May is Burger Month at all 16 Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant locations, with choices ranging from a black bean veggie burger to the Chug-a-Lug Burger,
a juicy beef patty topped with Vienna Red Lager cheese sauce, pickled roasted red peppers, griddled onions, and spicy serrano peppers.
Iron Hill’s freshly refurbished location on the Wilmington Riverfront is hopping on a stormy Monday night. (This picture, provided by Iron Hill, shows the bar area on what is clearly a less busy time.) The updated interior features hip concrete floors and a more open layout in the first-floor dining area and bar. The second level is closed the night we visit but we understand the flow has been enhanced in that area, too, including the open-air dining we are looking forward to when summer finally arrives.
Burgers have long been a favorite nosh. But I also like to try something more exotic. For an appetizer, I order octopus salad ($13), a nightly special. And, wow, I’m glad I did. Lightly breaded whole baby octopi are deftly cooked so they are tender not chewy. Greens are lemony and lightly dressed, a fresh foil to the octopus.
My dining partner David orders the tried and true, Iron Hill’s signature Philly cheesesteak egg rolls ($12), served with fried onions, American cheese, ketchup, horseradish sauce. They are crunchy, meaty and flavorful, the best of bar food.
And a round of Iron Hill’s quality brews, please. Ore House is a golden India pale ale with bitter hops and a hint of pine and citrus; and slightly sweet Vienna red lager.
On to the burgers. We sample the Three Little Pigs Burger, a moist, beefy burger enhanced with triple pork: tomato-bacon jam, bacon, and bacon aioli, on a brioche bun with smoked gouda cheese. The recommended brewski pairing? Pig Iron Porter, a dark and foamy beer with a malty, roasted taste that Iron Hill has been tapping for 20 years. (It’s also available in cans.)
And since we are being indulgent, we choose home-made crispy chips on the side instead of a green salad. Warm, salty and glistening, they are hard to resist. We know we should only eat a few. Then we tuck into a few more.
Throughout Burger Month, the featured burger of the day costs $14.50 with an optional 8-ounce seasonal or signature beer for an extra $2. King of the Hill members receive $5 in rewards; burger lovers who chow down on all 31 days receive $500 in rewards.
