Wendy’s Bacon and Blue burger: a taste test

The burger hierarchy is well established. On one end you have gourmet burgers (Blanc, BRGR); in the center are fast casual restaurants (Red Robin, Steak ‘n Shake); then there’s fast food.

But when Wendy’s recently introduced the Bacon and Blue Burger ($4.29, $5.99 as part of a small combo), the burger scale was seemingly thrown into chaos. Applewood-smoked bacon and a handful of blue cheese don’t seem like they should be options at the drive-thru. But they’re among the ingredients atop this 1/4 pound beef patty, along with sauteed yellow onions and creamy steakhouse sauce, on a split-top bun.  

This is about affordable luxury, a foil-wrapped 680 calories and 40 grams of fat (now it makes sense why this burger is on a fast-food menu).