Rueben's Burger Bistro - Boulder

Craving a burger with a side of sports while in Boulder? Then come on down to Reubens Burger Bistro one block off Pearl St. Sports bar meets some mighty burgers and much more in a cozy and energetic environment. Mac and cheese lovers can design their own perfect mac, and if a few beers will hit the spot, catch a flight of incredible beer choices! The burgers have cool names inspired by the cyclist world . We both chose the Morgul Bismark, swathed in tangy BBQ sauce and a smattering of onion straws on brioche buns. I wish that the sauce and onion straws had been evenly distributed , as I didn't get a taste of either until I was almost halfway through eating it. We always have to peruse the dessert menus when we eat out, and the GF flourless torte really stood out. Small slice but huge on flavor, and the ice cream created a perfect foil for its decadent richness. That's how you do it!

With its convenient location and unique theme a Belgian cycling motif Rueben's is an easy lure. The large beer selection (42 taps and more than 100 Belgian beers available) and potential for decadence (stuffed burgers, spiked milkshakes, and loaded mac and cheese are on the menu) only serve to enhance the appeal. However, the high pricing leaves very little room for error. For our first visit, I opted for the Vuelta (mozzarella and pancetta stuffed burger topped with onion straws, lettuce, pickles, and ponzu aioli) and fries while my wife tried the Break Away (burger topped with roasted beets, pepper jack, pancetta, and avocado ranch) and sweet potato fries. In both cases, the burgers were juicy and the fries were crisp. While the Vuelta was rather salty, the beets in the Break Away offered a bit of sweetness to balance out the pancetta. The fries came with a choice of dipping sauce, and the roasted garlic aioli proved to be a fine accompaniment. The food was enjoyable, and our server, Zakk, offered helpful food and drink recommendations, but as mentioned, the pricing here is a reach. Burgers (with a side of fries other sides are extra) start at $11 for the Training Wheels (lettuce, tomato, pickles, and onion) and top out at $16 for the Cyclocross (similar to the Vuelta but with pork belly and bacon in place of onion straws and pickles). By way of comparison, our go to burger place at home (Hop's Burger Bar in Greensboro, ranked as one of the best in the country) tops out at $11. All told, Rueben's is a good lunch spot for anyone wandering the Pearl Street Mall, and the burgers and beers offered are fairly satisfying, but be prepared to overpay for the experience.

Delicious... but messy, which is really the best way to have a burger. One of my friends suggested this place as a must try and I was not disappointed. The menu is a little intimidating and confusing, but the staff is super friendly and helpful. I ended up getting the Vuelta on a pretzel bun with onion rings. I felt a little guilty about it, so I ordered a side beet and arugula salad. LOL The salad came out over flowing and there's no graceful way to eat it. Good kind of went everywhere but in the taste department it was a winner. I would've just appreciated a bigger bowl or a smaller portion. Now down to the burger, it was heaven. Juicy and messy with the perfect compliments of flavor. The local beef was the way to go, since I think that the other cuts would've just fallen apart or been too dry. The rings were great, and they seem like they're fresh made. Stop by if you're downtown and in the mood for a burger. You won't be disappointed.

It was soooooooooooood good! I struggled to choose between the mahi mahi tacos or a burger. Thanks to the waitresses recommendation and a coin toss from Siri, I decided to go with the burger. After all, you can't visit a place that claims to be the best burger place in Colorado and not try their burgers. I don't remember the name of the burger I got. I just remember that it was on the right-hand side and it was the second burger from the bottom. I think it started with an F. The next time I visit Boulder, I'll be back!

If time is not of the essence for you and you're big on beer, then Rueben's just might be the place for you. I came here for lunch once with my husband and a bunch of his coworkers, since it's one of the group's favorites. I should be honest, though. The boys love this place for the beer selection and less for the food and service. In fact, it is advised to order your food and ask for the check at the time you're ordering, because you could be SOL if you have a meeting to run to after lunchtime. Though I'm not much of a burger person, I LOVED being able to customize my burger to my liking. Pretzel bun, please! And onion rings on the side, please! Be warned that the burgers are heavy enough to sink you into a food coma afterwards. To feel a wee bit better about the heavy meal, might I suggest the Mountain Biker with the cucumber, arugula, and avocado?