You’re going to see a lot of burger coverage on RestaurantsCT.com, because one dining trend we’re not unhappy to see is the public’s increasing infatuation with gourmet burgers. We believe that upscale burger joints like Haywire Burger Bar, which opened Monday in Westbrook, are filling an ever-growing appetite for upgraded hamburgers, and therefore, are here to stay.
Formerly Pazzo Ristorante, Haywire Burger Bar has plenty of parking and nice outside dining potential.
Once you enter from the parking lot, there’s an inviting bar area to the left
and a dining room to the right (photo taken from far end of dining room)
Beyond the first dining area is an additional high-ceilinged space (photos taken from opposite ends of space).
On just its third night, the restaurant rapidly grew busier after our arrival,
keeping the staff hopping.
The menu (click to enlarge photos) was well thought out, offering a tempting array of hamburgers, lamburgers and turkey burgers, as well as “chicken burgers,” “surf burgers,” and “no burgers” like veggie burgers and grown-up grilled cheese with a tomato soup shooter. There were interesting sides, salads, appetizers and even a surprising assortment of entrées. The entrées included pecan bourbon chicken, mac and cheese, steak frîtes, fish tacos, Cajun-grilled salmon, and barbecued ribs.
There was also a good drink selection, notably beers,
wines,
and cocktails.
But my buddy and I were pretty focused on the burgers, which were hand-formed from Creekstone Farms 100% Black Angus beef ground fresh in house daily. Located in Arkansas City, Kansas (confusing like Kansas City, Missouri), Creekstone Farms cattle are raised in a human environment and never administered any antibiotics or hormones. In other words, the beef is reasonably guilt free (try telling that to our 14-year-old vegetarian daughter) and absolutely delicious.
Soon after we put our order in, our friendly server, Alice, brought out our burgers.
They came with a choice of shoestring fries, salad greens or coleslaw.
My buddy ordered the Fungi, which featured Swiss, sautéed mushrooms, garlic mayonnaise and a porcini mushroom drizzle.
I ordered the Aloha, which included shaved ham, Provolone, rum-glazed grilled pineapple, red onion and lime mayonnaise.
We passed up the desserts, shakes and floats,
vowing to return another time with greater appetites, and finished instead with shots of Bailey’s.
After our meal, we talked with owners Avni & Christina Krasniqi, a truly nice couple. Christina hails from Connecticut, while Avni is from Kosovo via Germany, a country in which he gained a great deal of cooking experience.
It was a pleasure to meet two such nice people and an even greater pleasure to find some of Connecticut’s best burgers.
Haywire Burger Bar, 730 Boston Post Road, Westbrook; 860-391-8479; haywireburger.com
We had a delicious dinner w/ friends at Haywire this week – many different kinds of burgers at our table, and lots of toppings – great service from waitstaff Alice and a fresh, open feel to the back dining room.
It is a good destination for all ages – something for everyone – the bar was jumping, the decor was cool and the service was prompt and polite –
we would definitely return for more burgers, or maybe the salmon, or maybe the great salads –
A great addition to the shoreline dining scene –
It’s not the kind of information we run, because such things can change without notice, but I paid for my food with a debit card.
Is it a secret on whether they take credit and debit cards?