R.I.P. Mickey D! You’re de-throned BK! Its Wendy’s ending! We’re kicking Krystal to the Kurb! You guys are tired and obsolete. Sometime between the fifties, when you were new and good, and the 70’s, when you, and every other producer of anything in the good old US of A turned your products into crap, the death knell for you began sounding. The Nineties and the new millennium ushered in a return to quality and excellence in manufacturing, and allowed iconic fast food brands to build unit heavy empires. Unfortunately, you failed to improve your product, continued to raise prices, and failed to see the revolution that upstart competitors were about to unleash. These days, for the same money you charge for your mass produced corporate burger products, I can get a high quality, unique burger masterpiece. There’s been an explosion of fast service burger (and every other food) eateries that serve well conceived, locally sourced, high quality and most of all, supremely tasty hamburgers. The same trend is as true in cupcakes as it is in scotch whiskey. But don’t worry iconic fast food brands, you don’t need to go away altogether, you just need to go away far. Overseas that is. There is a much larger market for your corporate calorie factories in other countries than there ever was here. Good luck and good riddance.
There’s a new burger joint coming to Alpha called Tower Burger. I don’t know a thing about it, but while I was trying to find out I came across a reference to Rhea’s 2, 11490 Alpharetta Hwy Roswell, (770) 569-4944, and was intrigued. Rhea’s doesn’t even have a website. I guess the big boys are beating Rhea’s on the net, but certainly not in the kitchen. I put Rhea’s on the calendar because we’re always looking for unique and good new chow palaces. This place is anything but new. It has a well worn feel that is both homey and nostalgic. Nothing fancy, that’s for damn sure, but it does have a certain familiar ambiance. Dear Leader and I visited last week, and we were both impressed with the unique burgers Rhea’s serves up.
Rhea’s with Chili! – The Beefy One Applauds.
The atmosphere is a mix of energetic and chaotic, but the place seems to run with a casual efficiency that ensures that everything gets done. When we arrived we were unsure whether we should order at the register, sit at the counter or take a table. The gentleman running the register motioned us to a table and then came and took our order. Rhea’s basic burger is a freshly griddled cheeseburger served on grilled Texas toast with the normal toppings. It’s not a patty melt because the burger is cooked and then assembled, not cooked as a melt. Of course, there is a double patty option, and needless to say, DL and I so opted. I peeked at the grill on the way in and saw that the meat was red and fresh, portioned but not pattied, and looked really lean as hamburger goes. The meat hits the grill and is skillfully smashed into a flavorful patty with a crisp brown crust. Very tasty. DL chose his with the regular works and an order of fries. When I looked at the grill I saw that Rhea’s serves crinkle cut fries, which I never like. Instead, I chose the double burger with chili and onions, and a hot dog the same way. They serve a very good sandwich chili here. It’s all meat, with no beans, and really no sauce to speak of. One of my many pet peeves is getting soupy, bean filled chili on a sandwich. Sandwich chili should be made as a topping so it doesn’t make a sloppy mess of a sandwich. The Varsity and Nu-Way (Macon) have certainly mastered this art. So has Rhea’s. DL and I agree that the burger was different and delicious, and that we’ll definitely come back. The hot dog was of the highest quality and served on a grilled bun. Very good. Oh and by the way, Rhea’s is priced about the same as a fast food joint. Once again, goodbye corporate factory food, hello inexpensive, one off, unique real food.
The Fans Demand the Hands!
Let’s take a look at the AFatbanker Balance Sheet, shall we? 
ASSETS: Great burger, unique approach, inexpensive, first rate sandwich chili.
LIABILITIES: Crinkle cut fries, warm dining room.
NET WORTH: There are hamburgers on every corner in America. Rhea’s has managed to be unique and fun. I award four money bags and declare Rhea’s far superior to any fast food burger for about the same price.
BTW, I also declare that I will never use the word “unctuous” in any of my posts. It’s become almost as common as the words “pork belly” and “kale” in food writing and I’ve had enough Not enough pork belly, just enough talk about it. -afb
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