NOLA.com takes stab at best burger in the city

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I had never been so we arrived at 7:00 and sat at the bar. We both ordered the same thing: the cowbell burger medium, add white cheddar, and bacon/onion compote spread, served with fries and their special sauce and house ketchup on the side. The burger came on a potato bun which was fluffy and toasted on the inside. The burger was a perfect medium all the way through. Bun to meat ratio was perfect (something very important to me). The overall flavor was spot on. Burger had a nice smokiness to it and was extremely juicy. The bacon onion compote was like the cherry on top. Subtle hints of sweet, salty, and savory came through. I normally like adding bacon and onions to a burger. Lately, however, some places are using bacon that is soo good it sometimes overpowers and does not compliment the beef. The bacon onion compote turned out to be a great plan B for me. Will def be my condiment of choice on my next visit.

Now the fries. Hand cut, fried crispy with a few having burned ends and finished with kosher salt. Very similar to High Hat. Great on their own or with the house ketchup. It had cinnamon and cummin in it. At first I was like wtf and didn't care for it, but it grew on me. The servers couldn't have been more friendly and helpful. The decor was funky, had a Jacque-imos vibe to it.

The negatives about Cowbell. Bartender shook and old fashion. Not sure if that's thier "spin" on a classic or she didn't know what she was doing but it was like watching and abortion. And then spraying soda on the fetus. I like a splash of water. No fizzy stuff. Second was the $6 Abita bottles. My $2.50 PBRs I had no complaint but anything over $5 for an Abita is pushing it. So maybe avoid the cocktails there. Now the statement I will probably get bashed for: I enjoyed this burger over Port of Call, Company, and Yo Mammas (but not the peanut bacon burger since that is in it's own category). Few reasons I enjoyed over Port of Call is because Cowbells meat had better flavor and they also had fries. Too many times I'm at Port of Call wishing they had fries over baked potato (totally different discussion). To me there is a blandness I get from Port. Again this is just my opinion. If you have not tried Cowbell yet, go check it out. Just don't order an old fashion or Abita

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