Well guys, it’s finally happened.

We can finally say we actually ate at The Annex.

Some of you who have been with us from the beginning will remember this as one of our most controversial picks from the first season of WTGW, in which Shane picked a place that lived another life as someone’s house and we left before we ever ordered because we couldn’t get served. And also be ause the smell of the grill – which at that time was conveniently placed in the middle of the only room of the house – permeated literally everything. We left saying we didn’t eat there but the smell would follow us for days. 

Oooh the drama.

It’s become somewhat of a legend of WTGW folklore since that time. TBH I had kind of figured it went away with Covid, as so many places did.

But Shane decided it was time to try again. I mean it has been 11 years after all. And weirdly enough almost exactly to the day, as our last attempt was on March 11, 2015.

If you think we actually plan these things you’re giving us way too much credit.

Hey it still looks like a house! That’s … comforting? And it’s still just as busy and confusing when you walk in and aren’t quite sure where to go or how to secure a seat. So that’s fun.

But the ventilation system seems to have improved, in part because they made the kitchen into its own room where it belongs. So in a small victory at least we aren’t watching the cook make the burgers as we wait for them. 

Speaking of burgers, we didn’t ask, but judging solely by the amount of space they take up on the menu I’m guessing that the burgers are what The Annex is most known for. They have several specialty burgers, along with a few chicken sandwiches, some wings, and a bunch of fried apps. If you want a salad do not come here. The only vegetables available are either deep fried or loaded onto your burger.

The burgers come in two sizes – regular and mini. I opted for the mini version of the mushroom Swiss, while the guys both got the regular sized Reuben burger.

Let’s play a little game and see if you can tell which is which:

If you can’t tell which one of those is the mini then consider this your warning to make an appointment with your eye doctor. You’re welcome.

Good thing Ted also got six of the hot garlic wings too, right? Because you know, we like burgers AND wings.

It also must’ve been his lucky day, because he got an extra two in the basket. Because, you know, MORE food seemed necessary in this particular scenario.

He did, however, finish all eight wings and that massive burger. Take that, to go boxes. We don’t need your kind here.

He also didn’t even seem to care that there was cheese on the burger since it was easily removed and donated to Shane – who only shares food when on the receiving end apparently.

Shane said his biggest complaint – other than figuring out how to approach eating the burger – was that the patty itself lacked seasoning. It was done perfectly to his liking – you know, almost still alive but also not crossing the threshold of being raw enough to kill him – and the extra topping for the Rueben part was good and helped with the flavor. But he just wished maybe they could’ve done some sort of seasoning to flavor the patty itself. You can’t tell me they don’t at least have some seasoned salt lying around this place.

Ted had pretty much the same opinion. See, they share more than cheese, folks.

In fact Ted said he wished he had eaten his wings first so that he could’ve used the leftover sauce on his burger to flavor it up a bit. He really liked the wings and said the sauce was just spicy enough with good garlic flavoring.

My burger was just big enough, and after seeing the guy’s meals I was incredibly glad I got the smaller one. I thought it was good and would order it again.

The crowd is definitely a lot of regulars, and be prepared to feel like you might be sitting in someone’s assigned seat when you claim your table in the small space. But it’s also excellent people watching since the “regular” here runs from early 20s college kids out for cheap beer and shared food to couples who seemed to be on first or second dates to obvious groups of co-workers finishing up happy hours.

I think we’re all excited we could finally check this one off of the list after all these years, even if it didn’t quite meet every expectation. At least we won’t still be wearing the smell of grilled meat in our pores for the next few days after this attempt.

Picked by: Shane