Thursday, August 31, 2006

Loads of Fixings

31 August 2006-
Fat Apple's: 1346 Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard in North Berkeley
Cost: $8.10 (bacon cheeseburger, onion rings extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Image Source: blogger's own

Fat Apple's typically gets way crowded for weekend brunch. Today I arrived at a hair before noon, and managed to get a decent table. Shortly afterwards though, the clientele just seemed to start flocking in. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with their longhorn cheddar and a side of onion rings. Apparently their default grilling preference is medium-well, therefore I opted for a "medium-rare" instead.

Verdict: The meal was initially served without the requisite bacon. After I requested it, the staff piled a pretty significant stack of bacon on a plate. I was also very impressed by the loads of fixings: the mound of cheddar was enormous, three plump tomato slices, three full bermuda onion chops, a couple of long lettuce leaves, thoroughly toasted buns, did I mention the huge stack of bacon?

The patty was only decent, but still pretty good. It was cooked pretty rare, to my liking. The loads of fixings really set the meal straight. Yes, those are onion rings, and they're absolutely fabulous.

Wednesday, August 30, 2006

"Rare" Please, not "Raw"

30 August 2006-
Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe: 4081 Hollis Street in Emeryville
http://www.rudyscantfailcafe.com/
Cost: $8.95 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

Image Source: blogger's own

Today, I was on a quest to find the elusive Red Robin in the South Bay, to no luck. On my way back to headquarters, I swung by Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe as a past recommendation from another burger enthusiast (BE).

Admittedly, I was pretty famished by the time I arrived at Rudy's. As it happened, dinner at Rudy's would be my first meal of the day. I ordered their bacon cheeseburger with swiss and chose fries as the side. As for grilling preference, I specified "rare".

Verdict: My first impression of the burger was the complexion of the patty. I have never seen the outside of a hamburger patty served at such a pale, pink hue. The rest of the burger looked really limp, including a meager portion of bermuda onions, and really sparce presentation of fries. Also, the bun was only lightly toasted.

In comparison to the two past burgers, Rudy's burger is really no contest. The "rare" patty at Rudy's was very dry and bland. The fries tasted exactly like Carls Jr.'s fries.

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Burger Juices Galore

29 August 2006-
Val's Burgers~: 2115 Kelly Street in Hayward
Cost: $7.25 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)
~ Honorable Mention

Image Source: blogger's own

Image Source: blogger's own

I rolled up to the diner mid-afternoon on a Tuesday and was surprised to see that the parking lot was packed to the max. Inside, most of the seats were taken with the exception of a couple of seats at the counter. I sat at the end of the counter with direct line of sight to the grill, and the mesmerizing bun toasting carousel machine. I've seen bun toasting carousels before, but none as large and sophisticated as the one that towered in front of me. Its apparent that the manufacturer of this highly-advanced piece of equipment has truly deduced the art of bun toasting to a science.

I was also salivating over the burger patties on the flame charbroil grill. I could observe the burger flipping process, and watched first-hand the skill and ease in which the cooks were preparing burgers. I could sense that the staff were real burger professionals. Today, I ordered a Mama Burger, a 1/2 lb. chuck patty with bacon and swiss, grilled "rare", and a side of fries. Val's also serves 1/3 lb. patties and 1 lb. patties.

Between the time my order arrived and the time I finished the photo documentation process; I observed that the patty had morphed and oozed out a substantial amount of burger juices. I don't think I have seen so much juice from a burger before, and admittedly I was a little scared. I decided to take a cross section, in order to dispel any suspicion I had that the patty was still alive. Let's just say, I am thankful that the fries came in a basket and weren't on the plate of burger juice.

Verdict: Val's "rare" Mama's Burger is the juiciest burger I have ever experienced thus far. The meat was really delicious, and the bacon and fixings were also very good. I was a little wary of the bun, which didn't look adequate enough to accommodate the massiveness of the patty. Fortunately, the perfectly toasted bun had enough structural integrity to handle the magnitude of the patty.

I really loved this burger, but it's more of a dive than a gourmet burger restaurant. Highly, highly recommended. Caveat: the side of fries is enormous.

Monday, August 28, 2006

Tastes as Good as it Looks

28 August 2006-
Eccolo~: 1820 Fourth Street in Berkeley
http://www.eccolo.com/
Cost: $13.00 (aged niman ranch bacon cheeseburger, tuscan fries extra)
~ Honorable Mention

Image Source: blogger's own

I've been waiting a pretty long time to survey the Eccolo burger. Eccolo, located in the 4th Street shopping district in Berkeley, fosters a great environment for socializing and people watching. It happened to be the first day of my jobless vacation, and I had great company to share the amazing afternoon sunshine with.

Eccolo is definitely not a burger joint with unlimited toppings and combinations. Rather, it offers "aged Niman Ranch...grilled over mesquite" beef with a limited selection of quality add-ons including caramelized onions, apple-smoked bacon, heirloom tomatoes, and cheddar or Pt. Reyes blue cheese. Today I opted for the burger with bacon and cheddar. Medium-rare, is the default grilling preference.

Verdict: Despite the charred markings on the bun, I felt the bread was a quality roll, but it wasn't nearly toasted enough. The rest of the burger, however was sensational. The hand shaped patty was quality and the bacon was bursting with newfound flavors. Also, the burger came with a handful of pickles to cover the patty area a couple of times-fold.

If it weren't for the untoasted bun, this could possibly be the best burger. However, still a very highly recommended experience.

Sunday, August 27, 2006

Famous for Ribs?

27 August 2006-
Tony Roma's: 55 Washington Street at Jack London Square in Oakland
http://www.tonyromas.com/files/home.asp
Cost: $7.99 (bacon cheeseburger, two sides included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I spent the better part of Sunday afternoon drinking beers and reading outside at Heinold's First and Last Chance Saloon at Jack London Square. When it was time for dinner, I moseyed over to Tony Roma's to check to see whether they served burgers. I understand the restaurant is "famous" for their ribs - though it's a national chain; honestly I'm not much of a rib fan. Fortunately, they also served burgers. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with swiss and a side of fries and corn.

Verdict: When my order arrived, I instinctually dove into the corn and the fries, which is typically the process. The corn on the cob was delicious, and the garlic fries were light and crispy. By the time I was ready for the burger, I realized there weren't any condiments on the burger, it was also missing the bacon, and the bun wasn't toasted.

The quality of the patty was pretty decent, but I seriously thought the sides were a much more enjoyable experience. Unfortunately, a toasted bun versus an untoasted bun can make or break an enjoyable burger experience, in my opinion.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Last Lunch at Work with my Fellow Burger Enthusiasts

25 August 2006-
Beale Street Bar and Grill:
133 Beale Street at Mission Street (SOMA/Financial District) in San Francisco
http://www.bealestreetsf.com/
Cost: $6.25 (bacon cheeseburger, includes fries)

Image Source: blogger's own

Image Source: blogger's own

It was the final lunch with coworkers of my job of the past five years. Twelve other coworkers (fellow burger enthusiasts) treated me to Beale Street Bar and Grill (my consistent favorite within a 2 block radius from work). Everyone ordered burgers, which really pleased my enthusiasm. Actually, the sight brought tears to my eyes.

They're the best coworkers (fellow burger enthusiasts) a burger blogger could ever hope for. I will miss them all dearly.

Thursday, August 24, 2006

Condiment Selection

24 August 2006-
Clown Alley: 42 Columbus Avenue in San Francisco
Cost: $6.30 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Once again, gotta give props to my coworkers for recommending another lunch burger outing, this time to Clown Alley in the North Beach / Financial District. The joint used to be within a two block radius from our old office, now the trek was approximately one mile from the new office location.

In any case, Clown Alley has a very efficient lunch service, where burgers are served in literally seconds after you place your order. Clown Alley serves high-flamed broiled burgers at a consistent medium, which is quite juicy and flavorful nonetheless. Today, I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with a side of fries.

Verdict: Just for the record, Clown Alley happens to be a coworker's (fellow burger enthusiast's) favorite burger joint in San Francisco. Who can blame this individual?; flame broiled juicy patties, toasted sesame buns, loads of crunchy fixings, not to mention a container teeming with bacon, and a full condiments bar. I admit, I love the burger at Clown Alley.

But I just have to go on record to contend that I have some issues with the condiment bar. The condiments: mayo, mustard, ketchup, relish, pickles, thousand island and ranch, etc. are stored in containers which are at least a foot deep. I assume the containers are floating on a bed of ice in order to be chilled. During prime-time (lunch hours), when the condiments are being used, the consistency is good. However, on off-hours, such as dinner time or on weekends, you might be able to detect a film on the surface of these containers. I also doubt that the condiments are replaced everyday. I would opt to suggest that new condiments are continuously mixed in with the old. I would also suspect that water is added throughout the day, in order to compensate for evaporation.

Tuesday, August 22, 2006

Rosamunde's (Infamous) Cheeseburger Tuesdays

22 August 2006-
Rosamunde Sausage Grill~: 545 Haight Street in San Francisco
Cost: $5.50 (cheeseburger, fries not available)
~ Honorable Mention

Image Source: blogger's own

About a month ago (11 July 2006 to be exact), a coworker (fellow burger enthusiast) and I had planned on surveying Rosamunde's (infamous) Cheeseburger Tuesdays. Unfortunately, we didn't anticipate that the burgers would serve out by mid-afternoon. Amidst a month of deadlines, work-travel obligations and other circumstances, we postponed our visit until today. Also, this being the last week with my current employment, we made the special effort to embark on this excursion approximately 2.6 miles away (way outside the 2 block radius I am typically accustomed to). Have I mentioned I have the best coworkers (fellow burger enthusiasts) a burger blogger could ever hope for?

So we arrive at the joint at about 10 minutes past the opening, and already there was a substantial line. What was deceiving was that half of the orders were already taken by people waiting at the bar Toronado right next door. (By the way, the bar's got some 40 plus beer on tap, and apparently there's a system where the staff at Rosamunde's will walk over and shout your name when your order is ready).

We ended up receiving our order at least a half hour later. But during the wait, we had the chance to observe the systematic production line of these one-day-a-week burgers, as well as smell some of the most delicious beefy-meaty smells one could imagine.

Verdict: I ordered two cheeseburgers (there were no fries and bacon available; remember Rosamunde's is actually just a gourmet sausage stand that serves out burgers only on Tuesdays during lunch); one for documentation and one for the road since the seating is quite scarce.

The patty is quite immense, and the ground chuck is grilled a perfect medium-rare (although there is no grilling preference option) and the taste is quite flavorful. There were some excellent spices in the burger, which one might expect from a sausage, but not necessarily a burger patty. Rosamunde's also serves up probably the most delicious grilled onions I've ever experienced in my life.

My only gripe was that the buns weren't toasted enough on either burger. Otherwise, an excellent burger. Definitely, highly recommended. Unfortunately, the Tuesday-only burger policy is not convenient during the work week.

Monday, August 21, 2006

What am I doing in Pleasant Hill?

21 August 2006-
Fatburger: 100 Crescent Drive Unit A in Pleasant Hill
http://www.fatburger.net/home/
Cost: $6.35 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

I grew up loving Fatburger when I was living in Southern California. When I learned there was a Bay Area location recently (earlier this afternoon as a matter of fact), I made some serious plans to drive over to Pleasant Hill for some dinner burger-action after work.

Fatburger's got a cult-like following, not dissimilar to In-N-Out. However, in my opinion, I have always regarded Fatburger as the superior burger to In-N-Out. I vividly recall the melt-in-your-mouth ground chuck patties, a savory delight for the taste buds, dripping with burger juice and unbeatable fries. Hoping to relive these experiences, I ordered a 1/3 lb. patty bacon cheeseburger combo with "everything" - includes all toppings: Mustard - Relish - Onions - Pickles - Tomato - Lettuce - Mayo (1/2 lb. patties are also available). In retrospect, I probably should have specified everything except mustard. Of course I topped it off with the requisite bacon and cheese. I was surprised that they didn't ask for grilling preference, but I trusted them to make it good.

Verdict: I thought the patty was way over-cooked to my liking; a little dry and required more chewing than I remembered about the patties from past experiences. Also, the bun wasn't toasted enough. The bacon and other fixings were crunchy; but again, I wouldn't have specified mustard if I knew it was one of the condiment choices. I was pretty disappointed with tonight's Fatburger. Although, I think my standards have just gone up recently. I'll try it again, and will post the results.

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Across the Street

17 August 2006-
Town Hall~: 342 Howard Street in San Francisco
http://www.townhallsf.com/
Cost: $14.00 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)
~ Honorable Mention

Image Source: blogger's own

I actually think Town Hall is closer than Spazio Soma Cafe to my office. However, due to the formality of this dining establishment, I've only visited it for special occasions. Today, I dined with a fellow college colleague, and future burger enthusiast coworker for some serious burger business at Town Hall.

We both ordered burgers, which really pleased my enthusiasm. Specifically, I ordered the burger with fontina cheese and requested bacon to accompany my burger; as for my grilling preference, I requested "rare".

Verdict: I probably should have taken a cross-section, but due to the inadequate natural light levels, I decided to keep my photo-documentation to a minimum. Nevertheless, the burger was pretty juicy. Really, really fine quality ingredients overall. The bacon was tremendous. However, the bun although toasted, lacked the structural integrity for a burger patty of this magnitude. I still ate it whole, without utensils, but I would opt for either a more toasted bun, or a larger bun.

My first Town Hall burger experience was last winter holiday - 2005. The coworkers I was with (fellow burger enthusiasts) all ordered burgers too. The burger was served with square toasted focaccia bread of the finest quality. It was delicious.

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

Sumo Burger

16 August 2006-
Oishii Cafe: 388 Market Street in San Franciso
Cost: $6.25 (cheese burger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I heard of Oishii Cafe's "Sumo Burger" through a few people recently, including a couple of coworkers (fellow burger enthusiasts), whose opinions about burgers I usually respect. I read somewhere that there are two locations in downtown San Francisco. I accidentally found this location, which happens to be a "stand" with no seating and a limited menu. I ordered the Sumo Burger with cheese and fries with the grilling preference "rare". By the way, Oishii's is more of a Japanese snacks type place. Apparently, there was no bacon option.

First, I just want to note that I'm not a huge fan of double-sided mayo on a burger. A lot of mayonnaise will tend to ooze out and get all over your hands, and requires a lot of napkins on hand. Also, the double-sided mayo may also make the patty slip out of the bun if one's not careful when initially handling the burger.

Verdict: I was pretty famished by the time I brought the burger back to the office. When I took my first zealous bite, the patty slid out the back (from the double-sided mayo application) and I chomped on a big piece of bun and fixings. Afterwards, the bun to patty / fixings ratio was inadequate and I ended up eating the majority of the mayo soaked patty without the fixings nor the bun.

However, I actually thought that the patty was fairly decent. Unfortunately, the untoasted bun and the overloaded mayonnaise ruined the overall experience. The fries were incredibly poor tasting as well. I felt like I was eating short-bread or a pastry rather than french-fried potatoes. I'll probably sample the other location at a later date.

Monday, August 14, 2006

Rubbery

14 August 2006-
Downtown Flames: 88 2nd Street in San Francisco
Cost: $5.50 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

I actually got a burrito bol at Chipotle's for lunch today, I was intending to break the pattern of burgers lately. However, as I was sitting at Yerba Buena Gardens, a really strong gust of wind blew my bol out of my hands and it spilled out onto the ground. I took this incident as a sign to grab a burger.

I walked over to Downtown Flames on my way back to work. I've eaten there a few times in the past. The first time was decent, and then I noticed that the burgers got progressively worse. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with swiss - and skipped on the fries today. I noticed that the patty they were preparing for me was already grilled (it wasn't a raw patty, like I would expect). Also, the cook was putting on american instead of the swiss I had requested. When I reminded the staff, I noticed that the cook simply peeled off the half melted american cheese and slapped on the swiss. It was quite a sight to watch this.

I kind of knew what was coming to me after all these mistakes. I even noticed that the cook had an unusual technique of toasting the bun. Instead of laying the bun directly onto the grill, he just balanced the bun on top of the patty, the cheese and the bacon while he was waiting for the cheese to melt; interesting.

Verdict: I usually don't stage my burger documentation. But the presentation today was just awful (note: tear in the bun). A coworker (fellow burger enthusiast) suggested I dress the burger up a little. I attempted to take a cross section, but was pretty grossed out by the result. The cut basically exposed all the rotten chopped lettuce, and a couple of soggy tomatoes and a pretty disgusting looking patty. Trust me, you wouldn't want to see this. The burger today sucked big time. I barely finished one half and tossed the other half away.

Also, a restaurant with an exposed kitchen only works if it's clean and presentable. I suspect that the exposed kitchen at Flame's probably has a handful of healthcode violations - and it seriously grosses me out everytime I go.

Sunday, August 13, 2006

Too Healthy

13 August 2006-
Jerusalem's Organic Kitchen & Burgers: 1897 Solano Avenue in Berkeley
Cost: $6.95 (niman ranch cheese burger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Another burger enthusiast recommended Jerusalem's Organic Kitchen & Burgers at the top of Solano Avenue in Berkeley / Albany. As the name suggests, it's faithful to serving organic / sustainable food like free range chicken and Niman Ranch beef. It turns out, however, that "organic" is not synonymous with "quality" or "good-tasting", necessarily.

I think the restaurant specializes more in falafels and mediterranean food. Nonetheless, they pledge Niman Ranch beef so I figured they probably also do good burgers. I tried ordering a cheeseburger with bacon, but to no avail. I ordered a cheeseburger with fries, and waited for them to ask me for my grilling preference, also to no avail.

Verdict: Has anyone ever ordered a burger that smelled like manure? It happens to me on occasion, including today. Let's just say, I'm not a big fan of the smell. Luckily, the burger didn't taste like manure too. But I have to admit, the burger seriously lacked some flavor. It was served medium-well, though it did emit some juices, but it really lacked taste. Even the fixings seemed pretty bland, as did the fries and the organic ketchup. I don't recommend organic ketchup.

Saturday, August 12, 2006

Literally Right Under BART

12 August 2006-
The Red Onion: 11900 San Pablo Avenue in El Cerrito
Cost: $4.95 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Based on a friend's recommendation, I decided to survey The Red Onion in El Cerrito. It's a little dive north of the El Cerrito Del Norte BART station. It was pretty crowded when I walked in, and it seems like the kind of establishment where the staff would call frequent customers by their first name. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries.

Verdict: So it's a dive, similar to Smokehouse, Oscar's and Big Al's which I've reviewed thus far. I was impressed by the presentation of the burger - loaded with fresh fixings, including red onions (as the name suggests). Overall, I liked the burger, but I wasn't a big fan of the cheese, which tasted like cheesy American. The fries were also pretty soggy.

So far, out the dives aforementioned, Big Al's is the top dive, in my honest opinion.

Friday, August 11, 2006

Where Pigeons Rule

11 August 2006-
Red's Java House: Pier 30: At the Embarcadero and Bryant Street in San Francisco
Cost: $7.00 (bacon double-cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Red's Java House is located right on the water at Pier 30, where the end of Bryant meets the Embarcadero. It's been a popular lunch time spot at work, especially on sunny Fridays. One drawback to the location, however, is the abundance of pigeons and sea gulls that prey on food droppings and unguarded lunches on tables. Although known for their fish and chips, I've actually grown fond of their burgers.

Presentation definitely is not a selling point to the success and popularity of Red's, in my opinion. First, there's an overwhelming stench of vinegar that pervades the joint. Also, the outdoor patio, is ruled by birds, which does not promote proper sanitation and hygenic levels. With that said, the joint always seems to be crowded. It must be the view and perhaps the food.

While my office cohorts ordered the fish and chips, I ordered the double cheeseburger with bacon. There are certain code words that reflect specific condiment selection. I ordered the burger "deluxe", but later found it means "no mayo". I believe the highest condiment selection is "supreme" which reflects the mayo addition.

Verdict: There's no grilling preference option, burgers are usually provided to the customer within seconds of the order after sitting on the grill, waiting. The bun is a classic San Francisco sour dough roll. The cheese looks like a basic cheddar, but the fixings are nice and chewy, just the way I prefer them. The Red's burger doesn't normally come with any greenery, just pickles, onions and mustard. I thought the Red's burger (despite the presentation) was better than Zebulon. (Just my honest opinion).

Thursday, August 10, 2006

"Non-Structural" Bread

10 August 2006-
Zebulon: 83 Natoma in San Francisco
http://www.zebulonsf.com/
Cost: $7.95 (avocado bacon cheeseburger with swiss, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Just wanted to note that I've got the some of the greatest coworkers (fellow burger enthusiasts) a burger blogger could ever hope for. On a moments notice, a handful of us walked to Zebulon, a local lounge / bar that happens to serve burgers and sandwiches during lunch - all within a 2 block radius of work. We left early to beat the crowd and we all ordered burgers, now that's some serious enthusiasm. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger "rare" with swiss, but the order came with avocado; though I didn't request it.

Verdict: I think we all had gripes about today's bread, more-so than the actual patty and fixings. The Zebulon bun is a very unique roll, but they don't toast it. This oversight tends to lead to a non-structural* handling experience, and therefore diminishes the experience of the burger. Otherwise, the quality of the meat, the grilling preference adherence, fixings and bacon are pretty average. Not an extremely note-worthy experience, but the great ambiance and interior decor make Zebulon a consistent work-lunchtime spot.

* Just when I've run out of adjectives, a coworker (fellow burger enthusiast) offered the word choice "non-structural" to describe the inadequacy of the integrity of the bun at Zebulon's.

Sunday, August 06, 2006

::SPECIAL LOS ANGELES SURVEY::

6 August 2006-
Father's Office: 1018 Montana Avenue in Santa Monica
http://www.fathersoffice.com/
Cost: $13.00 (Office Burger with fries)

Image Source: blogger's own

I happened to be in the Los Angeles area this weekend. Prior to my trip, I asked a coworker, (fellow burger enthusiast) of any good burger recommendations in LA. It turns out, good is an understatement in describing the burger at Father's Office in Santa Monica.

I arrived to the spot a couple of hours before my returning flight to the Bay Area. A line of about 20 plus were waiting patiently to enter the joint. With the rate of movement in the line, I probably would never have gotten seated, ordered, and still made my return flight. Luckily, take-out was a viable option. I ordered an "Office Burger" made from Dry Aged Beef; consists of caramelized onion, applewood bacon compote, gruyere, matag blue cheese and arugula. Of course, I tried to order a bacon cheeseburger, but was told there would be no substitutions or deletions. The only thing that I could specify was the grilling preference. I ordered a "medium-rare" based on the staff's recommendation.

Verdict: This burger's got "style", meaning it's pretty unique and individualistic. It's served on a toasted roll instead of a bun; it's loaded with arugula instead of lettuce; the bacon is deconstructed into compote; and the chuck resembles more like a sloppy-joe than other grounded chucks I've ever surveyed. The fries are very unique too; and served with high quality ranch - LA style!

Definitely highly recommended, but as a burger purist, it's a shame that I couldn't request a plain old bacon cheeseburger without the bbq sauce seasoned chuck. According to www.ahamburgertoday.com, the Office Burger isn't exactly a "burger"; and I tend to agree with this conclusion. It's more of a sloppy-joe / hamburger-helper type of sandwich. But I don't mean to diminish the taste in this comparison. It's really a delight for the taste-buds!

Friday, August 04, 2006

Ghetto Crappy

4 August 2006-
1/4 lb Giant Burger:
Terminal 1 Oakland International Airport
Cost: $8.25 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I noticed everyone else in the restaurant had their burgers served on trays. I wonder why they served me my burger and fries in a styrofoam to-go container? What was I going to do, go back home and eat it? I had no time, I had to catch my flight to LA in a half hour. Didn't they see that I had my luggage with me? Don't they understand that the styrofoam containers aren't good for photo documenting burgers?? Maybe, that was just their intent; and they succeeded.

I remember distinctly having a very flavorable discussion about the thickness of the bacon at the Oakland Airport's Giant Burger with a coworker (fellow burger enthusiast). The bacon is darn thick, and tasty too. The burger on the other hand, was pretty ghetto-crappy tasting. Oh, wait, what a coincidence! It tasted very similar to the Nation's Giant Burger survey. Wow, is there any relationship between these two chains? I'm very confused about the similarity in their names.

Verdict: The bacon was definitely the highlight of this burger experience. The fries were pretty darn greasy.

Squeezable

4 August 2006-
Bistro Burger: 201 Mission Street in San Francisco
http://www.bistroburger.net/
Cost: $6.59 (niman ranch bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

I have this to say about Bistro Burger. Same name, different burgers at all of their locations. I don't think the burgers at each restaurant are consistent by any means. Based on my recollection, the joint in downtown Oakland is by far, the best. This location, within the 2 block radius of work, usually gets packed, but it's an inferior burger in comparison.

I ordered a "bacon cheeseburger royale" with provolone. Whilst the franchise does offer a variety of cheeses, there's no grilling preference option. It's also not my preference to have a burger served without any condiments. Mayo, which is my burger condiment of choice, came in squeezable packages. I squirted a couple of servings of Hellman's and dove into my burger. The patty was grilled at a decent medium, with adequate burger juices. But there was an unfortunate generic mayo after taste with every juicy bite. Plus, the bun wasn't toasted enough.

Verdict: Although it's niman ranch, it's not a very favorable burger experience. I'm going to start reviewing each location separately because I think the name and the reputation that goes along with it, deserves a second chance.