"Fine" Dining

Septemburger 2024's final stop!

• I'm in Las Vegas this week to hit the nearest White Castle to me with Vegas native (and host of the Visit Vegas Places podcast) Coyal Harrison and is not a good meal
• Apparently the White Castle slider was literally created in a moment of frustration when the founder couldn't quite figure out how to do meatballs, so he squashed it, put it on a bun, and called it edible
• The Secret Menu Mini-Game: Comedy Restaurants
• This White Castle is attached to a casino, so the vibes are nightmarish and should never be experienced sober or in the daylight
• What's Going On Over There with the signage that insists people refuse to live without White Castle?
• Septemburger: The White Castle slider gets scored ahead of its match next week with the no. 1 seed Shake Shack
• What we ate:
  • French Fries
  • Onion Chips
  • Chicken Rings
  • Mozzarella Sticks
  • Chicken Slider
  • Beef Slider
  • Chocolate Shake
• Coyal details his worst and best restaurant experiences ever at the Calibration Station
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (I recently released the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your White Castle stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Coyal on Instagram & TikTok @visitvegasplaces

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Shake Shack. The final stop for Septemburger is the top dog, the number 1 seed, and I brought award-winning storyteller and comedian Jen Kober with me. Will they overcome White Castle, a burger so bad that the bar is on the floor? Yes. The answer is yes. Ever work at Shake Shack? Send in your stories to [email protected]

Septemburger rolls on!

• Formerly of Tastemade, producer Raj Rawal joins me to talk about a restaurant he's very passionate about: In-N-Out Burger
• The Eat Deets tackle everything from the founder's untimely passing in a plane crash and the struggles with substance abuse of the sons, to In-N-Out's brand loyalty with 7-Up surviving a rift with Pepsi
• The Secret Menu Mini-Game: Vehicular Goodies
• An injured employee is helped out of the restaurant by a manager mid-lunch rush in a noteworthy show of human decency
• What's Going On Over There with the overly competitive drivers in the parking lot?
• They gave us paper hats!
• Septemburger: In-N-Out faces off with Whataburger in the first round of the tournament
• What we ate:
  • French Fries (Well Done)
  • In-N-Out Hamburger
  • Mustard Fried Hamburger with Toasted Bun
  • Animal Style Hamburger with Grilled Onions
  • Black & White Shake
• Raj details his worst and best restaurant experiences ever at the Calibration Station
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (I just released the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your In-N-Out Burger stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Raj on Instagram & TikTok @asaprajy

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: White Castle. I drove all the way to Las Vegas to eat at this notorious stoner destination with host of the Visit Vegas Places podcast, Coyal Harrison. I give a full review to the no. 8 seed in the Septemburger bracket one week before their showdown with the top-rated Shake Shack. Ever work at White Castle? Send in your stories to [email protected]

Your chance at $500 is here!

• Septemburger is once again upon us, and this time I've scoured the nation for 8 fast food burger chains to compete in the annual contest
• I'm joined by a slew of guests: my own Dad, I Think You Should Leave's Steve Moulton, and my friends Kellie Baldwin, Herbert Amaya, and Ashley Robinson
• Click here for a direct link to the Septemburger 2024 Bracket Google Form (due by end of day September 10th, 2024)!
• Septemburger Rules explained:
  • 24 burgers across 8 fast food/fast casual restaurants are sampled
  • First round matches pit basic burgers against basic burgers (the #1 on their menus) to see who has the fundamentals
  • Burgers are given a score by Michael & guest, which are averaged and compared to their opponent each round
  • Winning chain advances to the next round, while the loser is eliminated from the tournament (therefore, their other two burgers don't factor in)
  • Semi-Finals & Finals conducted on a FREE episode on September 30th on the "Fine" Dining Patreon
• First Round Match-Up: Steak 'n Shake (#2 seed) - The Original Steakburger vs. Rally's Drive-In (#7 seed) - The Big Buford
• First Round Match-Up: Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers (#3 seed) - The Freddy's Original Double vs. Culver's (#6 seed) - The Butterburger
• Scoring the Whataburger at the #4 seed, Whataburger
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (my Ess-a-Bagel episode just dropped, where I went with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your hamburger stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: In-N-Out Burger! I'm joined by Raj Rawal Ever work at In-N-Out Burger? Send me your stories at [email protected].

Even the name sounds mediocre!

• I'm joined once again by Two in the Cooler podcast host Andrew Canada to hit up a chain that was a staple of his childhood: Perkins Restaurant & Bakery
• Perkins has a dingy atmosphere that acknowledges you'd rather be elsewhere
• What's Going on Over There with advertising the arrival of Dr. Pepper to your menu, and then only serving Mr. Pibb? (This one really upset Michael)
• Our server was emotionally affected by me not loving my burger
• Andrew eats his pancakes in a real crazy way
• What we ate:
  • Orange Juice
  • Mr. Pibb
  • Chicken Fingers
  • Short Stack of Pancakes
  • Turkey Sausage
  • Tater Tots
  • Blueberry Pancakes
  • Sausage Patty
  • Avocado Crunch Burger
  • French Fries
  • Apple Pie
  • Banana Cream Pie
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (on the last day of August, I'll be releasing the episode for the other New York restaurant I reviewed: Ess-a-Bagel with my girlfriend Joyce as she reeeeally wanted to try NYC bagels), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Perkins stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Two in the Cooler on Instagram @twointhecooler

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Septemburger 2024 Kicks Off! I revisit 5 burger chains I've been to already this season as we see Steak 'n Shake take on Rally's, and Culver's matches up with Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers. And then I score Whataburger's hamburger before they go head-to-head with In-N-Out the following week. Fill out your Septemburger brackets here!

I traveled to New York, New York for this one!

• From the Two in the Cooler podcast, host Andrew Canada joins me this week to check out Perkins Restaurant & Bakery, a chain that I flew across the country to New York City to try, and he flew down from Buffalo to meet me there
• Originally "Smithy's Pancake House" before changing their name and expanding across the region, Perkins' backstory is one of ups and downs
• The Secret Menu: Sci-Fi Foods
• Andrew's friends sound 100% made up
• A Yelper gives Perkins 5 stars while continually dunking on Staten Island in pretty glorious fashion
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (I recently released my July exclusive episode on Sarku Japan, a delicious mall food court teriyaki chicken joint, and introduced my friend Michael Slater to their "yummy yummy sauce!"), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Perkins stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Two in the Cooler on Instagram @twointhecooler

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Perkins Review [Part Two]! Andrew Canada returns to eat a pretty underwhelming meal with me! Ever work at Perkins? Send your stories to [email protected].

The sushi at Houston's is an unexpected masterpiece!

• Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone is one of the higher-end experiences I've had for the podcast, and That Was Wild podcast's Adam Macias joined me on his own birthday to dine there with me
• The art choices in here were bold (arguably Way Too Much) and their light fixtures straight up looked like a certain Pokémon
• I straight up misinterpreted the meaning of the phrase "I'm Going to Hit the Head"
• What's Going On Over There with falsely advertising their artichokes on the menu?
• Manager gaslighting
• What we ate: Deviled Eggs, Bread Plate, Spinach Dip, Thai Tuna Roll, Cole Slaw, French Fries, French Dip au Jus, Hawaiian Prime Rib, Brownie with Kahlua Sauce
• A passionate discussion about our rating scales
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (July's exclusive episode is on Sarku Japan, a delicious mall food court teriyaki chicken joint, and I introduced my friend Michael Slater to their "yummy yummy sauce!"), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Houston's stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Adam on Instagram @adamrmac

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Perkins History [Part One]! From the Two in the Cooler podcast, I'm joined by Andrew Canada as we talk all about this history of Perkins, a chain he grew up on. Ever work at Perkins? Send your stories to [email protected].

A chain with 15 different names!

• Houston's Restaurant aka Hillstone aka 13 other things is one of the more upscale chains, and Adam Macias from the That Was Wild podcast joins me to learn interesting facts about this restaurant
• Houston's will let you BYOB without charging a corkage fee, and they are very proud of this
• The Secret Menu: Bougier Restaurants
• Houston's is currently embroiled in a lawsuit over price-gouging during the pandemic
• My new favorite review of all-time: an unfashionable Yelper dressed terribly, and then complained that staff let him know he was breaking the dress code in this week's Yelp from Strangers
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (I recently released my July exclusive episode on Sarku Japan, a delicious mall food court teriyaki chicken joint, and introduced my friend Michael Slater to their "yummy yummy sauce!"), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Houston's stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Adam on Instagram @adamrmac

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Houston's Restaurant Review [Part Two]! Adam Macias returns to talk about this fancy birthday lunch we had for him, including some of the best sushi we've ever tasted! Ever work at Houston's? Send your stories to [email protected].

We eat the chicken sandwich that caused chaos upon launch!

• Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen makes it clear that you're not supposed eat it there. But I powered through with my guest, stand-up comedian Sierra Katow
• Popeyes goes overboard on the signage in the store, outside the restaurant, and on the door
• What's Going On Over There with the complete silence inside the establishment?
• The chicken sandwich: is it really that good?
• Sierra opens up about a stressful Denny's experience
• What we ate:
  • Strawberry Lemonade
  • Sweet Tea
  • Biscuits
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Cole Slaw
  • Signature Fried Chicken
  • Honey Lemon Pepper Wings
  • Spicy Chicken Sandwich
  • Apple Pie
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (Out later today, my July exclusive episode covers one of my absolute favorite food court spots: Sarku Japan. Joined by my friend Michael Slater, hear me dive into a pool of "Yummy Yummy Sauce!"), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Popeyes stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Sierra on Instagram and TikTok @sierrakatow

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Houston's Restaurant History [Part One]! From the That Was Wild! podcast, host Adam Macias joins me for a fancy birthday lunch at one of the nicer chains out there. Hear the history of Houston's and Hillstone. Ever work at Houston's? Send your stories to [email protected].

The stories from the sandwich launch are wild!

• I went to Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen with stand-up comedian Sierra Katow, but before reviewing the place we have to go over the franchise history
• The Eat Deets unveil founder Al Copeland's master plan to charge the company a "spice royalty" after he was ousted from leadership
• The Secret Menu: Villainous Treats
• Beyoncé has a "free Popeyes for life" situation going, but she's too embarrassed to use it
• A chronicling of the abject chaos that erupted upon the release of Popeyes chicken sandwich
• A Yelper expresses grave concern over a manager in front of the restaurant working on their black Mercedes in their work-issued gloves and apron in this week's Yelp from Strangers
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (Now's a great chance to catch the Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers episode with my friend Herbert before using that information to fill out your Septemburger 2024 bracket in a little over a month), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Popeyes stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Follow Sierra on Instagram and TikTok @sierrakatow

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Popeyes Review [Part Two]! Sierra Katow returns to help me try a bunch of the different ways Popeyes does chicken: sandwich, wings, traditional fried, etc.! Ever work at Popeyes? Send your stories to [email protected].

A new Worst Restaurant in America is crowned!

• A restaurant so bad, I don't think my Dad (my guest this week) will ever let me live it down: Shoney's
• Buffet soups shouldn't have such a thick skin over them that the ladle rests on top...right??
• What's Going On Over There with Shoney's thinking they deserve their own food truck?
• The service team surprises me with a little extra cook time on my steak, despite my wishes to the contrary
• Fan of the show Travis recounts the story of when Scott Steiner threw him out of a Shoney's!
• Seriously, a steak cooked this long can only be described as Way Too Much!
• The previous worst restaurant, GattiTown scored a 2.70 on the Tchotchke of Mediocrity. How much worse can Shoney's be?
• What we ate:
  • Fries
  • Breakfast Potatoes
  • Eggs
  • Pancakes
  • Slim Jim Sandwich
  • Steak
  • Shoney's World Famous Hot FudgeCake
  • Heinz 57
• "Fine" Dining is now on video! Head on over to my YouTube to watch this episode!

Music by: James McEnelly (@Ramshackle_Music)

Theme Song by: Kyle Schieffer (@JazzyJellyfish)

Segment Transitions Voiced by: Sandy Rose

"Fine" Dining is on Patreon! Get an extra episode every month (The Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers episode with my friend Herbert is going strong, and I just released my tentative show line-up through the end of 2024!), extended Yelp from Strangers segments every other week, merch discounts, download access to our music including the 7 singles from our Olive Garden musical, and more!

Patreon Producers: Joyce Van, & Sue Ornelas

Get the 5 Survival Tips for Casual Dining at www.finediningpodcast.com!

Send in your Shoney's stories at [email protected].

Follow the show on TikTok and Instagram @finediningpodcast

Let me know where I should go next by leaving us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, PodcastAddict, Overcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. I read every one!

Next week on "Fine" Dining: Popeyes History [Part One]! I'm joined by comedian Sierra Katow to learn about the history of my favorite Louisiana-based fast food chicken chain, and its founder's villainous ploy to hold the recipes hostage! Ever work at Popeyes? Send your stories to [email protected].