The Tin Cow is a place where cool people eat hamburgers.

If you walk in wearing tube socks and sandals- they might ask you to leave.  If they do allow you to stay- your server will (eventually) greet you with an eye roll and a sigh.  The Tin Cow is a restaurant/hangout with an electric atmosphere, incredible homemade potato chips and a killer burger.  Of course, we weren’t there to score the chips, or the atmosphere.  We were here for business.  Beef.  And you know our only judging criterion: TASTE.

The ordering process at the Tin Cow is clever and engaging; each customer is presented with a checklist and a pencil.  With more than 75 options, every diner is given the ability to craft the burger of their dreams.  The ½ lb. “Angus Steak, fresh never frozen” patty looked appealing- but how could we overlook the “American Style Kobe” beef? Especially when presented at a very affordable $3 upcharge?

If you’re unfamiliar with Kobe beef, or curious what the difference is between “Kobe” and “American Style Kobe” – please educate yourself (we had to): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kobe_beef

We ordered our burger on the Brioche Bun (it seemed the most ordinary) and selected the following toppings: American cheese, lettuce mix, Roma tomatoes and dill pickle chips.  Add ketchup, mayonnaise and mustard- and we were salivating as we completed our checklists.

When the burgers arrived, they smelled (and tasted) of a backyard grill at a family cookout.

Each burger was kissed with the perfect amount of char, intense beef flavor and a texture that gently crumbles as you eat it.

The buttery, grilled brioche bun was a perfect vehicle for transporting show horses the Kobe (style) beef.

All produce was fresh tasting and the American cheese was melted delicately atop each burger- not thrown on afterward or applied too soon and melted away- it was perfectly done.

Miraculously- the Tin Cow burger is one that you can eat without questioning your decision making afterward.  This burger won’t leave you feeling stuffed or asking yourself “Why did I eat that?”

However, the burger was labeled by some Panel Members as “too artsy” and “disjointed.”

A “disjointed” burger is one that may include the finest ingredients- but taste more like a “stack” of individual flavors rather than having one balanced, burger taste.  While each ingredient is delicious in its own right- the components never fully meld together to form one cohesive flavor profile.

Does that make sense?  Of course it does.

What it means is that a great burger can be thrown across a crowded room and land in one piece.

Actually, that would be disgusting.  But you get the idea.

The burger lost minor points from some Panel Members who found the fat laden Kobe style beef to be chewy in some cases.  There also seemed to be a broad spectrum for temperatures- some judges felt their “medium” burger was undercooked while others considered their “medium” burger to be considerably overdone.

In total, the Tin Cow burger finished with a final score of 7.6.

This burger here is definitely worth eating, but we’re not ready to crown it Pensacola’s finest burger (yet.)

So, check out the Tin Cow.  Wear skinny jeans so you’ll fit in.  Order the chili (amazing) and get a full plate of chips.  Try the burger and let us know what you think.  Then check back with us to see where the Burger Tour rolls next. And please, keep your recommendations coming.

We’re dedicated to tirelessly searching the Pensacola area for Northwest Florida’s BEST burger.

Happy Eating!

The NWFL Burger Tour.