Q:  I’m tired of eating in my car. Which restaurants have good burgers?
Tom: Nothing like sitting down in a relaxed spot and enjoying a good burger. Actually, everything we wrote in our 2023 burger roundup still holds true. An unbelievable omission however was Joseph Huang’s Bang Bang Burgers (nostra culpa). With locations in Elizabeth and South End, you’ll find a variety of soul-soothing and creatve options to gratify any burger craving. Others not on our original list, but definitely worth checking out are the burgers at Pinky’s Westside Grill (Wesley Heights / Huntersville), Mac’s Speed Shop (nine locations), Lupie’s Café (Grier Heights), The Workman’s Friend (Plaza Midwood), and Rosemont (Elizabeth).

Q: Since summer is officially over, I guess I need to retire my gin and tonics for the year. Are there any fall/winter-themed gin cocktails I can switch to?
Tom: Obviously we don’t hang out (we should correct that), because I’m up for a good gin cocktail year-round. The various complexities and variations of gins lend themselves to wide array of cocktails. As it turns out, we’re right smack dab in the middle of Negroni Week with 31 local restaurants and bars celebrating the classic cocktail along with a bit of fundraising. Aside from that, take a look at a barrel-aged gin (like N.C.’s Cardinal or Conniption) old-fashioned, a good autumnal apple or pear gin fizz, the oft-forgotten Martinez (gin, sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur, and bitters), and when the chill really hits the air, a hot gin toddy does wonders. I will add, however, there’s nothing wrong with a gin and tonic during sweater weather. Cheers!

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