Tucked away in suburban west St. Louis County, Circle 7 Ranch attempts to satisfy appetites on a nightly basis. Newly opened on Clayton Road west of Schoettler Road, the casual hamburger joint serves up specialty sandwiches and wraps to a packed house regularly. Customers, if of age, do not even have to wait for the product in some cases. Multiple booths around the restaurant are equipped with beer taps, an innovation new to Missouri, ready at all times for thirsty drinkers to help themselves.
With the wall of televisions and timely service, the dive’s atmosphere is fit for everything between game day with the guys and date night, just as long as the customer is prepared to take on a king size portion.
Because I visited alongside nearly two dozen hungry football players, a large chunk of the menu made its way to the table throughout the night. The unanimous crowd favorite was the Smoked Brisket Nachos, ordered as a result of employee recommendation.
Fresh fried tri-color tortilla chips, topped with a creamy white cheese sauce,called queso blanco by the staff, was buried under homemade black bean corn salsa, clumps of brisket, candied jalapenos and sour cream. It was a dish bigger than a bone crushing corner back’s appetite. The tangy barbecue sauce that should have been on my burger mixed with the queso blanco creating a delicious concoction. The heaps of succulent meat carried savory flavor but the best discovery on the plate was the candied jalapenos, rich with spice complemented by the sweet saccharine.
Also ordered before the main course was average pretzel sticks with a side of queso blanco. The jumbo in the Jumbo toasted ravioli ($8.99), undoubtedly referred to the substantial price tag as the appetizer appeared no different than what busy mothers purchase from supermarket freezers. But the most important part of the meal was yet to arrive.
From the moment that I picked up a menu, I was overwhelmed with the abundant choices that I had. At first glance, my eye found The Longhorn, two certified Angus beef patties, smoked brisket, BBQ sauce, two slices of American cheese, coleslaw and pickle. Drawing me away was the Kona Burger, a combination of diverse cultures that packed ham, Swiss, teriyaki marinated grilled pineapple and red bell pepper rings into a bun, all on top of Circle 7’s signature certified Angus beef patties. As one of our two waitresses approached the table, I chose The Razorback.
I was promised two certified Angus beef patties cooked at medium well (a Circle 7 must), pulled pork, BBQ sauce, red onion, and pickles. When asked, I accepted the offer of lettuce and tomato. From all appearances, the sandwich garnished with french fries and branded with the restaurant’s logo was an absolute delicacy.
Looks can be deceiving.
The patties were prepared to my liking but would be considered overcooked by the average burger proficionato. The pulled pork lacked moisture but would have been acceptable had the BBQ sauce made its way to the table. I found myself asking for a side of the candied jalapeno pepper slices that I enjoyed so much just to make the sandwich flavorful.
The french fries, although hot and ready to eat were nothing to write home about. Perhaps I should have taken my chances with the $8.99 Dirty Fries, a modification of the original favorite side dish that included a topping of Monterrey jack, sharp cheddar, bacon, chives and sour cream.
Throughout the evening, the service was satisfactory. It was not clear if we had two servers as standard protocol or because of the amount of people at the table. Regardless, the food and beverages were delivered in a timely manner and for the most part, enjoyed by all.
Abandoned tables throughout the restaurant were quickly cleaned and ready for new customers, keeping wait time at minimal length. Because our table was a party of more than 15, an automatic 15% gratuity was added to each bill.
Overall, the restaurant was above average compared to other casual burger joints but did not exceed expectations. It is rated lower than anticipated because of the promise that the menu has, ambiance and front house service. Although the restaurant’s potential for greatness is outstanding, my meal did not come close to the expectations set by the staff and the smorgasbord of choices, but I am generously taking the blame for poor decision making, giving the restaurant the benefit of the doubt.
