<<< THURSDAY, APRIL 3 GAMES CLOSED >>>
The Great Eight is fully fleshed out: Eastside Big Tom, Maxwell's Restaurant, Westside Tavern, Tatanka, Lefty's Burger Shack, Crown Bar, The Spar and Shake Shake Shake. Eight establishments that - according to our readers' poll - serve the best burgers in the South Sound.
It's all come down to eight. All the signs in the restaurants, the mass emailings to customers and friends, the burger phone trees have paid off for these eight patty slingers. It's now crunch(y) onion time for the burger royalty.
On to today's Tournament of Burgers action and yesterday's results.
Game 1: Lefty's Burger Shack vs. The Forum
I feel bad for the kids on this one ... especially the 20-something partiers. But something tells me they'll survive, and they'll do so in tasty style with The Forum that they have quickly come to adore. Unfortunately for The Forum and their fancy stuffed burgers and lively bar, the task yesterday of taking down Lefty's Burger shack was simply too much - and the votes told the story. When all was said and done, Lefty's moves on with 73 percent of the vote.
Game 2: Lunchbox Laboratory vs. Crown Bar
Despite an early lead from the heralded Lunchbox Laboratory, the Crown Bar and its large, devoted Sixth Avenue strolling fans proved too powerful in yesterday's action, catapulting into the Great Eight with the closest victory margin of the day - 53 percent. Lunchbox Laboratory will survive. The new kid in Gig Harbor has been drawing large crowds with its inventive food.
Game 3: The Spar vs. Herfy's
The oldest tavern in Tacoma, The Spar, was simply too much for the fast-food joint in the Lakewood Towne Center. The Spar moves on with 69 percent of the vote and a spot in the Great Eight.
Game 4: Shake Shake Shake vs. Little Jerry's
Shake Shake Shake, the heavy favorite to win Region 4 after perceived contenders such as Mikie Burgers and Best Burgers were dismissed in earlier rounds, cruised to an easy win over Tacoma's Fern Hill darling, Little Jerry's. The Seinfeld jokes and physical comedy filled the café all day. But, it wasn't enough. Shake Shake Shake pushed its Steak and Bacon Burger hard, tossing in their Real Hot Hot Dog periodically (ballsy). Shake Shake Shake grabs 56 percent of the vote and moves into the Great Eight to take on the bison boss, Tatanka Takeout.
Let's weed through the condiments. The following are advancing to the Great Eight:
The daily burger battles on Walkie Talkie are sponsored by Ricky J's Restaurant and Lounge in Puyallup.
OK, let's dive into today's Great Eight burger battles. Vote for one burger joint per game. Voting for today's burger battles ends at 11:45 p.m.
Eight South Sound burger joints go at it today for slots in the Final Four. Jump on Walkie Talkie tomorrow to vote on the Final Four games.
Championship Vote/Party: 6 p.m., Monday, April 7 at Meconi's Tacoma Pub & Eatery in downtown Tacoma.
Confused? Read our Tournament of Burgers introduction here.