Al's Burger Shack — Restaurant in Chapel Hill

I was prepared to greatly enjoy my meal at Al's in Southern Village but aside from reasonably good service the experience was was no better than mediocre. My biggest disappointment was the Chili Cheeseburger (I forget what they call it.) I ordered it as I like it - with just chili, cheese, onions and dill pickle chips.

First, it took a little too long to prepare. My companion was half way through his meal before mine appeared. In the servers favor it was not obvious we were together when we ordered but I also saw people who had ordered after us being served their meals before I got mine.

The burger was cooked well and quality beef. However, I never expected it to be served with the chili poured over the cheese on the burger and the pickles on the bottom - it was quite a mess - and worse, the bun was cold - as if it had just come from the refrigerator. I can't imagine how it would have been served with mustard and slaw. It would certainly have been a bigger mess and probably required a knife and fork to eat.

The taste wasn't bad - I finished it - but it could have been much better. As a fry cook in my younger days I have made hundreds if not thousands of chili burgers. It cannot be done properly if the meat is thicker in the middle than on the edges. The chili just runs down all over everything making an unappetizing mess. You must start with a uniform 6 to the pound patty. It should be placed on the grill and both sides of the bun added when it is turned to toast lightly. After turning and just before the burger is done the cheese is put on the burger with the bun placed on top of it. Next the burger and cheese with the top half of the bun attached is taken from the grill with the spatula and the chili poured into the indentation on the bottom formed by the cooked patty - a proper patty will shrink on the grill and pucker a little to form a pocket for the chili. Next add the onions and I like three or four dill pickle chips, but slaw could also be added it it is to your taste. Next the bottom half of the bun is put on the burger - mustard could have been added to it if you like. I would then place this sandwich on a square piece of wax paper folded to form a triangle and use it to "diaper" the burger. If the customer wants more meat it can be made with two patties with minimal adjustment to the above.

Looking forward to trying a chili dog at Al's but I can't recommend their...

I'm disappointed to read all the fawning, uncritical reviews. Al's is OK, but extremely over-rated and definitely not close to being the best burger in town. That honor goes to Town Hall Burger and Beer, where patties are cooked perfectly to order throughout the patty, toppings are amazing and yield artfully delicious results every visit.

Where a flat and even patty is required for even cooking and ease of eating (another strong point of Town Hall), Al's tend to be a slightly-compressed meatball that is gray in the middle and increasingly overcooked the closer you get the surface. A "medium" burger is over-cooked everywhere but its core. This ball-like "patty" structure also causes Al's burgers to be difficult to eat. Most adults are incapable of getting their mouths completely outside the beef ball and are forced to attack it in much the same way a beaver might have a go at the trunk of a tree. The results are always messy and no two bites of the burger taste the same. Indeed, no two burgers of the same kind ever taste the same. Toppings are often too sparsely applied to be found in most bites. What's there will most likely be found on your hands or pushed out the back of the burger to fall onto your plate.

The fries can be good if you are fortunate enough to get a fresh batch. I'm generally not that fortunate and take mine home to reheat. AL's potato fries are ALWAYS served peppered with rosemary flakes. I'm ok with this sometimes, but not most times. We eat there because it's right next to where we grocery shop. I'm generally disappointed and wish we'd held out for a better option. My memories of Al's on Franklin Street are considerably more pleasant, so maybe its a...

I really DO NOT understand why the owner is neglecting the fact that manager Heather (I have gotten her name from an employee who was on his first day, but you should know who I am talking about according to numerous reviews on her action towards certain race.) is discriminating against certain race.

I have decide to leave the review after the three consecutive encounter with her. THREE CONSECUTIVE TIMES!

On our first encounter, family of five were sitting outside. She came to our table (after calling our name) and literally THREW the burgers vigorously on the middle of table. I politely asked her to tell us which burgers were which, so that we could give them to the right person. She did not reply. I spoke little louder thinking she might not have heard me. Amazingly, she just walked away ignoring us. It was Saturday after lunch, so there were only 3 groups of customers in the whole building. So please don't say her action was due to store being busy

Second encounter/ basically same as first, except she was even ruder and more disrespectful.

Final encounter happened today. I was at the counter ordering 3 burgers to take home. My 8 years old son gently grabbed the side of sign that was on the counter and was reading them. (It was small sign that explained drink/alcohol etc.) She snatched them out of my son's hand and starred him with the mean look. My son was only trying to read the sign. He did not lift nor move the sign or did anything to harm anything. He just gently grabbed the sign. My son got into the car and cried all the way home.

This was my last and final visit to this place. I hope owner will not neglect her action after numerous reviews from...