Everything Is Big At JAWS Jumbo Burgers

Jan. 6, 2011 - PRLog -- JAWS Jumbo Burgers is a basic burger joint, punched up with personality that makes it an entertaining, family-friendly place to eat. On top of that, the name reflects the Jaws theme that's carried through the restaurant with shark movies, shark memorabilia and a live shark tank.

"It's sort of like getting a bar burger where you don't have to go to a bar to do it," said manager Paul Porter. "It's a non-smoking environment, and it's absolutely kid friendly."

The straightforward menu includes single or double-decker burgers, with or without cheese and bacon, topped with tomato, shredded lettuce, pickles, mayo, ketchup and mustard on a buttered, toasted bun. Or, customers can opt for a Great White fish fillet or Chicken Delight instead of the 1â„3-pound patty of ground round.

Offerings continue with wing dings, fish and chips, fresh squeezed lemonade and old fashioned blender ice cream milkshakes. That's about it, but the simple menu works because the burgers are the bomb.

Porter said owner David Stein opened the restaurant five years ago in Southfield to recreate burgers he recalled from his childhood. JAWS was mainly a carry-out venue until it relocated to Farmington Hills last January.

Now in a plaza on Orchard Lake Road between 12 and 13 Mile, JAWS offers a 48-seat dining room. As soon as you place your order with the ultra-friendly staff at the counter, everything is made to order.

"We get the beef, we patty it out, we cut all the veggies fresh," Porter said. "We call ourselves 'fast-er' food."

Meanwhile, you pour your own soda and take a seat until your name is called. There's plenty to look at while you wait.

Plasma screen TVs show various action adventure films, from Spider-Man to Jurassic Park. Of course, shark-themed movies are favorites (the restaurant recently staged a weeklong shark movie marathon as a tribute to late Jaws star Roy Scheider). When children come in, features are changed to family fare like Finding Nemo, Night at the Museum or Shark Tale.

The shark motif continues with movie posters on the walls, plastic shark figurines perched on countertops, fishing nets strung on the windows and seashells on the sills. A huge papier mache hammerhead bites into a JAWS burger over the front door.

The centerpiece of the decor is the 185-gallon freshwater tank stocked with live iridescent sharks (yes, the real thing).

But after all, this place is more about the food, and the burgers don't disappoint.

The patties are juicy, the bacon is cooked to crisp perfection, the toppings are fresh and the fries are hot and salty. In addition to dining in, it's a great place to grab lunch on the run or pick up bags of burgers for office luncheons. Customers are encouraged to call ahead so carry-outs are ready when they arrive.

"We don't cook your French fries until you come in," Porter said. "That way if you get stuck in traffic, your fries won't be cold."

Best of all, the prices are right. A JAWS Jumbo Deluxe Burger Combo with fries and a pop is $5.99. The meal is sure to leave you stuffed for the rest of the day.

But make sure you come with cash.

Jaws doesn't take credit cards, and you won't want those sharks coming after you.

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JAWS JUMBO BURGERS is the one and only movie tribute restaurant in the world. Named after the blockbuster hit JAWS. Jaws Jumbo Burgers features JAWS memorabilia. The food is the equivalent to a 1950's style burger joint. www.jawsjumboburgers.net