Mountainous, greasy burgers, large pizzas covered and piled with toppings and pitchers of beer to wash it all down — the components of a college life.
Together, the three form a trinity perfect for late nights and earlier mornings. While burgers topped with avocado, blue cheese or charcuterie serve their specific purpose, the classic diner burger is the gastronomic equivalent of an American flag flying in the heat of July.
Unlike pizzas and beer, Auburn’s best burgers are found in the opposite direction of downtown.
Right past the intersection of Shug Jordan Parkway and Wire Road, you’ll find Sheila C’s Burger Barn. It’s a befitting location; approaching the restaurant from South College Street, passing the cow pastures of Auburn Research Park, you can see your meal in motion. Though Sheila C’s burgers are much more gratifying.
The Burger Barn’s interior feels like a town much smaller than Auburn. The walls are plastered with homages to all things Southern--farms, hunting and beef. A stuffed squirrel welcomes patrons to order at the counter. In lieu of ticket numbers or laminated cards numbers, cow tags are appropriately and amusingly used to denote orders.
The menu is simple. In addition to the burgers, chicken tenders, hot dogs, BLT’s and chicken sandwiches are served to costumers. However, one would be amiss to not order the cheeseburger combo that comes with fries and a drink or if feeling a bit more gluttonous, the double-meat cheeseburger.
The burger is truly a beautiful mess stacked with a perfectly grilled patty topped with fresh tomatoes and lettuce and pickles. The patty is packed together gently therefore increasing the surface area for a crust to be formed while allowing for every bite to be a tender one. The uneven surface of the patty leaves plenty of nooks for the oh-so-beautiful grease to rest in.
The fries are excellent, thickly cut with a crisp exterior and without any inner mushiness that plague too many other restaurants’ fries. It’s a shame Sheila C’s doesn’t bother with milkshakes because I’m sure she would have mastered them too.
On numerous visits, friends’ eyes have widened with their first bite and then close in reverence. Forget the barn, these burgers deserve a temple.
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