The Davidson's Restaurant family grows with each customer Cornering the burger market

There's nothing like a grilled burger in the comfort of your own home. But what if you don’t want to cook?

Try Davidson’s Restaurant. Owners Frank and Staci Davidson have created a place that comes pretty close to having that feeling you’re sitting at your own dining room table, yet someone is catering to you.

“I often hear guests comment that our dining rooms and d cor are very ‘warm,’ and they feel like they are at home,” said Staci.

And the restaurant has family written all over it. There are family members working at all times. They don’t just own the restaurant, they actively participate to make it the success it is — from mom and dad, to sons and daughters, to even a couple aunts.

In fact, 15-year-old Gus, a future owner and customer liaison (and Frank and Staci’s son), sat down with us and told us what he would recommend — and the answer is pretty much everything, because he’s tried it all and enjoys every dish.

Gus said what he likes best is to “chill with dad’s friends,” and says what keeps people coming back again and again is that “the meals have the three things people want in their food — the selection, portion size and prices people want.” After the burgers came out, we couldn’t agree more.

The burgers are huge and the sides fill up whatever part of the plate that is left.

Our waitress, Holly Tomlin, took care of us throughout the evening and we never saw the bottom of our drinks and had anything we asked for within seconds.

The burger menu offers five delicious selections, and if you want any other toppings all you have to do is ask. The selection consists of: The “Corners Burger” (lettuce, tomato), and for 95 cents extra, your choice of cheese — American, provolone, pepper jack or Swiss, greens, grilled onions, peppers or mushrooms and three slices of bacon ($1 extra); Black & Bleu (blackened with Cajun spices, bleu cheese crumbles, lettuce, tomato); Black ’N Cole (blackened with Cajun spices, topped with house coleslaw); Double “D” (two quarter-pound burgers, American cheese, pickles, mustard, lettuce, tomatoes); and the Patty Melt (grilled onions, melted Swiss on grilled rye bread).

All the sandwiches come with fair fries or a cup of soup, or for $1.50 you can substitute onion rings, seasoned battered fries, baked potato, sweet potato or tossed salad. You can add cheese to any sandwich for 95 cents.

I had to go with the Corners Burger and was impressed first by its size and then the flavor. I added pepper jack cheese and bacon and was in sheer delight. Each bite brought me crispy bacon with very tender and juicy beef. Rounding out the bite was fresh lettuce and tomato to give me a very well rounded burger that never stopped on the tasty meter. The bun sealed in the juices and I wouldn’t give back my plate until every last morsel was cleared — and my stomach thanked me.

JT went with a recommendation from Gus and chose the Double “D” burger. “Gus sure knows what he’s talking about,” he said. “I’m in love with this double quarter pound burger. Great seasoning, fresh toppings and the bun held up to the last juicy, delicious bite. I went with the crispy seasoned battered fries for my side and loved them, also.”

Chiz chose the Black ‘N Cole Burger. “The burger was seasoned just right and it put a huge smile on my face to see it was a perfect medium as ordered,” he said. “I had some sort of peppers on the side to kick the heat up a notch, although it wasn’t necessary. My first full bite was something to die for, as was my last. The generous Cajun seasoning melted and meshed so well with the fantastic coleslaw. The slight heat of the blacked beef, along with the delightful beef flavor was enough. The creamy cole slaw is what made my night... I can’t even put into words how to-die for this burger was. I literally wanted to sing it a love song.”

A couple of our Guyz couldn’t make this review, so we recruited Vindicator photographer Nikos Frazier, He also had the Black ’N Cole and said, “The juiciness of the burger was outstanding. Normally a Cajun spiced burger is overpowering with spices and heat, but this burger had a great presence while not taking anything away from the overall taste.”

If you are looking for that homey feel for breakfast, lunch or dinner, stop in to Davidson’s. “People say Davidson’s is the best kept secret around,” said Staci.

Let’s get that secret out.

Keep reading the Valley food section each Wednesday for the best food the Valley has to offer.

If you know of a burger that should be on our hit list, send the info to mvbrb@hotmail.com, or on our Facebook page BurgerGuyz.

IF YOU GO

WHERE: Davidson’s Restaurant and Tavern

Address: 3636 Canfield Road, Cornersburg

Phone: 330-793-0033

Hours: Monday through Thursday, 6:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday, 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Menu: Five burgers ($7.95 to $8.95)

Online: Facebook page: Davidsons Restaurant/Tavern

Rating: Four and a half burgers (out of five)