Is six-buck burger as hot as its ad?

By now you’ve probably seen the over-the-top commercial from Carl’s Jr. in which Paris Hilton washes a Bentley in slo-mo while eating a cheeseburger. I’ve watched it over and over, and I think to myself, wow, that is one good-looking burger!

The Spicy BBQ Six-Dollar Burger (actually $4.59) starts with a half-pound Angus beef patty, two slices of cheese, lettuce, tomato and a spicy barbecue sauce on a sesame seed bun. The twist is that they’ve topped it with a handful of peppery battered onion and jalapeno strips that are so tasty on their own that Carl’s offers them as a side dish under the name Texas Toothpicks.

Let’s break this bad boy down:

Spicy BBQ Six-Dollar Burger

Taste

****

Just the right combination of juicy/crunchy, hot/cold, familiar/unique. And like the commercial, it may not be the hottest thing you’ll ever see, but it’s about as spicy as mainstream fast food will allow.

Diet Watch

*

I doubt the future Mrs. Paris Latsis will remain that skinny if she starts gulping these down with any regularity. One burger has 1,030 calories, 61 grams of fat, 77 grams of carbs and 42 grams of protein.

Portability

***

Though well-packaged, this monster may be difficult for folks with small hands. And don’t believe the ad -- attempting to eat one while washing a car may result in mistaking the bun for a large sponge.

Hype-o-meter

***

The current ad may be generating controversy, hoopla and hype, but for Carl’s Jr.’s Most Ridiculously Titillating Commercial, I still prefer the hot girl on the mechanical bull.

* Ratings are on a scale of one (lowest) to four (best).