Hey, hey, Everyone! Welcome back to another iteration of the Burger Bucket list! This time, we are checking out the world-famous Big Jud’s! This burger place has been around for quite a while and is well known for its food challenge that was featured in Man Vs. Food! The challenge at the time, I believe, was the 1lb burger, but the restaurant has now expanded on that and offers a challenge that is double that. I went there with my mom and stepdad a little while back. We were not brave enough to try the challenge, but we did chow down on some tasty, normal-sized burgers!

Burger Score: 7

This time around, I went with their double cheeseburger and swapped out the cheese for pepper jack. The burger was served well in the classic diner fashion with a big ol stake knife jabbed through the center, served on a plate. The burger was cooked well, and the veggies were fresh and crisp. Subbing out the cheese was a good choice and bumped the score up for me, along with the cornmeal buns. I might be a bit biased, but sesame seed buns just don’t hit the same. The burger was good in size and only a little messy. I would put it above your average burger.

Fry Score: 7

Big Jud’s doesn’t season their fries, instead giving customers salt and pepper to season their fries to their preference. Big Jud’s fries are a larger steak cut of fry with a good balance of soft and crunchy. According to my folks, their fries used to be some of the longest fries you could find, but both said the fries we got were small in comparison. They do give you a bottle of fry sauce so you can smother them and even make them look aesthetic af. That alone gives them an extra .5 for presentation. 

Menu Score: 7

Big Jud’s stays focused on burgers and sandwiches but offers a decent variety of options with nothing that breaks the norm or would surprise you at a burger place. They do offer some variety in appetizers and a few entrée options, again, nothing that breaks the typical stuff you would see at a burger diner. 

Vibe Score: 7

I was surprised when we walked in that it was a sit-down diner complete with a waiter and all. We sat at our metal table in an open room with a few other patrons scattered and nearby tables. The decorations were inspired by a garage or “Route 66” style theme with Harley-Davidson and road signs. The decorations were cohesive and fitting and felt complete. It wasn’t too loud and offered a good environment to socialize with my folks. The staff were friendly and professional, but perhaps seemed a bit run down or tired.

Price: 5

The burger isn’t priced crazy high, but you do have to buy your fries and a drink separately, which do add up to just over $20 before tipping your waiter.  For the quality of food, service, and atmosphere, I think it’s just a little on the high side for me, but fair. I would put it at an average score. Luckily, my folks were nice enough to pay for the whole evening. I wanted to take the time to thank them for not just paying but also joining me and keeping me company on my Burger Bucket List Journey. It always feels like I’m bringing new “guest stars” on my trips, which adds another fun element to these.

Overall Score: 33/50 // Tier B

I think Big Jud’s is a solid option for a decent burger with great atmosphere. It’s also a good option if you want to sit down and socialize while you wait for your food. They do not do anything that sets them apart from the middle of the pack, however. Their eating challenge seems to be a big part of the place, but it is not something I’m taking into account for the scoring. If food challenges interest you, however, Big Jud’s should for sure be a stop for you, complete with a victory t-shirt and photo board!