(Not) Another Meatloaf Burger

27 November 2007-
Two: 22 Hawthorne Street in San Francisco
http://www.two-sf.com/home.html
Cost: $11.00 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Company sponsored, Team-Project Lunch. What used to be the old Hawthorne Lane is now Two Restaurant. There were quite a few of us, I would guess about twenty? We were seated in the center of the restaurant in this hand carved wood table. Although a modern, interior upgrade, there was a lodgy, men's club kind of feel to the decor. To add, the menu seemed quite Italianesque - European.

I was excited to have the opportunity to sample the Two Restaurant burger. Although I've probably exhausted a lot of the burger survey options within the two-block radius from work, there are perhaps still a handful of burgers in more high-class restaurant establishments nearby which I haven't surveyed yet.

Verdict: The burger is definitely a one-course plate. Fortunately I ordered the Belgian Frites on the side. They ended up being the highlight of this meal for me. Although the burger came out served with a plastic stake authorizing/validating the intended/stated grilling preference, the burger was weird beyond belief. Again it seems like the chef has prepared a "meatloaf" burger with excessive seasoning and other infill ingredients. Again, this is not to my desired liking.

Farewell Burger Comrade

16 November 2007-
Palomino: 345 Spear Street in San Francisco
http://www.palomino.com/
Cost: $10.50 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

Today was Part Two of the two part farewell lunch series for my dear friend, and best burger commentator, a burger blogger could ever hope for. I wanted to make it special, and decided on Palomino along the SF Embarcadero. I used to recall that the crescent shaped dining room used to have the best views to the Bay Bridge, but recent construction of a couple of restaurants along the water now block any and all views.

There were two burger versions on today's menu which really threw my decision making off. There was the normal lunch burger and a kobe burger variant with very special tempura fries. The burger enthusiasts in the group all order the regular burger, and there may have been one or two variants in the bunch who ordered something other than burgers. Honestly, I was a little shocked, since this was supposed to be a special burger survey finale.

Verdict: As mentioned, there were two burger presentations at Palomino. We envied the Kobe burger version (which cost twice the regular) at other tables seated around us. Regrettably, we all wished we had ordered the other version. The regular version was just okay. What turned me off was the chopped lettuce, the overly dry and salty fries.

Points for Originality

7 November 2007-
Ducca: 50 Third Street in San Francisco
http://www.duccasf.com/
Cost: $12.00 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

It was part one of a two part farewell lunch session for my dear friend, best, burger enthusiast commentator a burger blogger could ever hope for. I made reservations at Ducca SF in downtown SF's Westin Hotel. At the time, Daniel Libeskind's Contemporary Jewish Museum was still under construction directly adjacent to the outside courtyard. I knew that this was going to be a unique plaza, and therefore, a prime location for this restaurant / bar and hence the perfect location for this lunch and burger survey.

There were seven of us, and we all order the Ducca burger which was very pleasing to my satisfaction. I decided to splurge on the sparkling water too, a decision which ended up costing me close to the cost of the burger (quite expensive for a bottle).

Verdict: Despite requesting a "medium-rare bacon cheeseburger", the burger patty seemed quite "meaty" and "a lot to take in" - also, it was quite "unusual". I think the seven of us debated whether this "meatloaf" burger was in fact a "burger". However, the presentation and polenta fries (which look and tasted kind of like french toast) were quite visually impressive. The patty was quite thick, but there was a lot of extra seasoning, and "infill" to the patty which my taste buds did not completely agree with.

Cool Sauce Holder

6 November 2007-
Custom Burger: 121 Seventh Street in San Francisco
Cost: $10.00 (angus bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

San Francisco is quite fortunate to have Morphosis (Pritzker Prize Award Winning Architecture Firm) design the new Federal Building. On a recent field trip to the area, I was surprised to see that the area, which I've previously referred to as "Crack Alley" is on the up and up. Hey, there's even this new burger joint right across the street called, "Custom Burger". When I noticed the good design sense and concept of this restaurant, as well as the location, I knew I had to make an effort to survey this burger establishment.

The next night, I brought my hunger with me, and hopped into the diner, to discover a full menu of 'customizable' burger options, including a choice of a '1/3 lb. Angus' patty or 'American Kobe Beef' - 'Lamb' or even 'Salmon'. As one can imagine, there's almost every type of cheese available and a range of fixings on par to some of the most creative salad bars. They even offer about a dozen mayos! However, each additional 'fixin'' above the standard is going to cost you. I think one of the marketing strategies of this business is to lure other burger enthusiasts back for more samplings, because it seems unimaginable to sample the full range of customizations from a single visit.

Verdict: I liked the presentation, in specific, there's this really nice condiment sauce holder integrated into the wire molded tray (see picture above). My immediate impression was that this tasted very similar to the Bistro Burger on Mission Street. Although, this is "Angus" and Bistro claims "Niman Ranch" the lean, daily massaged beef meat was not fatty enough for me. There was no taste, or it didn't quite reflect the qualities that I aspire a good a burger to be.

Mixed Reviews

5 October 2007-
21st Amendment: 563 Second Street in San Francisco
http://www.21st-amendment.com/
Cost: $11.45 (niman ranch bacon cheeseburger, onion hoops extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Once upon a time, I came to 21st Amendment with an old coworker, fellow burger enthusiast and had a really good, chewy burger; except I failed to bring along the proper photo documentation device. A year later, I came back, except this time, with over six coworkers, and I'm not even sure half of these coworkers were even that into burgers in the first place. In fact, although they were all quite enthusiastic, they were also fairly new to the area, and seemed more distracted by the newness of the environment and weren't able to objectively, and earnestly critique the burger to critical standards, in my opinion.

Anyway, while several of them were boasting on how good their burgers tasted, I was quite dismayed by how inconsistent my previous burger tasted to my present survey.

Verdict: This bacon cheeseburger was distinctly different from my previous bacon cheeseburger, though I am almost positive that I ordered both burgers exactly the same, with the requisite bacon and cheese of my preference; cooked "medium-rare". This burger was prepared with a special, caramelized onion garnish with parsely or some exotic herbs that I couldn't quite discern. In anycase, this garnish was more of a distraction than a complement to the burger experience.

Happy Day

23 September 2007-
Company Picnic: Somewhere at Stinson Beach in San Francisco
Cost: N/A

Image Source: blogger's own

Any company picnic, wouldn't ever be complete without some good ol' BBQ with some burgers fired up on the grill. Except, my office does their parties 'right and proper'; hires the finest local caterers, specifies the freshest meat and produce and fixings around. I kept going at it with these burgers until I couldn't eat any more.

Chopped Lettuce

21 September 2007-
Royal Exchange: 301 Sacramento Street in San Francisco
http://royalexchange.com/
Cost: $10.85 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

Royal Exchange boasts a large selection of beers on tap, and can be quite an action-packed, after-work, drinking-spot according to the locals and the business types in the San Francisco financial district. Lunch is no exception on a Friday, however, I was surprised that today's group of coworkers, fellow burger enthusiasts were able to snatch a booth with no wait. Again, I suggested we travel a little outside the two block radius from work in order to sample this new spot, but there were less of us today and I thought we'd be able to make it.

It seemed like an exercise in restraint and discipline, to be surrounded by so much alcohol, and not order a beer to go with the bar food. I'm sure we were all thinking that we could probably get away with a Heinekin Light or Sam Adams Light and no one would even get phased.

Anyway, Royal Exchange, which caters to the financial business types, has a full menu which is named according to business jargon. They serve up "blue chip" burgers, while their salads are referred to as "greenbacks" on their menu. In any case, there's basically two sizes of patties, the "Bear Market" is 1/3 lb. and the "Bull Market" is 1/2 lb.

Strangely, we all ordered the Bear Market Burger, even though in fact, I could sense that each of us could have easily handled the Bull 1/2 pounder based on our appetites and sheer burger enthusiasm.

Verdict: For those that know me, and know my principles, I just can't take a burger very seriously if there's chopped lettuce. Royal Exchange's Blue Chip burgers are served with chopped lettuce, a limp tomato and some fixings that aren't really all that carefully placed. On top of all that, the bun was so plain-jane and it wasn't even toasted, not even for a second.

Need I say more?

Bloody Drippings

11 September 2007-
Mel's Drive-In: 833 Mission Street in San Francisco
http://www.melsdrive-in.com/
Cost: $7.45 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

We had a new coworker recently join the office; and to test his burger enthusiasm, a group of us, true burger enthusiasts, went out to sample the Mel's Diner on Mission Street in SOMA San Francisco. For the loyal readership, you may recall that I previously sampled the Mel's in downtown Berkeley (see 3 December 2006 posting). I was excited to survey another Mel's Diner location, but because it exceeded the two block radius from work, I knew that the group of us would have to hustle there and back, and we'd even have to curtail the burger commentary before, during and after the meal if we were to make it back to the office in time.

The diner was almost packed to the max during this primetime lunch hour. Luckily, there was a group of tables that could accommodate our pack. Otherwise, we'd probably opt to separate or sit at the bar. I thought we were lucky, but knew that the ordering would have to be quick and efficient. I offered to order for the group to save time, but it seemed like it was everyone else's first time at Mel's, and there were quite a few burger permutations on the menu.

Verdict: Despite the quantity and complexity of our group's order, it seemed like the staff here were on top of things, clearly exuding their burger professionalism and attention to detail. My bacon cheeseburger, medium rare was oozing with blood and juices, and the cheese was carefully melted over the composition and sandwiched in between two very carefully toasted buns. I couldn't remember such a fantastic burger in such a long time.

It was also clear from our extended discussion and burger commentary which ensued that everyone else had an equally pleasurable burger experience. To top it off, the new coworker happens to share our/my enthusiasm.

Charcoal Broiler

3 September 2007-
Clarke's Charcoal Broiler: 615 West El Camino Real in Mountain View
http://www.clarkes.com/
Cost: $7.45 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

A former coworker, and fellow burger enthusiast, and native of the South Bay, once recommended I expand my burger horizons and survey Clarke's in the San Jose area. This leads me to inquire, what geographical boundaries actually define the Bay Area? Before pondering this question too long, I decided to appease my hunger sensations, and survey this burger joint, also considered to be a 'legendary' burger stand, withstanding the test of time, unchanged since they opened over 50 years ago.

There were also several generations of burger enthusiasts at Clarke's on this particular Labor Day Weekend. I wasn't quite sure whether it was coincidence or commonplace for this burger joint. It seemed there were several octogenarian or even nonagenarians in the mix, enjoying the moment and their burgers. The sight was an inspiration, to say the least.

Verdict: The presentation has much to be desired. Undoubtedly the burger stand has withstood the test of time; but one has to wonder whether the red plastic baskets which were served with the burgers have lasted equally as long. Also, how hygienic is the single layer of wax paper that separates these plastic baskets and the food?

However, I was quite fond of the smoky bacon and the charbroiled flavor from the grill, but desired a little more juices, since the patty itself was quite dry and overcooked.

Nice Interior

30 August 2007-
Salt House~: 545 Mission Street in San Francisco
http://www.salthousesf.com/
Cost: $15.00 (cheeseburger, onion rings included)
~ Honorable Mention

Image Source: blogger's own

Earlier in the week, a coworker, fellow burger enthusiast had sampled the Salt House Burger and recommended it highly. Although he's fairly new to the Bay Area, he did seem quite enthusiastic. Judging from the $$$ rating from online reviews, and the more upscale decor, I decided to invite a former coworker, fellow burger enthusiast to survey this burger and compare notes.

The interior exudes a very classy, lofty-restaurant aesthetic; not dissimilar to my own office, located about a block away. We were glad to be seated immediately, although we didn't have a reservation for that particular lunch. After surveying the menu, we both settled on the Salt House Burger. I was a little wary though, because my friend has a tendency to be a little unpredictable. Needless to say, it kind of defeats the purpose when I premise the lunch meeting as a new burger survey, and someone orders a non-burger menu item. Luckily, it didn't happen, this time. I requested mine medium-rare, my friend, glared at the server and insinuated in his mannerisms "as rare as bloody possible" as he typically does.

For some reason, I totally blanked, and forgot to order the requisite bacon. Also, the Salt House only offers one type of cheese, cheddar; and instead of fries, they offer a unique ball of deep-fried, salty onions, (for lack of a better description, see picture above).

After a pretty long wait, our orders arrived. I can attest that my "medium-rare" burger was grilled to my exacting expectations. It was a very tender, juicy patty, that oozed with just enough burger juices and had a good amount of color in the cross section. I can also attest, that my friend's "rare" burger was pretty bloody-red, but the cross section looked like a quality cut of steak you might expect at a fine steakhouse, rather than a wormy, raw-ground chuck you might get at a cheaper, institutional burger establishment.

The burger patty was one of the most tasteful, I've ever sampled. It was so tender that morsels of patty started to disengage from the patty into the third or fourth bite. Next, the bun started falling apart, and it was at about the midpoint when I had to attack the rest of the burger with a fork and knife. The specially seasoned pickle, also really didn't do it for me. But, all-in-all, a very fine burger.

Burger Oasis

26 August 2007-
T-Rex Burger Garden: 1300 Tenth Street in Berkeley
Cost: $5.00 (cheeseburger, no fries available)

Image Source: blogger's own

Well I actually had intended on sampling the menu at the new Kava Massih T-Rex Restaurant, located in Berkeley's Gilman District but stumbled across this Burger Oasis / Garden in the parking lot. The setting and menu is quite minimal. In fact, the only thing they offer is a signature $5 dollar burger (tax included) with an option of Gruyere or Cheddar. They don't have fries, but they have chips, and an assortment of drinks, including beer!

In addition, the T-Rex Burger Garden offers entertainment amenities, comparable to some of the most prestigious frat houses on Piedmont Avenue. There's an unwarped table tennis table, with some decent, thick rubber paddles, a foosball table, a chess/checkers set, and a gravel, regulation-size bocce ball court reminiscent of a minimalist Japanese Zen Garden.

From my personal observation, it's a shame that this Oasis-of-a-Burger Venue hasn't picked up. The concept and architecture detailing is executed very tastefully, in a very Kava-esque manner. I'm beginning to suspect that the honorable firm has an affinity towards burgers, having also built the Nation's Burger on University Avenue in Berkeley (see 16 July 2006 review).

Speaking of taste, the burger's not bad. Over the past handful of times I've eaten there, I would state that the burger patty is consistently salty, but the execution of the preparation of condiments, garnish and special sauce, contribute to a very satisfying burger experience. I would recommend this venue to any burger enthusiast / architecture admirer / game lover in the area.

Italian Style Burger

11 May 2007-
Milano Restaurant: 3425 Grand Avenue in Oakland
Cost: $7.00 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I've always wanted to try Milano's burger which is written about in the local burger enthusiast's community. They only offer it in their lunch menu, which is on weekdays only. On an off-Friday from work, I decided to survey their burger.

As the name of the restaurant might suggest, Milano Restaurant is an Italian restaurant. Furthermore, the owner manages to create a very authentic, and cultural atmosphere, and this is reflected in his charming personality and the way he greets and acquaints guests.

The "Milano Burger" it turns out, is served on an Italian Baguette with Mozzarella and tomatoes and sauteed onions as the primary ingredients. There was no lettuce on this particular burger. I also requested the requisite bacon.

Verdict: The burger didn't look substantial, but the meal was surprisingly filling. The meat was very high quality, more like a ground steak than a typical burger patty. The mozzarella and tomato combination really added a very distinct quality of flavors for this quite unique burger experience.

In-N-Out on Steroids

7 April 2007-
Holy Grill: 659 Townsend Street in San Francisco
http://www.holygrillsf.com/
Cost: $6.95 (meyer's ranch angus bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Holy Grill is located in a section of San Francisco known to designers as SF Design Center's Showplace Square and Galleria. I've recently been contracting with Roche Bobois on a design project, which is just a couple of storefronts from Holy Grill.

It's not a very large restaurant, with very scarce seating. I worry about this, because I think business could really pick up if they expanded. To my knowledge, there's only one location.

Verdict: An excellent, excellent burger with tangy special sauce and extremely fresh ingredients. Reminiscent of 'In-N-Out' but with better, bigger ingredients. Highly recommended, good luck finding seating during peak hours though.

A Little Let Down

1 April 2007-
Darla's: 822 Irving Street in San Francisco
Cost: $6.95 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I heard so much hype about Darla's that I think my expectations were overly inflated. I read about their infamous shakes, the service, the burger patty quality, etc. which all added up to a pretty darn-good burger. However, when I arrived one Sunday evening, after the Sunset season-opener, I couldn't help but feel a little let down.

I was greeted by a drab ambiance, and the interior felt pretty empty and lonely. I ordered a bacon cheeseburger and a strawberry shake. Other than a french roll shaped bun, there was really nothing that extraordinary about the burger. I couldn't help but feel a little let down.

Ghetto Burger Fix

29 March 2007-
1/4 lb. Giant Burger: 22nd and Telegraph Avenue in Oakland
Cost: $4.95 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

It was the night after a big deadline at work, and I woke up past midnight jonesing for a burger. I drove over to the scary 1/4 lb. Giant Burger stand on 22nd and Telegraph. I've honestly never approached the place, it looks so ghetto in daylight, even more at night. It was open 24 hours, and I was hungry, so I thought I'd give it a try. The place is surprisingly well-lit at night, and does offer a safe-haven among the undeveloped, sparse urban land that surrounds it. It's really just a walk-up burger stand, with plenty of counter space at the window to chow down. I ordered their bacon cheeseburger and a strawberry shake.

The burger had a surprising amount of condiments, including ketchup and mustard with the mayo. I was expecting some ghetto mayo loaded on the burger, but the proportions of the mayo was pretty modest to my preference. The rest of the burger was pretty tasty. Nothing too extraordinary, but not bad tasting either.

When I finished, I realized that I found my new unpretentious, late night, local burger-fix - that tops the Berkeley Smokehouse in my book.

Ehhh....

3 March 2007-
Cafe Pirawan: 3238 Grand Avenue in Oakland
Cost: $7.50 (angus bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I was walking along Grand Avenue one day, and noticed the menu for Pirawan and their angus burgers. I was surprised by their menu selection which offered a range of burger options, and decided to duck in and give it a try.

As one knows, by mere mention of "Angus" implies a certain level of quality among burger enthusiasts. Therefore my expectations may have been a little higher. However, as I waited for the burger, I couldn't help but notice a corral of unrefrigerated condiments on top of the garbage can. Among them, were about four bottles of half-empty / half-full squeezable mayonnaise bottles. I didn't want to think about how long they were left out there.

Although the bun for the burger was very similar to Mo's in San Francisco, the burger itself was bland, and kind of uneventful. If you were to ask my opinion of their burger, I would probably give you my best Larry David impression; gesture a teetering hand and squirm an unenthusiastic: "ehhh" and be done with it.

Knife Infomercial

24 February 2007-
Adam's Burgers: 3401 Lakeshore Avenue in Oakland
Cost: $5.99 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

I don't really understand why I always think of Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew when I frequent Adam's Burgers on Lakeshore by Lake Merritt. I used to enjoy going to Adam's when I lived closer on the other side of the lake. They offer a wide range of burger combinations and they definitely load on the fixings. Adam's is also the only place that I recall that deliberately slices your burger in half to illustrate the cross-section as shown. It may be a way to visually differentiate the burger from other orders; or perhaps its a way to facilitate burger grappling due to an over-excess of condiments and fixings. Whatever the reason, I'm always pretty impressed with the type of knife that can achieve such precision and accuracy. In fact, I always mean to ask what kind of knife they use for my own personal kitchen repertoire.

Staple Diet for Students

10 February 2007-
Smokehouse: 3115 Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley
Cost: $4.20 (double cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

I recall the days, when I used to live within walking distance of Smokehouse on the North Oakland and Berkeley border. Smokehouse became the staple of my starving-student diet. Burgers were about two dollars and change, and fries were about a dollar and change. Buns were always toasted perfectly, and the fries were consistently always battered perfectly and served piping hot. The patties seemed like your plain-jane quarter pound patties, but they were charbroiled on an open flame, with melted cheese and a very efficient way that document customizable condiments on your order. But you had to put up with a lot of factors that I've seem to outgrown.

Among them are the drunks, the crackheads, and the slimy/sticky seating decor. The experience of eating at Smokehouse is kind of like eating inside one of those "self-cleaning" toilets they have in San Francisco where they hose down the room after you leave and make a mess. When I go, I prefer the sunny days when there's an option to sit outside and bask in their lawn eating a burger like it was a summer BBQ.

Where's the Beef?

6 February 2007-
Flipper's: 2060 Mountain Boulevard in Montclair
Cost: $8.75 (bacon cheeseburger, fries included)

Image Source: blogger's own

I recently noticed this "Flipper's" in Montclair Village and thought I'd survey it. I had the suspicion that the name and logo of the sign was the same as the location in Hayes Valley (see 11 July 2006 survey), but I just dismissed it as a coincidence. It wasn't until I was seated and noticed a distinct similarity in the menu descriptions, when I connected the two chains. Consequently, I had a conversation with the Montclair Flipper's owner and discovered that the two locations used to be owned by the same person, until recently. The new owner kept the name and the menu, except he claims, his meat is better quality now.

As I mentioned before, a plain old bacon cheeseburger was not an option on the menu, so I ordered the bacon cheeseburger with avocado, but told them to hold the avocado. I chose "medium-rare" as the grilling preference.

Verdict: In contrast to the previous "Big Flipper" (at the Hayes Valley location) which was a 1/2 lb. patty, the standard patty is only 1/3 lb. It was late, and I thought that I'd be okay with the smaller patty. The patty that was served seemed disproportionate to the bun. Also, the bun was hardly toasted and soft. There was way too much bun relative to burger patty, and it was soft and squishy to hold. The experience was like eating a McDonald's cheeseburger where the patty taste gets overwhelmed by the bun. The fries were limp too.

Crowded Lunch

2 February 2007-
Burger Gourmet: 351 19th Street in Oakland
Cost: $5.99 (bacon cheeseburger, fries extra)

Image Source: blogger's own

Burger Gourmet in the Lake Merritt section of downtown Oakland is only open during the weekdays for breakfast and lunch. Although I've lived in the neighborhood for a couple of years, I've only eaten here once before. On my last Friday off from work, I decided to check it out again. It was lunch time, and the streets in downtown Oakland were bustling with the downtown Oakland work crowd that I rarely have the opportunity to see. Burger Gourmet was brimming with your typical nine to fivers, but they all seemed dressed down in their casual Friday uniforms eager for some burger action. I moseyed up to the counter and ordered their bacon cheeseburger with brie and specified "medium-rare" as the grilling preference. The place was packed, but I managed to grab an empty table at the back.

Verdict: Burger Gourmet serves a variety of different burger variations on their menu. It's one of those no-frills diners where your food is served fast and fresh at a reasonable price. I definitely enjoy brie on the burger; the bacon was crispy and the fixing fresh and wholesome. I also enjoyed the fries which were hot and crispy. It's a shame it's only open during the weekdays - specially serving the downtown Oakland lunch crowd.