I had no idea Bijans Burger Joint was opening in Coral Gables until I read it on food for thought a few days ago. I gathered a few dudes up and we decided to check it out. I like the layout of Bijans Burger Joint and the bar is very cool with its stone look. The bar also has 2 giant chalk boards with the menus written on them in colored chalk. There are some life size cut outs of sports stars associated with South Florida above the food prep area and on the east side of Bijans Burger Joint there are superhero pictures (very nice might I say). The one thing Andy realized was the logo they are using all over their windows (a back to back letter B) is very similar to Burger and Beer Joint's logo. The other similarity I found between both places was the suggestion that the burgers be ordered Medium Rare. The difference between both places is that Burger and Beer Joint was well prepared for their opening whereas Bijans needs work . Bijans Burger Joint has a lot of people walking around looking lost. 
I almost felt as if I was watching a live action pinball game. We decide to get some "Snacks" and order the Mini Corn Dogs, Potato Skins & Buffalo Wings with Hot sauce. The Mini Corn Dogs were not mini at all but just 2 regular sized corn dogs.
They tasted fine except for one thing, a recurring them you will find in this review. It was cold inside, not room temperature but actually cold. The next two items were served up hot, quite a contrast to the previous snack. The potato skins were your average p skins and we found the wings to be quite good.
It seemed as if they added some pepper to the buffalo sauce to make it hotter, mission accomplished. The wings were not breaded or of the crispy variety but somewhere in between. 
While we're finishing up our snacks we're asked if we want our burgers. This in turn is kind of funny, because when we placed our snack and burger order, they were about 15 minutes apart so to prevent having everything served at once. It took over 45 minutes to get the corn dogs to give you an idea. I forgot to mention that all toppings and sides are a la carte. The burgers arrive and Jarce asked for his Classic Burger with mushrooms, american cheese and bacon(which he did not get) . 
Andy asked for his Classic Burger (with cheddar cheese and bacon) well done which came Medium. I ordered my Classic Burger with bacon, cheddar cheese and a fried egg. I receive a bacon and egg less burger.
I'm told there are no fried eggs available so I must settle for just bacon. Worst of all, everything was room temperature as if it had been sitting under their heat lamps waiting for us. Even our side order of fries was cold.
It's a shame because the burger was actually pretty good considering it was served room temperature.Classic Burger: 2 1/2 out of 5
Bijans Burger Joint
235 Galiano Street, Coral Gables, FL
305-460-5695
14 comments:
WOW LOOKS REALY GREASY
ate there today and I must say the food was amazing. it must have been their first day becuase we didnot enounter the same problems. The food was hot service was good and truly one of the best burgers i've had.
I just discovered this place last night as I work in the area and the space has been empty for some time. I was surprized that the joint was hopping with a cool crowd at the bar.
I went by today with a few friends from work to check the place out. They told us that the place had just opened and that they were still testing things out and welcomed suggestions.
Two of my friends had turkey burgers and were really quite impressed. I had a regular/orignial burger and loved it. They use a really good bun.
The only thing that I didn't like was that you have to pay for sides and they gave us plastic coke bottles.
I'm planning on going to happy hour there as premium drinks are $4.75 until 8 and $5.75 after with $5 shots all the time. Can't beat those prices.
The place is great! The atomospere is cool, the the best burgers I've had in a while and the peole where friendly. I think doing a review on the opening day of a restaruant doesn't really make sense, considering things have to be worked out....just my opionion.
Wow, 3 Anonymous positive reviews, what a shock!
where exactly is this place? i tried mapquest and it couldn't find the address you gave. what's it near? Might wait a week or two to try though.
Hey all,
My name's Elias, i am one of the original cooks from Bijan's. I am happy to see so many of you have visited us in our first week, our first day serving food was literally Sunday 10/18/09.
For those of you who do not know, the restaurant is located at the former location of 'Karma', right across the street from The Gables Diner 1 block west of coral way on Galiano.
Although i am not a manager, or owner, i would like to personally apologize for any bad experiences in these first few days. The entire staff was hired just a week before, and i can assure you for our Grand Opening (there will be a big event with celebritiy guests such as Dwayne Wade from the Miami Heat) all of these kinks will be worked out and perfected. We have already made significant progress in this area.
I appreciate any input on the food as it is me myself who is cooking it, and, i take pride in my work!
Feel free to ask for me in person at Bijan's for any questions/comments/concerns/specialorders...
I almost forgot! I didn't see any mention of the drinks at Bijan's. I know a big point for the owners was to make it a spot for happy hour, ALL premium drinks before 8pm are $4.75
and after 8pm are $5.75, which, i believe to be the BEST prices for drinks within a 2 or 3 mile radius....
Cheers,
Elias
Don't believe the hype! There is no excuse for me to be served an ice cold corn dog 45 minutes after I originally order it! What was going on for those 45 minutes? Obviously, it sure wasn't being used to cook my corn dog. And by the way, on the menu it says Sauteed Mushrooms, but what i got was cold mushrooms out of a can or something. Those things never reached any heated surface. Get your act together people and we'll probably give you a 2nd chance!
Jarce,
I was not offering an excuse as much as providing an explanation. Either way, your frustration is well heard. Hopefully we can make up for your initial bad experience.
Elias
Ate there on 11/6/09 and the food was great, mozzerella sticks went far beyond my expectations (covered in a delish chunky tomato sauce fragrant of garlic and sprinkling of parsley and parm) YUM!! Drink specials were a great bang for my buck on a Friday/HH as well and the sweet potato fries were amazing :)
I'm pretty torn. I would never judge a restaurant based on what happens between soft opening and grand opening, and I certainly wouldn't review a restaurant any sooner than two weeks following the grand opening.
I also would never expect service as bad as the reviewers encountered. In other words: no excuses, Bijan's.
I'll give Bijan's a chance after grand opening, but I won't expect much. I hope they do something with the menu. Seems a little thin on creativity.
Ate their for lunch today and ordered wings and a turkey burger. Both items came at the SAME time and I saw them sit under the lamp as my server finally decide to bring them to me and I was tempted to walk over and bring it myself. Food and decor is nice but the floor staff can sink this place into the ground. Some solid bartending and waitstaff will dictate if this place lasts and trust me I hope it does becasue I own a business in the area and it has been an empty space for too long. Potential is there but please get a real floor manager or better waitstaff!!!
Visited Bijan's on Dec. 10th, 2009.
I was very disappointed that my
burger was NOT charbroiled , as
the menu stated !
I already had eaten half the burger, so I did'nt want to send
it back...
but I did clear up my suspiscions
by going over to the cook at the
counter. He told me "YES , it
is a flat top grill. We are
still waiting for our Broiler to
arrive "
Bijan's is a very pretty place,
and if I lived in the area, I would
probably freguent the place every
so often , perhaps for a drink and
/or snack at the bar, etc.
(looks like a nice place to watch
a ball game at)
But, we made a special stop here on
our way from Fort Lauderdale to
Shark Valley , Everglades.
I had read 5 reviews on Yelp.com, and
they seemed positive.
I would not have made a special pit stop here, if I knew then what
I know now.
I almost stopped at OneBurger in
Coral Gables, but there are are 59
reviews on Yelp.com, including lots
of negative ones ("dry, tasteless
burgers")
On a brighter note, the fries ROCKED!!
I have been to Bijans a couple of times as I work in the area. I have always had good food and very inexpensive drinks. When the place first opened, I did have one experience where the food took longer than I wanted, but that only happened once.
I went to this Joint yesterday and I was very pleased with some changes to the menu. I guess that they changed the menu for the new year and to my surprise they changed most of the issues that I had with the original menu (pricing) and added more healthy items.
My main gripe with the place had been that the burgers/sandwiches did not come with a side. Now they have $10 specials that include your choice of a burger or sandwich -fish - chicken etc., with your choice of sides and a drink.
They also added truffle Mac and Cheese (that was excellent), veggies for sides, new salads, and a few new sandwiches like a Philly mignon.
With the $10 specials - this will be my new main lunch spot.
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