-and-pop charm of Cool Al’s with the pristine atmosphere and full service of a top-tier franchise restaurant. Still, don’t expect fast food swiftness—the burgers are still made by hand to order, but the larger kitchen does cut down on the wait.

We were pleased with the speed of the appetizers and drinks, and did not go away disappointed. Take a little time, check out one of the best burgers you will find anywhere and enjoy a bit of tradition in a new location that will quickly be making a name for themselves, for Burgers and Blues is definitely headed in the right direction.