Quick Bites: The Angus Burger from Rosie's All American Cafe.

A good burger seems pretty easy:  Freshly ground beef meets grill, right?  Throw it on a fresh bun and add some toppings and you're good to go. It's something that a lot of big chains get right for millions of people every day.  Unfortunately, the likelihood that you'll find a good burger on Disney property is low.  Save for a few gems here and there, most Disney burgers, while larger than your standard fast food burger, don't actually taste like much of anything at all and the texture, heavy and a little dried out, leaves a lot to be desired.  Toppings bars in quick-service locations like Pecos Bills and Cosmic Rays can make them a little less blah, but when the best thing you can say about a burger is that you liked the free cooked onions it had on it, you're not talking about a very satisfying hamburger.

Because of this, I rarely order hamburgers on Disney property, but when my good friends Bob and Donna suggested I try the burger at  Rosie's All American Cafe in Hollywood Studios, I decided to give it a try.  You might miss Rosie's if you're not looking for it: It's a small outdoor stand on the left, about halfway up Sunset Boulevard on your way to the Tower of Terror. I've actually walked past it many times thinking they only served drinks or pretzels, but was pleasantly surprised to see that they have a full menu.

The actual name of Rosie's burger is the 1/3 Lb Angus Onion Straw Cheddar Cheeseburger, but you'll know it as the only burger on the menu. Undoubtedly, this is the same 1/3 pound burger they serve all over property, but it tastes fresher here, possibly because they're serving a smaller crowd rather than the masses you see in Cosmic Ray's.  The bun was uninspiring and a little dry, but I've come to expect that from Disney hot dog and hamburger buns.  The crispy onion straws seem like a minor thing, but they gave the sandwich a nice texture and tasted delicious.  All of the toppings tasted fresh and I noticed that the pickles were not the same ones they have at the toppings bars elsewhere but a more higher-end pickle, like Vlasic. Again, it's a little thing, but it made the burger so much better.  The sharp bite of real cheddar rather than processed American cheese was also a nice change.

I've often lamented the lack of good quick-service items in Hollywood Studios and one burger won't change that, but I like knowing I have a go-to item for lunch from now on.  Seating at Rosie's is in a large outdoor area, so you won't get any relief from the heat, but most tables have umbrellas.  You can use the dining plan here and as usual, I recommend skipping the included dessert, none of which are very good, and asking for a bottle of water instead.