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Slide On Over

Reviewing Whisler's, downtown's new burger joint that's a blast from the past.

Photo Kevin O'Riley

After a lengthy period of “fancier is better” in downtown Springfield, the paradigm is starting to shift. With the opening of Ziggie’s, and now Whisler’s (208 W. McDaniel St., 417-864-5565), cheap-and-accessible has made a comeback this summer. A mainstay in Carthage, Missouri, Whisler’s second location opened somewhat quietly early this summer. The city’s welcoming party: a complete unearthing this month of McDaniel Street, eliminating curbside parking and foot traffic.

Yet there has been a wait both of the times I’ve eaten at Whisler’s; people are definitely finding it. Since the closing of Harpo’s, it’s been tough to find a place downtown that specializes in hamburgers. Whisler’s fills that void with little grease-bombs of goodness. And we mean that in the best way possible.
Seriously though, by the time you get to your car the grease from your burgers will have soaked through your white paper sack. It’s not the most PC of things to point out, we’re sure. The upside: These are the most dang tasty sliders you’ll find in Springfield.

Whisler’s burgers are small, so don’t feel bad ordering two (three?) of them. On my first lunch trip I did double my pleasure, ordering the lunch special of two cheeseburgers, a bag of chips and a regular drink for just $4.50. Unlike many burger places, the meat and bun are perfectly proportioned, so there’s cheese, bread and beef in every bite. The chip selection is typical (the Rold Gold pretzels give you the most bang for your buck) and the soda fountain has Pepsi products, including the uncommon Diet Mountain Dew. There’s also a cooler where you can buy Gatorade, energy drinks or bottled soda if you don’t like what’s in the fountain.

The burgers were tasty, topped with pickles, onion, mustard and ketchup. I hadn’t realized that onions were standard, so made a mental note for my second trip.

That second trip came a couple of weeks later. Wanting to branch out, I ordered two Pig & Bull burgers, which is a hamburger topped with a thin slice of ham (pictured above). Cooked on the griddle, the ham has the essence of Canadian bacon, and (this time sans onions) the entire thing was positively delicious. I skipped the chips and ordered a bigger drink. My total was a little more than $5—more than the lunch special but still a bargain.

And with just two visits, I had tasted a large portion of Whisler’s limited menu. Other interesting burger options include the Sow and Cow (bacon on beef) and the Farm Burger (ham, bacon on beef). The one thing that really intrigues me are the milkshakes ($1.95); the walk-in, carry-out Whisler’s (there’s no place to sit down to eat) just feels like a place that would make a killer milkshake. Whisler’s is open  at 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Thursday-Sunday. They close at 7 p.m. Monday–Wednesday.