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Flay mania hits Penn's campus

04/07/10 2:10am

Celebrity chef Bobby Flay’s new restaurant Bobby’s Burger Palace officially opened its doors Tuesday in the Radian building, at 3925 Walnut St.

The restaurant serves hamburgers, salads, grilled cheese and milkshakes, in addition to various wines and beers.

Flay described Bobby’s Burger Palace as a “quick, casual burger restaurant.” In comparison to the six high-end restaurants he owns, “it doesn’t take itself so seriously,” he added.

“Whenever I walk into one of my places, people are smiling,” he said.

Flay, who dropped out of high school to start cooking professionally at age 17, said burgers are what he “creates more than anything.”

“I’m a burger guy,” he said.

What students are saying Engineering senior Enid Chiu: "I really liked the Griddled Cheese. I was dying to get it before I got here because I saw an episode of Throwdown with Bobby Flay and he actually went against this grilled cheese family restaurant, and he won, I think. And it was that particular recipe, so I thought it was really good."

College junior Kate Cohen: "I don’t even like burgers that much and this one was really, really good. I think it’s a unique spin on the classic burger. I like the communal seating so you can just sit anywhere you want, and the atmosphere is pretty relaxed, and the food comes very quickly, and of course Bobby Flay is here."

College junior Laura Green: "The avocado relish was really good. It was well done overall — the presentations, conceptually … I’m just impressed on the first day that they did so well. They started off right."

Wharton senior Paige Maehara: "I’m like a big burger guru. I always order burgers. I started with a classic today, but every time I come back, I’m gonna plan on getting every single thing on the menu by the time I graduate."

College senior Josh Vittor: "I just like the options. The only place you could get a burger before here was Copa. The best part about the Radian has been the more dining options that it has. The service was really good. They got the food out within five minutes, literally."

Video of the opening of Bobby's Burger Palace.