Lindy’s On 4th Avenue

Last week Neighbor Roy & I continued our quest to find the best burger in Tucson. So far, we’ve reviewed Monkey Burger Downtown, and the new Diablo Burger in the Rialto building across from Hotel Congress. On both occasions, we had an overall delightful experience, but did note that both had their strengths & weaknesses. We also reviewed Fleming’s $6 Happy Hour burger.

Last year (2012) Southern Arizona Guide ranked Zinburger Number One. But now Zin has a lot of new competition, and some of the old, established burger joints have upped their game.

So many people told us that Lindy’s on 4^th Avenue has the best burgers that we had to include it in our samplings. We were not disappointed.

We arrived at Lindy’s before the lunch crowd could climb out from behind their desks. The first thing we noticed was that Lindy’s fits right into the funky, quirky, slightly gritty 4^th Ave. neighborhood. The interior is small and has the feel of an old downtown dive bar that’s been there since dirt was invented. Yet some of the art on the walls was “modern”; or at least “interesting”.

A pleasant, tattooed, but otherwise anonymous young waitress took our drink order and answered a couple of questions. I inquired if Mr. Lindy was present. “If Lindy was at the grille, you’d know it,” she said. She then pointed out his substantial image in several framed newspaper & magazine features on the walls. “When he’s here the place is louder and somewhat more vulgar.” How charming!

I thought the place was already deafeningly loud. Since Roy & I were, so far, the only patrons, I asked her if she could turn down the “music” so my dining companion & I could carry on a conversation. Mercifully, she complied without hesitation.

Lindy Reilly, Proprietor.

The Menu
Lindy’s menu includes a variety of sandwiches, such as several different Cheese Steaks. They do serve Mac & Cheese & a variety of sides: Fries, Tots, & Onion Rings; all available plain; or with your choice of coatings … gravy, cheesy, chili cheese, hot sauce, sour cream, bacon bits, &/or chives for a few shillings more.

However, clearly burgers are Lindy’s passion & purpose in life. A word of warning: Lindy’s burgers are not for the faint of heart. For example, there’s the Donkey Punch: diced green chilies, jalapenos, habaneros, pepper jack & guacamole. This Donkey comes with a warning label: “Caution: HOT! This one really kicks you in the ass.”

There’s the Dirty Sanchez; the Blue Suede Cow; & the Fat Bastard … just to mention a few. And you can order any or all as a single ($7), double ($9), or triple ($11). Each patty is one-third pound, which is plenty for most folks. But if you’re game, you can attack the “AZ Hooligan: 5-1/3 lb. patties of glorious meat with Cheddar & Swiss, lettuce, tomato, & onions, topped with Lindy’s sauce” for a mere $15.

And then there’s the coup de grace, the OMFG behemoth: Nine (yes, 9) 1/3 lb. patties, with the usual Cheddar & Swiss, tomato, lettuce, onion, & Lindy’s sauce ($25).

I understand that if you eat the whole thing in 20 minutes or less, it’s on the house. If I ate the whole OMFG, I’d need a tombstone. Nevertheless, a few hearty souls have actually managed the feat and lived to tell about it.

Roy ordered the Shroomin Cow ($7): mushrooms, Swiss, Cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion & Lindy’s sauce; with a side of onion rings ($3).

I ordered my standard for the purpose of fair comparison: Cheddar cheese, sautéed mushrooms, with Lindy’s sauce, but with mayo on the side just in case. I also ordered a side of Plain Jane Fries ($2).

Lindy’s OMFG Challenge

Would You Like Peanut Butter On Your Burger?
For a measly $0.75 more, we could have had any of 21 other toppings & sauces from wasabi aioli & teriyaki to guacamole, habanero, & sauerkraut. How ’bout peanut butter? The possible burger combinations at Lindy’s are nearly limitless. We could dine here a hundred times and never have the same burger experience twice.

Honey Buns, Cheesy Buns
Lindy also has some optional buns: including a honey bun (glazed cinnamon roll) & a grilled cheese bun ($2 extra). We both ordered ours with a standard potato bun, although that grilled cheese bun was tempting. Maybe next time.

Lean Ground Beef
Roy & I agreed, Lindy’s serves up a tasty, juicy burger. Ours were cooked just as we had ordered: medium. The plain potato bun was fresh and added to the experience, as did the fresh tomato & lettuce, as well as the mysterious Lindy’s sauce.

Just FYI. No one will accuse Lindy’s of using “lean” ground beef in their burgers. It was, to be honest, somewhat greasy. But we allowed that some folks like their burgers that way, particularly young adult males (which are Lindy’s primary customers).

We suspected that the onion rings had been dumped out of a frozen bag & into the fryer only a few moments earlier. Nevertheless, they were served hot and the batter was light & crispy, not oily. The fries were crisp & salty: very good. Lindy’s also offers a side of potato salad, which I love, and will order with my next Lindy.

As to the mysterious Lindy’s sauce, the base is mayo, but he’s added flakes of paprika, red pepper, and … who knows what else. In short, it was mayo with a pleasant kick. Next time I won’t feel the need to order my usual side of plain mayo.

Lindy’s Bar
Also, we noticed Lindy’s has a full bar. It’s not a big bar, but they do serve a Deschutes Brewery craft beer from Central Oregon that I enjoy whenever I vacation in the Northwest. That’s on my “next visit” list as well.

Stuffed, Roy & I left Lindy’s on 4^th feeling that we had just enjoyed a glorious burger meal. Clearly Lindy’s has raised the lowly burger to a high art form. Was Lindy’s the best burger in Tucson? Roy & I are still debating. What we do agree on is that, so far, Lindy’s burgers are the best for the money. I mean a great burger starting at only $7. AND … Lindy’s tap & well drinks are considerably less expensive than Fleming’s.

A couple of quibbles. #1. When we arrived, we were the only patrons. As the time approached noon o’clock, the place was filling up fast with rowdy frat-boys. Which meant it was becoming painfully noisy. Moreover, what passes for “music” at Lindy’s had returned at full volume. We escaped just in time.

#2. I mistakenly tried to wash my hands at Lindy’s after such a delicious, yet juicy, messy burger. So I walked past the bar, past the grille, and found the washroom. It was not an experience I would recommend.

For our dining recommendations, check out our SouthernArizonaGuide.com List of the Best Restaurants in Tucson & Southern Arizona by cuisine.