Lola’s Mt Pleasant

 Lola’s Smash Burger Review 

Some burgers surprise you. This one absolutely blindsided me. 

It was a rainy day in the Charleston area, so a beach trip was off the table. My wife had been wanting to try Lola’s—a seafood spot near her job—for a while, and we figured this was the perfect excuse. Since Lola’s is known for seafood, I was shocked (and intrigued) to see Smash Burgers on the menu. 

To be honest, I kept my expectations low. Seafood restaurants aren’t exactly where I go looking for great burgers. 

Turns out, that was a mistake. 

Appearance – 4/5

This burger came out looking exactly how a smash burger should. Two beef patties stacked high, each blanketed in melted American cheese, all tucked inside a toasted bun. Nothing fancy, nothing gimmicky—just a burger that looked ready to do business. 

Bun – 7/10

A true unsung hero. 

The bun held up from first bite to last without even hinting at surrender. Even though the bottom was toasted right to the edge of being burnt, it actually added a nice layer of flavor. Structural integrity and flavor? That’s a win. 

Meat – 26/30

The beef was seasoned well and packed plenty of flavor. These weren’t thin little smash burger patties either—two quarter-pound slabs with crispy, caramelized bits in every bite. Those crunchy edges were burger gold. 

My only complaint? The patties could have been a little juicier. Still, the flavor more than made up for it. 

Cheese – 11/15

The American cheese was one of the stars of the show. 

This wasn’t the bland, plastic-wrapped stuff that tastes like it came straight from a chemistry lab. It had real depth and richness, with one slice melted over each patty for maximum cheese coverage. Extra cheesy and extra delicious. 

Vegetables – 12/15

The toppings came on the side: lettuce, tomato, red onion, and pickles. I appreciated being able to customize each bite exactly how I wanted it. 

The tomatoes were perfectly sized for the burger. The onions were shaved thin and tasted fresh. But the real MVP here was the pickle situation. Instead of little pickle chips, Lola’s served long pickle slices that stretched across the bun, guaranteeing pickle goodness in every bite. 

That’s thoughtful burger engineering. 

Dressing – 7/10

Ketchup was provided, but this burger didn’t need it. 

A burger that tastes complete without sauces is usually a sign that everything else is being done right. The ketchup stayed mostly untouched. 

Messiness – 2/5

This burger was remarkably tidy. 

No drips. No falling apart. No burger avalanche halfway through. It stayed intact from start to finish and only required a single napkin. While some people love a messy burger, there’s something satisfying about one that keeps itself together. 

Burgerness – 8/10

This burger understood the assignment. 

The crispy meat, flavorful cheese, fresh vegetables, sturdy bun—everything played its part. There wasn’t one ingredient trying to steal the spotlight. It all worked together to create a genuinely enjoyable burger experience. 

Final Verdict: 77 Patty Points 🏆

Let’s be clear: Lola’s is a seafood restaurant. In fact, the smash burger is practically the lone non-seafood option on the menu. 

Because of that, I walked in expecting very little. Honestly, I was bracing for disappointment. 

Boy, was I wrong. 

This isn’t the greatest burger I’ve ever had, but it’s an exceptionally solid burger that completely exceeded expectations. The kind of burger that makes you double-check whether you’re actually in a seafood restaurant. 

The next time my wife wants seafood, I won’t need any convincing to tag along—because I already know exactly what I’m ordering. 

Stars and Strikes Summerville

 Stars and Strikes BAC N Burger Review 🍔🎳

After an evening at Stars and Strikes Entertainment Center with some coworkers, I put in some serious work on the bowling lanes and arcade games. Naturally, all that competition built up an appetite, so I decided to give their in-house kitchen a shot. A burger sounded like the safe play, so I stepped up to the counter and ordered the BBQ BAC N Burger. 

Appearance – 3 Patty Points

When the burger arrived, it looked like it had just finished bowling ten frames itself and was ready for a nap. It was slumped over to one side, with shredded lettuce spilling out like it was trying to escape. The only thing keeping this burger from completely collapsing was the wooden skewer stabbed through the top bun. Honestly, that skewer deserved employee of the month because it was doing some heavy lifting. 

Bun – 5 Patty Points

The bun was your standard white bread affair—nothing fancy, nothing memorable. From the first grab, I was nervous about its structural integrity. This was one of those burgers that required a firm two-hand grip and constant attention. Putting it down between bites felt like a risky decision. Flavor-wise, the bun was basically a spectator. It showed up, did the bare minimum, and went home. 

Meat – 22 Patty Points

The BBQ BAC N Burger features two quarter-pound smash patties, and this is where the burger scored most of its points. The patties were cooked well and still managed to hold onto a decent amount of juice. There was a little bit of char, but as a burger enthusiast, I wanted more of that crispy smash-burger edge. Despite that, the beef was flavorful and satisfying. 

The bacon also came to play. There was plenty of it, and every bite that included bacon was noticeably better. The combination of beef and bacon carried this burger through several of its weaker moments. 

Cheese – 12 Patty Points

The MVP of the entire burger. 

A generous blanket of melted American cheese covered the patties, creating that glorious gooey, stretchy effect every burger fan wants. With certain bites, you'd pull away and get those picture-perfect cheese strings connecting your mouth back to the burger. If there was any magic happening here, it was happening in the cheese department. 

Vegetables – 11 Patty Points

The burger came loaded with shredded iceberg lettuce on the bottom and tomato, onion, and pickles stacked on top. The veggies definitely added volume. In fact, there were moments when fitting the whole thing into my mouth felt like a challenge. 

The standout was the onion. The slices were extremely fresh, crisp, and flavorful. Ironically, there just wasn't enough of them. Every few bites I'd catch that fresh onion flavor and immediately wish there was more. When an onion leaves you wanting extra, that's usually a good sign. 

Dressing – 6 Patty Points

According to the menu, this burger was supposed to have BBQ sauce. According to my taste buds, it was apparently playing hide-and-seek. 

Every now and then I'd detect a hint of smoky sweetness, but it was so inconsistent that I started wondering if the cook had waved the bottle over the burger instead of actually applying it. A burger named BBQ BAC N Burger should have a much stronger BBQ presence. 

Messiness – 4 Patty Points

This burger was an absolute mess—and surprisingly, that's one of the categories where it excelled. 

Juices were running down my hands, toppings were shifting around, and my napkins were working overtime. My tongue couldn't keep up with all the escaped burger juice around my mouth. It was chaotic, sloppy, and completely unconcerned with cleanliness. At least it delivered on the messy burger experience. 

Burgerness – 6 Patty Points

This category is all about that unexplainable burger magic—the feeling that somebody cared when they built it. 

Unfortunately, I didn't get that feeling here. 

The burger tasted fine, but it felt assembled rather than crafted. It lacked personality and looked like it was thrown together in a hurry before being sent out the door. Nothing about it screamed passion, creativity, or attention to detail. 

Bonus Round

Fried Pickles 🥒

The fried pickles were actually pretty decent. They came in chip form, making them easy to snack on between bites of burger. More importantly, the pickles retained their dill flavor instead of becoming bland under the breading. Not amazing, but definitely enjoyable. 

Fries 🍟

Now for the tragedy. 

The fries were rough. 

As a self-proclaimed fry enthusiast, I usually have no problem demolishing an order of fries. These, however, defeated me after only a few bites. They were oddly soggy, lacked seasoning, and brought virtually nothing to the table. If the burger was "meh," the fries were actively disappointing. 

Final Score: 69 Patty Points

I've had better burgers and I've definitely had worse. Unfortunately, the BBQ BAC N Burger lands squarely in the middle of the road. It wasn't terrible enough to become legendary for the wrong reasons, but it wasn't good enough to make me want another visit. 

Would I recommend it? No. 

Would I order it again? Absolutely not. 

They say you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince. Well, after spending some quality time with the BBQ BAC N Burger, I can confidently say this one is definitely a frog. 🐸🍔

Freddy’s Goose Creek

 

🍔 Freddy’s Burger Adventure 🍔

Freddy’s had recently set up shop closer to the homestead, and on a day where the sun was shining and productivity was absolutely optional, the choice was obvious: burgers. So off to Freddy’s we went.

Freddy’s is one of those upscale-ish fast food joints. Not white-tablecloth fancy, but definitely wearing a clean button-down. Think more Culver’s, less Wendy’s—a place that takes its burgers seriously without asking you to make a reservation.

I hit the timing jackpot: no line, no chaos, no existential dread about ordering. From order to tray took maybe three minutes, tops. Today’s mission? The double cheeseburger with fries, a classic combo that tells you everything you need to know about a burger joint.

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🍔 Appearance — 3 pts

This burger clearly sprinted out of the kitchen. It looked like it had places to be. The assembly was a little rushed, but hey—that’s the fast in fast food. Otherwise, it looked like a burger should: bun, beef, cheese, done.

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🍞 Bun — 6 pts

The bun wasn’t trying to steal the spotlight, and that’s okay. It showed up, clocked in, and did its job. A standard white bun that held everything together and added just enough flavor to remind you it exists. No complaints here.

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🥩 Meat — 24 pts

Now we’re talking. Two smash-style patties, thinner than expected, but don’t let that fool you. They came packed with flavor. Every bite screamed “this is beef”—no filler, no nonsense. Pure burger energy.

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🧅 Veggies — 12 pts

No lettuce. No tomato. And honestly? You don’t miss them at all. The thick-cut onions and long, full-coverage pickle slices pick up all the slack. These weren’t sad afterthought veggies—they were here to contribute. Chips? Not required.

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🧀 Cheese — 12 pts

Two slices of classic American cheese, one per patty, melted to perfection. This was melted cheese nirvana. The cheese made its presence known in every bite without trying to hijack the entire experience. Balance achieved.

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🥫 Dressing — 7 pts

Mustard usually isn’t my go-to on a burger, but Freddy’s made it work. It played nicely with the beef, cheese, and veggies. Just enough tang to add interest, not enough to scare anyone away.

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🧻 Messiness — 3 pts

Two napkins were sacrificed in the process. The first few bites required some clean-up, but halfway through, things settled down. Right down the middle on the messiness scale—not a disaster, but not a clean room either.

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🍔 Burgerness — 7 pts

It’s not a beauty queen, but wow does it deliver where it counts. The meat, cheese, and toppings all worked together in burger harmony. This is a real-deal, honest burger—no gimmicks, just results.

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⭐ Final Score: 74 Patty Points ⭐

This is a workhorse burger. It shows up, does its job, and leaves you full and satisfied. For around $12, this meal is a solid value. Freddy’s delivers fast-casual comfort food that hits the spot and reminds you why burgers never go out of style.

Would I go back? Absolutely. When you want a no-nonsense burger that delivers flavor without drama, Freddy’s understands the assignment. 🍔💪

Big Billy’s Burger Tanger Outlet

 

It was one of those Charleston days—the kind where the sun is shining, the shorts come out, and you remember exactly why you packed up your life and moved south. A perfect day for some after-Christmas bargain hunting at the outlets. All that walking, weaving, and deal-grabbing worked up a serious appetite.

Enter: Big Billy’s Burger Bar.

Naturally, the Bacon X3 Burger was the chosen victim.

✨Appearance – 4 pts

When this burger hit the table, hope was alive and well. Bacon? Plenty of it. Cheese? Ooey, gooey, and melty. Visually, it was doing everything right and had me leaning forward in my chair with excitement.

🥯Bun – 6 pts

A standard white bun showed up and did exactly what it was hired to do: hold everything together until the final bite. No collapse, no drama—but also no personality. Just vibes of “I’m here to help.”

🥩Meat – 24 pts

Oh, how I wanted this to be great. I ordered medium. What I got was well done with a capital W. No pink, no juiciness—just gray sadness. The patty was dry and oddly salty, yet somehow completely lacking flavor. If it weren’t for the bacon stepping in like a superhero, this burger would have been straight-up miserable.

🧀Cheese – 10 pts

Cheddar was the order, and yes, it arrived melted and looking legit. Unfortunately, it tasted like… nothing. So much nothing that I actually lifted the bun to confirm it was still there. It was. Barely.

🥬Veggies – 10 pts

Classic lineup: lettuce, tomato, pickle. The pickles stole the show—crispy, punchy, and the first thing to disappear. Lettuce had a satisfying crunch. The tomato showed up with a little juice and flavor, but nothing to write home about.

💧Dressing – 8 pts

The Bacon Mayo was the MVP. Flavorful, smoky, and actually boosted the bacon instead of competing with it. Easily the best thing happening between the buns.

🧻Messiness – 2 pts

This burger was far too dry to cause any chaos. The sauce was properly portioned, the tomato behaved itself, and I walked away needing exactly one paper towel. A clean exit.

🍔Burgerness – 6 pts

Yes, it technically qualified as a burger: meat, cheese, bacon, bun. But it lacked soul. A dry, overcooked patty doesn’t spark joy—or appetite.

Final Score: 70 Patty Points

This burger had no magic. The over-salted, overcooked meat dragged everything down, which was especially disappointing given how promising it looked on arrival. I want to believe this was just an off day… so a return visit might be in order—purely in the name of burger science. 🍔

Smashley’s Burger Bar

 

Smashley’s Burger Bar – North Charleston

This weekend, the burger cravings hit hard. So naturally, I sweet-talked the wife into a quick “errand stop” at Smashley’s. No regrets. The second we walked in, I got major Five Guys energy—but like Five Guys went to the gym, upgraded its wardrobe, and learned interior design.

You order at the counter, grab a buzzer, and wait for destiny to call. The staff? Ridiculously friendly. Like, “hey, we actually care if you enjoy this burger” friendly.

Now… let’s talk about why we’re really here:

The Righteous Brother Double 🍔🔥

Appearance – 5 pts
This is exactly what a burger should look like. Thick, meaty, dripping with cheese and sauce. It was flirting with me before I even picked it up.

Bun – 8 pts
Brioche. My ride-or-die bun. Soft, flavorful, and held it together till the final bite. No soggy collapse. Structural integrity on point.

Meat – 28 pts
Absolute star of the show. Juicy, flavorful, and cooked beautifully. Every bite screamed quality. Only tiny knock? I wanted just a touch more char. Still elite.

Cheese – 13 pts
Aged cheddar done right. Melty, drippy, and adding to the glorious chaos. Cheese understood the assignment.

Veggies – 13 pts
Lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions—thinly sliced and perfectly balanced. The homemade pickles had a fresh cucumber vibe, and the onions? MVP of the veggie squad.

Dressing – 9 pts
Burger sauce was applied generously, as it should be. Took the whole experience to the next level.

Messiness – 5 pts
I lost count after five napkins. Sauce on my face. Burger juice everywhere. A beautiful, shame-free disaster.

Burgerness – 9 pts
This thing knew it was a burger and reminded you every single bite. Honestly, it had enough burger energy for two burgers.

Extras 🍟🥒

Zucchini chips were thin, lightly breaded, and dangerously addictive—especially when dipped in tzatziki.
Fries were fresh, hot, crunchy, and salted like someone actually cares.

Final Score: 90 Patty Points

Smashley’s absolutely smashed it. I’ll be back. Probably soon.