Jake’s Take:

Having gone down closer to mom’s area a few times recently, we both decided to pick a place that was a bit closer to MY home this time around, as we did several months ago. Unfortunately, after some rigorous digging, there aren’t many places near me that I would consider material for Burger Bounce. That is, except for the good old Westport Plaza. We had previously eaten in this area at the Trainwreck Saloon, for which a prior write-up exists, but lo and behold, the Westport Plaza ALSO has Westport Social. And Social it is, with quite possibly the largest television screens I have seen in a place like this, and activities strewn about to keep folks busy like indoor bocce ball, shuffleboard, and even karaoke lounges. Though we didn’t go in for any of that since we were there for one thing: eating and catching up.

​For our appetizer, there were a few items that I wanted to try, but for various dietary reasons couldn’t indulge. Thus, we went with the “Fried Mac N Cheese”. And wow, these were some of the best bites of this kind I’ve had in a long while! Now at its core, it’s just fried cheese. I like that, but I’ve had it a million times before. But this had some tangy dust coating the outside that was to die for. I felt it was some sort of paprika, and I was perhaps a little close, as they were sprinkled with “Red Hot Riplets Dust”. I can’t claim to know what that is, but hell if I didn’t love it!

For the burger, we both ended up getting the same thing (perhaps predictably): the Sweet Heat Burger. We both like our spice, mom certainly more than me, so it was no surprise that we wanted to see what Westport Social had to offer. And they didn’t disappoint much to my eventual chagrin. Medium burger with pepperjack cheese as a start, but then with candied jalapenos, sweet hot sauce, and something else called the “Sweet Chili Crisp”, I was needing drink after drink after drink. If only water did more for quenching the burning of spice. Now this was good, but I was much slower to eat it than usual due to the level of heat. Hey, that’s what I ordered, isn’t it? Maybe I’ll lay off the spiciness for our next few Burger Bounce outings though, eh?

My Take:

This time, Burger Bounce took us a little closer to Jacob’s side of town, and I have to say…I’m really glad it did.

We met at Westport Social in Westport Plaza, and before we even ordered our food, I knew this place was different. We were there on a Saturday… late morning/early afternoon, so it wasn’t overly crowded but it was easy to imagine what it must be like on a Friday or Saturday night. Giant TV screens, games, a bar, and an atmosphere that just makes you want to stay awhile. It felt like more than a restaurant, it felt like a place people come to hang out.

For our appetizer, Jacob picked the Fried Mac & Cheese. Now, if you know me, you know I don’t even like macaroni and cheese. I never have. So I was pleasantly surprised when I actually liked these. They didn’t taste like traditional mac & cheese at all. The crispy coating had an incredible seasoning with just a little kick, and we later found out they were dusted with Red Hot Riplets dust. Whatever the magic was, it worked. They were absolutely delicious.

When it came time for burgers, we both landed on the Sweet Heat Burger, and honestly, I don’t think either of us regretted that decision. Pepper jack cheese, candied jalapeños, sweet hot sauce, and sweet chili crisp came together in a way I wasn’t expecting. Every bite had just the right balance of sweet, spicy, savory, and juicy. Without a doubt, this was one of my favorite burgers we’ve had since starting Burger Bounce. That’s saying something because we’ve had some really great burgers!

Before we even left the parking lot, I was already telling Jacob I wanted to come back sometime. That’s usually the sign of a winner for me. If I’m already planning my next visit before I’ve even made it home, you know the food made an impression.

Of course, Burger Bounce has never been just about finding the best burger. It’s about setting aside time to catch up, laugh, and make memories with my son. Some places are worth visiting once…and others have you planning your next trip before you’ve even left the parking lot. Every once in a while, a place comes along where the food is just as memorable as the conversation. For me… Westport Social was one of those places. If you’re ever in St. Louis, you need to go!

With love,

Mindy