B.C. Burger Fits the Bill
The observations of Noah Porter
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Every small town has its secret little nooks and local crannies, the places that only the locals know about for better food than the tourists ever see. The story for Battle Creek begins with a very non-descript building hiding around the corner from Battle Creek Central High School. It would remain anonymous too, were it not for the alluring smell of a grill in action.
Although the small building and the blue stone wall out front don’t seem all that impressive on their own, they successfully house one of Battle Creek’s best kept dining secrets: B.C. Burger, located at 78 Calhoun Street, is still making one of the best burger’s in Battle Creek. Locally owned and operated, B.C. Burger has undergone both changes in the restaurant and the ownership but one thing remains the same: They are still the best burgers around.
With little more than a standard grill and a deep fryer, Derek Anderson, who owns B.C. Burger, has been serving up quality food at bargain prices. “The burgers are always quality because the meat is fresh every day. It’s never frozen or old. Sometimes, I have to go out several times for more. It’s the only way you can make that fresh-tasting burger though. If the quality drops off, then people won’t come back. People come to the Burger because they know their burger is going to be fresh,” he explained.
The atmosphere is cozy, with the air conditioning humming along to combat the overbearing Michigan humidity, and the food isn’t comparable. It’s hard to leave hungry after a “Burger, Pop, and Chips Combo”, which tallies in at only $4.50 a person. The interior of the restaurant is a constant process of revision, leaving Anderson always looking for better ways to please the customers. The menu is simple and American, but every value menu has diversity: the difference with B.C. Burger is the quality invested in the meal. “I’m just trying to provide people in Battle Creek with a good-sized quality meal for less than five dollars out the door,” Anderson explained, busy over the grill on a hot Monday afternoon. “I’m trying to keep serving that same good burger, and keep the community happy.”
The lunch-for-under-five-dollars crowd is becoming increasingly sparse these days, with choices becoming more and more franchise-dollar-menu oriented. It’s been years since that was appealing, recalling subtly how many cheap buys McTenderized my stomach all day. In retrospect, B.C. Burger has always been a welcome relief. It, essentially, is a fabulous hole-in-the-wall restaurant that delivers where every other restaurant in Battle Creek has failed. I’ve never been disappointed in the food; and in the world of instant service and frozen, microwavable everything, that kind of consistency is a modern culinary miracle.
Formally the Cowboy Café, B.C. Burger has always been locally owned and operated. Opening daily at 11 A.M., they close at 5 P.M. Monday through Wednesday, and 6 P.M. on Thursday and Friday. The Burger is closed Saturday and Sunday. B.C. Burger also delivers anywhere in Battle Creek on orders of $20 or more. Diners with children can also order kid’s portions.

You can reach B.C. Burger during operating hours at (269) 964-8172.