Butte Beat: The New Kid on the Block Going for “Best Burger”

BUTTE, MT - Identity.

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What's yours? Where does it come from? Does your identity come from within or is it assigned to you by those around you? How important is your identity to you? What if you had no identity? What if...you were Jason Bourne??

We all like to think we have a pretty good idea of what our self-identity is. Usually, it comes in the form of an agglomeration of a million little things: our memories, experiences, relationships, and values; the things we like, don't like, and talk about; the way we act around others; and even the relationship between our consciousness and our subconsciousness. Many believe they find their identities to be self-governed and self-assigned, even when—most times—they're not, as our relationship with the world independent of our individual "self" acts as a feedback loop that generates the motivation to self-assign a self-identity. In other words, the self-identity doesn't exist without an independent social world to exist inside of.

If you're still reading: why? Alright, I'll dial it back on the philosophy talk. And I wasn't even a philosophy major! Nope, wouldn't waste my time on that, just focused on my Liberal Arts degree instead. Just jokes.

Anyway, let's take a look at the Maverick Bar and Grill which had its grand opening this past Friday. The owner, Brent, is the same gentleman who owns and operates Maverick Motorsports across the street. When he saw that Fred's was closing down and the building was being threatened to be torn down, Brent stepped in and decided he would try and save the beloved location—the same one he remembered going to for years prior.

If anyone were to buy Fred's Mesquite Grill, I'm very glad it is Brent. He and I spoke for a while about the trajectory of Maverick's future, the identity Maverick's hopes to achieve, and the future of Uptown Butte in general (which he is a huge believer in). All in all, Brent shares a vision with many other aspiring Butte business owners and influencers: seeing the town grow back into the bustling and happening destination it once was.

Not to say it isn't getting there, because, with the opening of Maverick's off the corner of Mercury and Arizona in Uptown and other newer businesses, an optimistic future for the town grows even more. You can feel it when visit: everyone, down to the kids brought along by their parents, is running around, smiles on their faces, enjoying the glorious patio or the delicious food (and some even enjoying the hearty adult beverage).

And that's where we arrive at my segue between the mumbo-jumbo about identity and how it applies here. Brent shared with me his goal with Maverick's identity: to be known as the best burger in Butte. That's a tall order, especially given the incredible burger-making talent already found in this Montana town. However, knowing this going in, I had to try out the burger myself.

I ended up getting the garden salad. Just kidding, I got the darn burger. It was incredible, very precise with portions of the ingredients on the burger itself, which is something I appreciate. I must say, though, I found myself struggling to call it the "best", simply because, to me, there is no such thing as the "best", just the best for that moment. If by "best" it means "consistent", then I could get down with that.

But that's my point: does Maverick's identity—or the identity it strives for—come from within and convince others? Or do these "others" give Maverick's its identity? If it's the latter, let me be the first to share what I identify with Maverick's: a fantastic new restaurant that features consistently delicious food, really great service, and an environment that everyone seems to enjoy. That's what I identify it as, what do you?

One thing's for certain: Butte desperately needs more businesses like this, serving the community one burger at a time, whether it's the best or not.

Check out other Butte Beats here.