Adventures in Eating: Geer Street Garden, The Pile (with Video)

Gentle Readers, sometimes, one just has to abandon all reason and order the largest thing on the menu. In the case of Geer Street Garden, the largest and most infamous is “The Pile.” If you are ever near Durham, go. It is awesome.

This mound of deliciousness is covered in bacon, fried chicken, jalepeños, and cheese, and comes with cheese sauce, gravy, and two additional dipping sauces. It is a meal in and of itself, for several people. And lo, it was good.

The Pile at Geer Street Garden

To fully sample the Geer Street Garden goods, the Practical Cook took the imminently practical step of going there, a lot. I’ve tried the pimento cheese burger (courtesy of the Eldest Practical Cook Junior), the banana pudding (love it), and the arugula salad (don’t judge, I’m kind of obsessed with it now).

I’m a burger fan, but not so much of In-N-Out (controversy!). I think Andy Magowan’s burgers are the best in Durham. There, I said it. If you disagree, point me to a better one and I’ll go eat it.

Pimento Cheese Burger at Geer Street Garden

Full disclosure, I know Andy, from back in the day in Spanish class at UNC. He is awesome, but that is only more reason to try Geer Street Garden. It is like being in your own back yard, without the hassle and with a lot more beer on tap.

Beer and Hydration at Geer Street Garden

To sum it up:

Gazpacho: Good, liked the texture (not everyone did), but would appreciate more zip in the dish. Cilantro, juice from the pickled jalepeños jar, whatever works.

Gazpacho at Geer Street Garden

Fried Okra: Fantastic. Excellent frying work.

Hello Fried Okra, Welcome Home

Veggie Sandwich: Perfection on Toast.

Deviled Eggs: Always the right choice as an appetizer.

Deviled Eggs at Geer Street Garden

Pimento Cheese: Big fan. Also approved by the Practical Cooks Junior.

Pimento Cheese and Toasted Bread

Burgers: Yes, please. Favorite one in Durham.

Fries, Garlic: Again, I think these are the best in Durham, and possibly surrounding areas. Tyler’s are good when they are good, but I find them unreliable and often oversalted. Geer Street Garden fries have never let me down.

Geer Street Garlic Fries

Arugula Salad: Yes, I do love salads, and I got this one with a different dressing (I don’t heart ranch), but now I can’t stop thinking about it. It’s an egg/fried chicken delivery system, and it rocks in the summer.

Banana Pudding: Not the most traditional rendition, but I really enjoy it. Soothing after so many fries.

The Blinding Light of Banana Pudding Goodness

Brownie Sundae: Good, but very sweet. I found that challenging after consuming so many savory items. That could be me. It was tasty, if you are a super-sweet dessert person.

Brownie Sundae, in Profile

The Cocktails: The watermelon cocktail has been a hit with all who have tried it.

Watermelon Cocktail at Geer Street Garden

The Beer: I’m partial to Allagash White, with orange slice, thank you very much. The Kolsch was also well-received.

The Pile: I can’t lie, I should have stopped, but just couldn’t. Each bite is a new taste adventure. I will order it again someday, when I have committed fellow eaters. Special thanks to my friend Dr. Shark for the able assist in consumption.

The Pile with Gravy and Cheese Sauce Applied

Thanks to all who came out for the festivities last night, it was fun and delicious. When you crave burgers and fries, you know who to call: 1-800-Practical-Cook.

Do you love cheese fries? Post a comment below and share your source, or send a Tweet!

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(Am I the only one who starts singing REM’s Orange Crush right about here?)

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