The "Fine" Dining Podcast Celebrates Septemburger: A Hilarious Hunt For The Best Burger Crown

The "Fine" Dining podcast has a fascinating premise. "The search for the most mediocre chain restaurant in America." As podcast topics go, this one serves up all kinds of possibilities. You can play this one straight like a New York Times food critic or for laughs. Or play both sides of the fence with comedy and drama.

 The podcast's stated mission is: "The hilarious search for the most mediocre chain restaurant in America. Host Michael Ornelas hits popular spots like IHOP, Texas Roadhouse, & Chili's to find the perfectly average 5-out-of-10 fine dining experience."


This September, "Fine" Dining: The Hilarious Search for the Most
Mediocre Restaurant in America
is sinking its teeth into something meaty. Welcome to the second annual Septemburger, a special month-long burger bonanza where host Michael and a slate of guest judges embark on a delicious quest to crown the king (or queen!) of all things mediocre.

Fine Dining isn’t your average food podcast. Imagine the thrill of discovering the best (and worst) meals hidden in plain sight, reliving the nostalgia of childhood favorites, and finding new joy in a routine you’ve done a million times—like eating at popular chain restaurants. Comedian Michael Ornelas has made it his mission to explore the likes of IHOP, Texas Roadhouse, and Cracker Barrel in a hilarious search for the most gloriously average dining spot. Because who said ‘mid’ can’t be Mid-nificent?

And now, it’s burger time. Septemburger is Fine Dining’s earnest attempt to find something actually great by pitting 24 burgers from eight different restaurants against each other in a single-elimination tournament. The contenders? Only the finest in fast-casual: Shake Shack, Steak ‘n Shake, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Whataburger, In-N-Out, Culver’s, Rally’s, and White Castle.

The stakes are high, the burgers are juicy, and the competition is fierce. Joining Michael for this delicious showdown are guest judges, podcasters Coyal Harrison and comedian Jen Kober.

Listeners can even get in on the action by submitting their own Septemburger bracket by September 10th for a chance to win $500!

Every episode of "Fine" Dining is a culinary journey through time, taste buds, and the art of embracing the ordinary. But don’t be fooled—this isn’t just a show about food. It’s about memories, community, and the undeniable charm of the average. So, whether you’re here for
the nostalgia, epic food puns, or the hunt for the perfect burger, Septemburger has something for everyone.

The Septemburger series kicks off on September 4th and will run throughout the month, with new episodes dropping every week. Get ready for a burger battle like no other, and don’t forget to follow along on social media using the hashtag #Septemburger2024.

Fill out your Septemburger bracket here for a chance to win $500. "Fine" Dining is available every Wednesday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major podcast platforms.

"Fine" Dining: The Search for the Most Mediocre Restaurant in America is a podcast dedicated to uncovering the charm of chain restaurants that often go overlooked. Join comedian Michael Ornelas as he navigates the world of “mid” and reclaims the joy of dining at places that might not be the best—but certainly aren’t the worst. With almost 25,000 subscribers on YouTube, Fine Dining has quickly become a go-to for anyone who appreciates the beauty in the ‘ordinary’


Check out The "Fine" Dining podcast. Even though the podcast reviews barely adequate chain restaurants, the podcast itself is a superb feast of restaurant reviews, cultural appraisals, quirky, often absurdist humor.
You don't need a reservation to listen to the podcast.  
 
Don't forget to fill out your Septemburger bracket here for a chance to win $500!
 
Thanks to Holly Brown, Tink Media
 

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