Sunday, April 15, 2012

Search for the Best Loose Meat in Sioux City: Update Continued

The search for the best loose meat sandwich in Sioux City continues. Recent developments in the search have caused a shift in the standings. Per this blog article Gus's Family Restaurant: Search for the Best Loosemeat in Sioux City  had the best and Maid Rite second to last. With the recent closings of Gus's and Maid Rite, mentioned in this article: Search for the Best Loosemeat Sandwich in Sioux City, Iowa: UPDATE Billy Boy Long Island Loosemeat and Miles Inn Charlie Boy are tied for first place.

 The scoring for the loose meat sandwich was based on 5 stars, one being the lowest, with an average for the overall score. Three parts of the sandwich are scored: bun, meat and condiments/toppings. The scoring has now changed to the highest possible score being the total sum of points from each of the 3 parts of the loose meat, 5 points each, with the maximum possible score of 15 points.

Recently this blogger had the pleasure of taste testing 2 more loose meat or tavern sandwiches: Culver's and Coney Island. Two sandwiches from each establishment were tested.

Here are the results, in the order tested:


Culver's:
Culver's is a franchise restaurant. The tavern may only be made locally and not available everywhere.

Bun - Rating: Half a point. Both halves of the bun were way too thick Thicker than 2 slices of Texas toast. The bun was way too dry and crumbled apart. This blogger could not finish the bun form the second sandwich, but did finish consuming the meat.

Meat - Rating:  3.5 points. The meat had very good moisture, indicating it was properly steamed and not too much of the fat was drained. It did not soak into the bun as to make it mushy. The meat had a good blend of spices, but was too heavy on the pepper. With the onion mixed in with the meat it did not need as much pepper.

Condiments/Toppings - Rating: 5 points. The proportion of ketchup and mustard were perfect.

Total score: 9 points out of 15 possible

Coney Island:











The Coney Island in Sioux City has been in business for over 90 years. Today along with serving their famous hotdogs they serve loose meat or tavern sandwiches.  

Bun - Rating: 5 points. The bun very well made. Was not too: dry, moist, thick or thin. It is unknown where Coney Islands purchases the buns used for their loose meat sandwiches, but other places that serve loose meats should find out and purchase from the same vendor.

Meat - Rating: 5 points. What ever ingredients are used in the secret recipe Coney Island purchased from Ye Olde Tavern, it is perfect. All the flavors that should be part of the meat are there. The meat, fat and spices are perfectly blended. The meat is perfectly moist, but not so much it turns the bun mushy and not too dry it falls out of the bun and will not hold together. As it hits the tongue it comes apart and all the flavors come to life on the taste buds.

Condiments/Toppings - 5 points. Perfect blend of ketchup, mustard, onion and pickle. One condiment or topping did not over power another and the combination added the great flavor of the meat.

Total score: 15 points out of 15 possible.

As previously mentioned the over all scoring for the loose meat and tavern sandwiches was based on an average of the total score. With the new scoring system here is how the now rank, including Culver's and Coney Island. The ranking is from first to last:

1st Place - Coney Island with 15 points.
Tied for 2nd Place - Billy Boy and Miles Inn with 14 points.
3rd Place - Tastee Inn and Out with 13 points.
4th Place -  Culver's with 9 points.
5th Place - Dairy Queen with 8 points.

Because of the tie between Billy Boy and Miles Inn they will have to be re-tested to see who scores higher. 

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