Bay Burger
April 24, 2011
Bay Burger Slides Into SummerBy Kristi Kates
Four years ago, Valentino Trabucchi of Birmingham, Michigan, decided to bring one of his local restaurants burger philosophies up to Petoskey.
For over 35 years, I had been regularly frequenting the Hunter House in Birmingham, Trabucchi explains. They offered great little sliders (miniature burgers) with juicy sweet onions - something I couldnt find Up North.
Now the owner/proprietor of Petoskeys newest burger joint, Bay Burger, Trabucchi is ready for a busy summer with his sliders-focused menu.
GREAT LOCATION
The term slider is said to have originally been coined by the fast-food burger chain White Castle, which gained popularity for their small slider burgers. Trabucchi approached his hopefully-soon-to-be-popular new restaurant with an attitude was both preplanned - and a little haphazard.
I had my eye on our present location in the Glens North Plaza shopping center for about a year before I did a belly-flop and fell into the restaurant business by purchasing the complete equipment inventory of a local deli that had folded up, Trabucchi explains. That equipment purchase propelled me into this endeavor in April 2010. Not exactly the proper procedure, he laughs, but thats how it began. Because there was a traffic light at the shopping center, and a lot of local traffic, I knew the location would be convenient to all.
BURGERS TO BREYERS
So what do all the people choose from Bay Burgers classic, 50s-reminiscent menu?
Hands down, people order the double cheeseburger with carmelized onions and pickles, Trabucchi says, with french fries and a soda.
Its classic fare prepared right, according to Trabucchis approach.
What makes our burgers different is the slider size, I think, he says. They simply melt in your mouth - no big, burly half-pounders as big as your head here. Just the right size, and always cooked well. And this doesnt make them at all dry, as the onions make them all juicy and sweet.
Other than the restaurants signature sliders, popular menu picks include their specialty sandwiches.
Those are prepared fresh daily, and include Cajun Chicken, Pulled Pork, Egg Salad, B.L.T.s, and our Three-Decker Turkey Club, he says.
And while theyre served year-round, Bay Burgers hand-dipped Breyers ice crème milkshakes and malts are sure to be big hits this summer.
Along with chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla, we offer Oreo and Butterfinger malts and shakes, he says.
QUICK SERVICE
One important thing Trabucchi wants to point out is that while Bay Burger may seem reminiscent of the aforementioned White Castle or other burger joints, theyre definitely not in the same category.
Chery and I have one goal, and that is to deliver great food, along with the best possible service, he says. This means being able to serve the food fast - but we are a Quick Service Restaurant, not a fast-food restaurant. Were prepared to accommodate large amounts of summer traffic by keeping the menu short and sweet, and having two point-of-sale systems to get the orders to the kitchen quick. Being that the burgers prepare quickly, people can get back to enjoying the beautiful Northern Michigan summer.
They can play a game of pool or race Nascar in Bay Burgers arcade area, too, he points out.
The most rewarding element to having this restaurant is getting to know new people, he says, and it sure helps when they tell us well be back on their way out, without solicitation. That is flattering and fulfilling and what makes it fun day after day.
Bay Burger is located on US-31 in the Glens North Plaza in Petoskey, next to the Secretary of State office, telephone 231-487-1170. Their current hours are Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.; summer months theyll be staying open until 10:00 p.m.