Ingos tasty food
When Ingo’s Tasty Food opened in November, I asked myself: Does Phoenix really need another haute-burger-inspired eatery? After sinking my teeth into a juicy Ingo’s cheeseburger, I had my answer: Why the heck not?
Located on the corner of 40th Street and Campbell Avenue, Ingo’s is the latest offspring of LGO Hospitality – parent company of La Grande Orange and Chelsea’s Kitchen. Named after an LGO partner’s childhood music teacher, Ingo’s holds fast to a low-fuss concept: nine food items, a seven-bottle wine list, a couple of craft beers and numerous non-alcoholic beverages, including house-made lemonade.
Housed in a space-age circular structure designed by local architect Will Bruder, Ingo’s sports an 18-seat counter inside and a dog-friendly patio outside that wraps around the front of the metal and brick building. Outside seating requires ordering from a walk-up window, taking a number and waiting for the food to be delivered to the table.
The cheeseburger ($7.50), made with Strauss Family grass-fed beef covered with aged cheddar, shredded lettuce, a thick slice of tomato, dill pickle and mayonnaise, was appropriately greasy and oozed out of the griddled poppy seed bun. After inspecting the layers, I discovered an unexpected slather of sweet pickle relish that wasn’t revealed on the menu – an unwelcome taste for a person firmly rooted in the dill pickle camp.
For a different burger experience, try the Ingo burger ($7.75), a tender beef patty crowned with fol epi (a French Swiss-like cheese), tangy house-made sauerkraut and Dijon sauce. Sauerkraut, more apt to smother a hot dog than a burger, is a surprisingly good complement to a hunk of ground beef. All burgers are cooked “pink medium.”
Not in the mood for a burger? The crispy chicken sandwich ($7.50) stands out, an organic chicken schnitzel crowned with spicy aioli and fried to a perfect crunch, but pleasantly moist on the inside. It pairs well with thinly sliced Granny Smith apples and dill pickles.
French fry lovers will covet the fresh shattered potato chips ($3.75) – thinly sliced fried potatoes served with lebni, a thick Mediterranean yogurt, laced with herbs and lemon. Unless you’re dining alone, you should probably snag two helpings, because you won’t want to share.
