PIT-STOP RESTAURANTS are perhaps some of the most overlooked establishments in the culinary world. In Manchester, however, the whole town revolves around the home of the ‘Bonnaroo Burger.’ With a lively hum in the air of families and couples of every age group chattering and a nonstop flow of people going in and out, Jiffy Burger is a refuge to wandering passersby and steady locals alike.
Maneuvering around the nostalgic décor covering every inch of every wall, I seated myself at the only empty table. Almost immediately, the waiter came to take our drink orders. Once he was gone, the scent of nicely charred meats and fried delicacies influenced my whole order — a bacon cheeseburger with massive onion rings, a side of batter-dipped fries, and the tallest BLT I have yet to see, accompanied by tater tots. Accustomed to lousy onion rings with a slight hint of onion within, I kept my prospects down. Within the first bite, I knew these were the best onion rings I had ever tasted, with thick slices of onion, superbly soft and moist, and a coating that doesn’t cling to grease or its filling. The burger that came after was just as good, if not better, in its complexity of flavors and textures. Nothing overthrew anything else when eaten as a whole. The lettuce was crisp, the tomato was sweet, and the bacon was crunchy. This combination was elevated with my cheeseburger and the hamburger patty practically melting in my mouth. Each hungry, juicy bite between crispy fries, fluffy tater tots, and cheeseburger screams “The American Dream!” Next time you take a long hike and want to refuel, are on a road trip or have no idea what to eat for dinner, take a hint from the ravenous customers who have been dining here for generations and enjoying the same fresh, 100% hamburger patties. GN