This week I review the new place to eat in University Square, but first, I have some price-of-food news. Prices are rising. First the Radical Rye, 231 State St., raised prices over the summer. I feel all right'the sandwiches are still good. Bialy Brown's, 564 State St., started off expensive enough and continues to be.
In order to limit food expenses, I often turn to special deals. The premier deals, I thought, were the ones at State Street Brats, 603 State St. This has changed now. The double stack has gone from $1 to $1.50 Mondays and you only get two instead of three hot dogs for $1 on Tuesdays. State Street Brats: Those charcoal briquettes are terrible, but worth $1 and no more.
There is more bad news for the people who have been enjoying a free bagel at least once a day at Einstein Brothers, 652 State St. Now we can only get a plain bagel. This effectively forces you to buy a shmear of cream cheese, which is overpriced at 83 cents or so. I understand they were probably losing money on all the free bagels, but they should have realized the economic implications when they got on board.
In health and money news: Students in the dorms must realize that they spend way too much money on food at Ed's and Pop's: $8 three times a day, right? Well, the 18-wheeler with fries contains more than 100 grams of fat. The fries alone have 40. And you wonder where the freshman 15 comes from? Get out of that cafeteria, kids! You're going to explode.
Across the street is a restaurant that combines German and college names: Big Ten burger, hockey sticks (fries), puck (patty melt) and order them all Co-ed (mit fries and soda). Bucky's Char House boasts some good burgers, and they come in four sizes: 1/3 lb, 1/2 lb, 10 ounces and 1 lb. The prices of these burgers range from $3.65 to $6.55. The burger is perfectly cooked and served on a large egg bun with fresh lettuce and tomato. The brat, however, is not as impressive. I personally liked the meat, but my friend complained it tasted too much like stale beer. I was not pleased with the kraut at all'it had a somehow mediciney taste to it. At least they are served with my favorite mustard: Dusseldorf! There are various fried items to kill yourself with and also a large variety of salads. The real bonus is the free popcorn while you wait. All of this food is served in a red and white dining room with an athletics section and an academics section (there's a WARF table!), but no smoking section.
I like this restaurant as a place to get lunch, or perhaps to eat before going to a movie or purchasing cigarettes, or maybe after mailing or copying something. Bucky's Char Haus is a welcome addition to the Madison burger and fries scene.
