THE AWFUL AWFUL BURGER AT JOHN ASCUAGA'S NUGGET

I've seen Last Chance Joe many times, while attending events at Victorian Square in downtown Sparks, Nevada.  It's hard to miss this oversized, jovial miner who is said to personify the hospitality at John Ascuaga's Nugget, also known as The Nugget. 

But I never had a reason to "Do The Nugget" as the TV ads cajole.  A Christmas craft show this past weekend finally gave me the nudge to venture into this enormous casino and resort hotel complex.

The craft show featured a nice variety of gift and entertaining ideas, cooking/baking demos and so on.

Since we were already on the premises at The Nugget, my husband and I figured it was high time we tried The Awful Awful Burger.  I'd read about this burger online, before we moved to South Reno.  The odd name was reportedly derived from folks' reaction upon devouring the burger: "Awful big and awful good!"

I also knew that The Awful Awful originated at The Little Nugget casino and restaurant in downtown Reno.  Several months ago, we walked into The Little Nugget, curious about The Awful Awful Burger, yet promptly walked out because the cramped restaurant looked like a greasy spoon diner and reeked of cigarette and cigar smoke.  Maybe some think the place has "character."  That's not my idea of character.

I learned, however, that two more locations served The Awful Awful Burger: The Wolf Den near University of Nevada, Reno  http://renowolfden.com/    ... and John Ascuaga's Nugget.  


Specifically, you'll find The Awful Awful Burger on the menu at Rosie's Cafe, a 24-hour, family-friendly restaurant at The Nugget.  This place, unlike the restaurant at The Little Nugget, looked clean and bright and was smoke-free.

We were seated right away and told our friendly server, "We already know what we want. Two Awful Awful Burgers with fries."  The food arrived fast and piping hot, with the legendary burger wearing a little paper bonnet.  Perhaps some people like to eat the burger while holding onto the paper bonnet, presumably to catch anything that might fall out of the burger.  

The Awful Awful Burger at Rosie's Cafe consists of two beef patties (cooked to your preference), American cheese, red onion rings, lettuce, tomato and a "special sauce" which seemed, to me, like mayo with finely chopped pickles, on a freshly-baked sesame seed bun.

Because the burger was indeed "awful big," I cut mine in half.

Wow, it really WAS "awful good."  Awful messy, too — although not greasy!  No, I don't suppose Dr. Oz would call it health food.  But if you're in the mood for a no-nonsense, all-American cheeseburger feast, you can't go wrong here.  The shoestring fries also were very fresh and delicious.  And this Awful Awful Burger with fries and pickle was just $6.95.

I don't know how the Wolf Den's version compares, but I would certainly return to Rosie's Cafe for another Awful Awful Burger when I'm feeling rebellious (toward Dr. Oz and his colleagues).

Also, as a high compliment to The Awful Awful Burger, it reminded me of a supersized version of the Dick's Deluxe Burger at the Dick's Drive-In restaurants in Seattle.   (The sauce at Dick's Drive-In is better, more like Thousand Island dressing, I believe.  Dick's fries are fantastic, too.)   http://www.ddir.com/

BONUS TRAVEL TIP:  Most of those really are just drive-ins, but the Queen Anne location of Dick's has seating and is a fun, "cheap eats" place not too far from the Space Needle and other popular attractions.

Meanwhile, John Ascuaga's Nugget is located at 1100 Nugget Ave. in Sparks, Nev.  For information, call (800) 648-1177 or visit http://www.janugget.com/   .  You can also view the menu for Rosie's Cafe on that site; the restaurant has lots of inexpensive specials.