While in Charlotte, we just could not pass up The Penguin. I can eat a southern burger everyday and Ms T wanted the pimento cheese version. So we drove up east and found it. What a great greasy drive-in, a classic place.
The burger patty is 1/3 lb with a loose, handmade texture and just right salt. I had mine with slaw and chile. The slaw is just not right for a burger. I found it bland and the chop is much too coarse for eating on a sandwich be it dog or burger. I added Texas Pete and salt to make it useful. The chili was interesting, pretty mild with not really any chile flavor. Though it had a good dose of black pepper and was actually pretty good. I did not let the slaw spoil the burger though, I enjoyed it regardless and could have used another one but I ordered a chili dog. I really liked the chili dog. The dog itself was large and smoky in flavor.
Ms T's pimento cheese burger was also very good, but she commented that it could have used a lot more of the pimento cheese. It was kind of undetectable, but again it was a very good burger.
The potato salad was mayo based, not sweet, which we liked and included some pimento. This was well seasoned potato salad regardless of the potatoes being underdone.
The sweet potato fries were very rippled and really very good. They have a touch of cinnamon which I liked and Ms T does not. They were served with honey mustard which was not really needed or even a good match.
The Penguin has a definite attitude or personality that shows up in not making things like every other place and I'm sure that is part of its appeal. Cole slaw preferences aside, this was a great burger and I would return in a heartbeat assuming after I eat a few, my heart will still function.