Things we like: Big Daddy's Breakfast Burger

Hungry and home-hunting, we landed in Piedmont Heights, where we saw Big Daddy’s Burgers.

Wait staff wore face masks, and buckets graced tabletops to encourage social distancing. A hand sanitizer station stood at the ready.

The wall was lined with Polaroids of burger challenge hall-of-famers, old, old tapestry-like hangings, and past best-burger awards.

I pointed to the menu. “That’s Big Daddy; he looks just like that,” said the waitress, gesturing to the caricature of a smiling man wearing glasses and an apron. “He cooks in the morning.”

The menu touted its fair share of inventive burgers — also staples of country-fried steak, biscuits and gravy, malts.

We ordered, and The Breakfast Burger came out with large, glistening strips of bacon and two slices of melted cheddar cheese, resting on a 1/3-pound beef patty with an over-easy egg, peanut butter.

Between two slices of French toast.

I poured a small cup of syrup over my half of the sandwich. It seeped in, and I took my first bite.

The French toast was a sturdy, decadent foundation, well holding the burger’s contents. The egg yolk and peanut butter melted together with the cheese and the beef. And the bacon.

It all felt like a throwback to the comforts of childhood. Saturday morning breakfasts with sausage and eggs and pancakes; and peanut butter, a kid’s go-to.

It tasted familiar and nostalgic, and I was glad we went splitsies.

It came with a heaping pile of fresh-cut fries for $10.99, and prices range $7.99 for a cheese omelette to $11.49 for Ray’s Smother Burger.

There are a couple of salad options and a veggie burger, but there’s not much for gluten-avoiders or vegans here. But something about Big Daddy’s says that’s not the point.

It feels rooted in old-school food ideals, big appetites and big portions of hot and savory.

2828 Piedmont Ave.

218-720-3181

duluthsbestburgers.com