I remember my first Big Mac. 8th or 9th grade. Wrestling team bus ride to an away match. My bestie, also named Brian, ordered one. I ordered one. It was amazing. Shortly after I learned that a Big Mac was McDonald’s take on the Big Boy. You could get a Big Boy in my town at Frisch’s. I had been a Buddy Boy guy before this life changing revelation.
Since that time, 1987, I have been a Big Boy guy. Big Mac’s are great in a pinch but the Big Boy is the OG. Here’s the story.
The original double-deck hamburger with two “never frozen” burgers, lettuce, cheese, mayo and our special red relish was invented at Bob’s Pantry in 1936. The Big Boy brand and sandwich, a double decker hamburger, only existed in Burbank at the 4 Big Boy diners. It wasn’t until the 1940’s the Big Boy brand was franchised to Frisch’s in Cincinnati and to EatNPark in Pittsburgh.
At one time the Big Boy name and burger was franchised to dozens of operators covering hundreds of restaurants including Bob’s Big Boy, Frisch’s Big Boy, Shoney’s Big Boy (they still exist but don’t feature the OG Burger on their menu any longer). At one time Marriott owned the brand. Somewhere along the way it was adapted and the red relish disappeared and variations of thousand island and tartar sauce were swapped in for the sauce we know today.
A McDonalds guy in Pittsburgh introduced the idea of a Big Mac in the late 60’s trying to compete with Pittsburgh’s EatNPark Big Boy and Bob’s Big Boy both of which were popular in Western PA. The first Big Mac was served in Uniontown PA in one of Jim Delligatti’s McDonalds locations (he owned quite a few McDs).
My favorite version here in Dayton can be found at the Dixie Diner in New Lebanon. They call theirs the Tootburger, an homage to an old New Lebanon Ohio drive in, the Toot, that served a Big Boy like sandwich back in the day. It was a 1960’s hot spot for cruising and old fashioned fast food.
The Tootburger is everything you wish you got with a Big Mac. Two great beefy patties and a housemade sauce, cheese and three fresh buns holding it together. Start with an extra napkin or two on hand.
My second favorite is the Whizzburger at the Dizzy Whizz between 2nd and 3rd in Louisville’s Old Lou neighborhood. This place has the feel of old drive in and the burger never disappoints.
So if we are skipping the Golden Arches, and it’s tough to find a Frisch’s anymore, where do you go for this all-American double patty, triple bun, sauced up burger? Tell us in the comments, and if you make it out to the Dixie Diner in New Lebanon, tell them that Bryan from Dayton Dining sent you.
New Lebanon, OH,
