Build your own snack at The Stack

Pimento cheese on a burger? What about dried cranberries, carrot sticks or grilled pineapple for that matter? These are toppings I might never have thought of adding to my burger, but at The Stack, no topping is a crazy option when it comes to building your own burger - well, as long as you don't pick a bad combination.

While constructing your own new culinary masterpiece might seem like the exciting part of your visit to The Stack, it's not - the starting side dishes are. With options such as onion rings (crispy, fried just the right amount of time, and without that slimy feeling), fried dill pickle chips (described by one of my companions as "heaven") and sweet potato fries (simple and perfectly fried), you'll possibly find yourself quite full before your burger even arrives.

Depending on how many sides you order, you'll get an array of dipping sauces to try out. I was disappointed that we didn't get a sweet sauce for the sweet potato fries, but all of the sauces we tried were tasty additions.

But back to the burgers. You can basically construct your own sandwich, starting with the main ingredient (beef, turkey, veggie, grilled tenders or fried tenders) and bun (or salad), right down to the cheese, toppings, premium toppings ($1 extra for each) and special sauce.

There is such a variety that you could construct your own sandwich in such a way that you never order the same thing twice. On my two visits, my guests and I found that no matter the combination of choices, overall the food was good and left us all quite full for a while afterward. The toppings always seemed fresh, which is a must when you've got options like avocado and sprouts.

Some things to look out for: The homemade veggie patty was really no "patty" at all. Instead, it was a bunch of ingredients cooked and smashed together in the shape of a patty and then placed on a bun. The result is that the "patty" wound up more all over my plate and the table than in my mouth. Despite the fact that my sandwich fell apart, the variety of vegetables, beans and rice did give the "patty" a great flavor.

Also, instead of the traditional corn-dusted kaiser bun, one of my companions chose the honey wheat bun. What resulted was a big mess. The burger and toppings were so juicy that the bun was soaked through and fell apart before the first bite. My friend said the flavor of the sandwich was still great, it just needed a stronger bun.

If you're not the creative type, don't fret. The Stack also offers signature burgers and sandwiches that already come with a set assortment of toppings - but what's the fun in that?

The Stack

4420 Forsyth Road, Suite 190

Three stars

Phone: (478) 257-6982

Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. daily

Payment: Cash, credit cards

Price range: Sides $1.50-$4, signature burgers and sandwiches $4-$8, building your own burger starts at $6

Reservations: No

Dress: Casual

Children's menu: Yes

Vegetarian selections: Yes

Wheelchair accessible: Yes

Health code: 100

Alcohol: Yes

This story was originally published October 31, 2008 at 3:01 AM with the headline "Build your own snack at The Stack."