Burgers – Page 9

It’s Burger Week: Five Guys times two…….

February 7, 2011 mmm-yoso Burgers, Chains, Chicago

While driving to work this past week, I recall hearing that by February, 50% of those New Year's resolutions have fallen by the wayside. So I thought it was time for our Fourth Burger Week. I had my doubts at first because it seems that we've covered a good bit of ground. From iconic burgers served at places like Rocky's, Hodad's, and Nessy, to "pub burgers" at joints like The Waterfront, to newer places like Burger Lounge and The Counter, I wasn't sure I had it in me. But after trading emails with Cathy and Ed from Yuma, I realized that there's always another burger somewhere down the street.

A couple of months back, Five Guys Burgers opened up in San Diego…… part of a West Coast expansion of an East Coast favorite. This prompted a whole slew of Five Guys versus In N Out posts and articles. Some of my favorite Food Bloggers like The Catty Critic and Passionate Eater weighed in on the debate.

Thus I put a visit to Five Guys on my "list"………. then my trip to Madison and Chicago came up. An acquaintance of mine who had tried the San Diego location of Five Guys told me that for some reason, in his opinion, the burgers at Five Guys in the Midwest and back East taste better. He told me to check out one of their location in Chicago if I had the chance. And I did indeed have a chance, as I came across a Five Guys in Mount Prospect on my last morning in Chicago.

Even though I arrived right at opening time, there was already a short line. It gave me time to check out the decor, all of the declarations of the greatness of Five Guys plastered on the walls, the large sacks of potatoes, the peanuts for eating while you wait……

The menu, much like In-N-Out's is deceivingly simple; Four burgers, four "little burgers", hot dogs, two sandwiches, and two style of fries. The gimmick here is that you have the choice of up to sixteen free "toppings", everything from Ketchup to A1 Steak Sauce.

Those folks that know, realize that I like a pretty unadorned burger, just the typical veggies and maybe some mustard. Which is how I ordered mine. It all came wrapped in foiled lined paper. It's good that I was eating this here, as a burger would keep on steaming inside this wrapper had I waited too long….

I liked the look of the burger, the sesame bun was nice until it started falling apart. This was a fairly hefty burger, but I thought it over-priced at five bucks($4.99 actually)…… though I guess you could make up that difference if you got everything but the kitchen sink on it.

The meat itself wasn't seasoned, lacked any beefiness, and was on the "mealy" side. No wonder President Obama needed to order his burger with Jalapeno.

Five Guys Burgers
118 East Kensington Rd
Mount Prospect, IL 60056

This didn't turn out to be the burger I had expected. But I decided to check out the Liberty Station location in Point Loma, just to see if there was any difference. I arrived on a Sunday evening, and the place was packed.

Because I wanted to be boring consistent, I ordered the same thing as I did in Chicago. I even managed to score an open table. This is what my burger looked like when unwrapped….

What a mess……. that bottom half of the butt was pretty much a goner, just minutes after making.

At least the burger here had a bit more char to it, and was more moist than the version I had in Chicago. I still think the meat has a kind of mealy texture, and is under-seasoned. The meat here cannot stand alone, The packaging left much to be desired as well.

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
2445 Truxton Rd
San Diego, CA 92106

So what about the Five Guys versus In-N-Out thing…… being that Five Guys' burger is larger, it's hard to compare. But I will say this about the burger…… For the price of one burger from Five Guys ($4.99)….. I got this at I-N-O:

Smaller, but dressed in a similar manner – two double meats, mustard instead. I enjoyed In-N-Out much more as well…..

There is one thing at Five Guys that I enjoy much more than at In-N-Out…… it's the fries. I've never developed a taste for the fries at In-N-Out…….yeah they're "natural" style fries; but just about every other place I have that type of fries have been head and shoulders above In-N-Out.

Smashburger. A few meals.

October 30, 2010 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Burgers, What Cathy Eats!

Cathy is penning today's issue of mmm-yoso!!!, the food blog. She isn't busy. Kirk is busy. ed(from Yuma) is busy. Vicky is busy.

Hi, The other day, The Mister and I were driving along aimlessly and saw Smashburger, underneath Joe's Crab Shack. We decided to stop.

Smashburger is a nationwide franchise (but not that there is one owner per location, if you read the franchising criteria on the website) and has three locations in San Diego County- Mission Valley, La Jolla and Del Mar. Decor and motto are simple. "smash. sizzle. savor."

The menu is fairly small with choices of burgers, chicken, hot dogs and salads, which expand by size of burger (1/3 lb or 1/2 lb), grilled or crispy chicken, 4 choices of buns, multiple toppings, add ons and seven sides (which cost $1 less if ordered with a sandwich). You walk up, order, pay, get a number, fill a beverage container and find a table. Food is brought out in nifty metal baskets.
On our first visit, The Mister chose a 1/2 lb All American Smashburger ($5.99). This comes with American cheese, ketchup, mustard, onion (omitted) and pickles on an egg bun. We all (should) know that smashing down a cooking burger makes it lose juice, and therefore flavor. The meat (fresh, never frozen) here is smashed and seasoned as it goes onto the grill, not after it has cooked on one side. It is juicy. It is also Angus beef. Very flavorful.

I chose the Classic Smashchicken ($5.99) (crispy). Not greasy, not overly breaded. The chicken meat was very juicy and well flavored. This sandwich comes with lettuce, tomato, pickle and mayo on a multi-grain bun.
Here is a photo of the sandwich buns (multi-grain and egg). Both buns were lightly toasted and had flavor.
We shared a Smashside of Haystack Onions ($1.99, because we had ordered a sandwich-$2.99 if ordered alone). Lightly breaded. Lightly fried. Very tasty.

On the bottom of the receipt, there was a survey, which gave us a code for a free smashside on our next visit. I also signed up for the smashclub, which sent me an email for a free self serve float.
They only use Haagen-Daz ice cream here. Vanilla for the self serve fountain float, also chocolate or strawberry if you want a milkshake. There is no root beer at the fountain (you can purchase bottled root beer for $1 more).
Or try it with Coca Cola, which I haven't had in an ocean of time. This was really nice, especially in the frosted mug…
This visit, we tried the Sunset Smashsalad with grilled chicken (this is a large, ($6.99) the same bowl filled halfway with half as much chicken breast is $4.99). A full chicken breast, lightly grilled and very juicy on top of garden greens (there is spinach in there) with tomatoes, raisins, cranberries, sunflower seeds, pumpkin seeds, blue cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
OK. This is what it looks like under the chicken…oh that Smashside…
VeggieFrites ($3.99 or $2.99 with a sandwich order). Oh. My. Flash fried carrots, green beans and asparagus. Served with a ranch dipping sauce. So. Darn. Good. Maybe even healthy…
I decided to make a "Create Your Own" burger, (only 1/3 pound) ($4.99)(really) with my own choice of cheese (blue), toppings (lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, grilled onion)Smashsauce (ketchp/mustard/mayo/relish/lemon juice) on a choice of bun (torta)..PLUS
for an additional 99¢, I added on a fried egg. This burger was juicy, perfec…
Well, the torta bun was slightly torn. Yet toasted and soft and fresh. Fresh breads tear…

This is not just another burger joint. It isn't just fast food. They do serve beer and wine. The food is good. Really good. Smashfries (regular and sweet potato) are made with olive oil, garlic and rosemary. OH WAIT.
Fried pickles. Wonderful, salty, lightly crusted. A really nice side. A really fun, tasty, almost too much side… ($2.99 or $1.99 with a sandwich).

OK. If you are near a location try it. Really nice. Really good. A nice place for a lunch. Or a dinner date. Or a dinner without a date.

Smashburger 7610 Hazard Center Road San Diego 92115 (SE corner of Friars and 163) website

Big Boy. It’s back and unchanged.

September 7, 2010 Cathy American/New American Restaurants, Burgers, What Cathy Eats!

Big Boy is closed.

mmm- yoso!!! is just a diary of food consumed and logged. Today, Cathy is logging in. ed(from Yuma) kind of can't and Kirk kind of doesn't feel like it.

I think most of us grew up at some point in time eating at a Big Boy restaurant. Bob's is the one in California, Shoney's is in the Southeastern part of the USA and in the Detroit area, it's Elias Brothers. The decor and menu at each location is essentially the same.

There is a statue of the Big Boy out in front. bob's all but disappeared from San Diego in the late 80's and one location, on the exterior of Parkway Plaza Mall in El Cajon has re-appeared.

The strangely addictive seasoned salt on every table, along with the pretty much always necessary ketchup is in place.

The Super Big Boy Combo. Two 1/4 lb juicy beef patties, two slices of cheese, shredded lettuce and that ketchup-relish mix on the two-plus sesame seeded bun. Which is toasted. And perfect. All the flavors I grew up with. The fries are well cooked, but nothing I crave. It comes with a small salad which I didn't even photograph. ($7.99)

Pappy Parker's fried chicken. It was three pieces, with sides of vegetable and this baked potato. ($9.99). Ate first, picture later. Lightly flour-breaded and fried until just crispy. Not too greasy. Both plates satisfied all the cravings I had building up inside me.

If you are in El Cajon, it's here. Unchanged.

Bob's Big Boy 937 Parkway Plaza (near WalMart) El Cajon 92020 website

Boll Weevil. The real one.

May 18, 2010 Cathy Burgers, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog about food. Kirk usually writes, except he is on vacation. Sometimes, ed (from Yuma) writes, but he is kind of on a vacation right now. So Cathy is writing, just to keep you looking while you wait in anticipation for Kirk's return.

Hi. I'm still here. I ate. At one of the few remaining Boll Weevils in town. Most have closed, but are in the same location, a darn good copycat has appeared Kitty corner from the Registrar of Voters (in the same parking lot as Khan's Cave) is Boll Weevil. Kirk has posted on this location and He did not like it. I knew what I crave and wanted to see if my 'usual' order tasted the same as I remembered.
The interior of this location (NW corner of Clairmont Mesa and Ruffin) is quite large. There are four televisions, two pool tables and an added on covered patio, seen in this photo, above.
The traditional tray o' condiments is the same. A bit more of a selection -two mustards, tabasco-regular and smoked.
The container in front is a mix of mustard, mayonnaise and relish; something which goes perfectly with the burgers. At least I think so.

We perused the menu, noting the various possible selections. Toppings of bacon, various cheeses, mushrooms, BBQ sauce…all sorts of variations of toppings for burgers, chicken patties, Reuben sandwiches, salads…Broasted ™ chicken , smoked ribs. Then we ordered pretty much what we always do.
The 1/2 pound Steerburger, with cheese. Medium rare. ($5.39)
A small side of "Crings" curly fries and onion rings ($4.29). The onions are whole, battered in a mix which includes cornmeal; not those diced premade weird ones… The curly fries are OK, nothing to write about.
My 1/2 pound plain Steerburger, rare ($4.99). The patty is not a frozen one. It is shaped here from fresh, flavorful ground beef, lightly seasoned.
It was juicy.
Cooked rare. Very rare…

The basic burger. None of the fancy stuff. None of the fancy toppings. No fancy sauce. Not even lettuce or tomatoes. Happy Happy. Good Good.

Boll Weevil 9330 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard San Diego 92123 (858)571-6225

Revisits: Luong Hai Ky, Noble Chef, and The Counter

April 18, 2010 mmm-yoso Burgers, Chinese Restaurants, Vietnamese Restaurants

Luong Hai Ky – Mira Mesa revisited:

While doing my Beef Sate Noodle Soup post, I decided to also include Luong Hai Ky. The bad thing was I couldn't for the life of me find Beef Sate Noodle soup on the menu. So while the Server hovered over me in the typical LHK manner, I asked about Beef Sate Noodle soup. Totally ignoring me, the guy pointed to a photo on the menu and said, "this, this is what you want, it is good…." It was a photo of Hủ Tiếu Mỹ Tho. I said, "yes, but I'm looking for Beef sate Noodle Soup". In return he replied, "no, this is good, I guarantee it is good….." It was late, I was tired, and I knew this guy was just trying to get rid of me, so I relented.

And here's the bowl of Hủ Tiếu Mỹ Tho:

This was okay, the noodles were cooked well, and there was a decent amount of char siu and pork in the bowl, along with shrimp. I still think the broth here is not nearly as flavorful as what was served at the now defunct Convoy location.

At seven bucks, I really didn't think it was a good value either.

Luong Hai Ky Restaurant
10606 Camino Ruiz #2
San Diego, CA 92126

More from Noble Chef:

I also visited Noble Chef Chef for the Beef Sate Noodle Soup, but when I saw another customer having it, I decided to get the Seafood Sate Noodle Soup($5.55) instead.

This was a bit different when it comes to Sate Noodle soup. There wasn't a very spicy, nor pungent flavor…….the soup was slightly thick, but had an almost curry-like flavor So, if you like Curry Noodle soup….you might enjoy this. The egg noodles were a bit overcooked, and the fishcake and various meatballs were just passable.

We also recently had the Shrimp with XO Sauce Fried Rice, and it too tasted a bit odd, I'm wondering if the place has changed hands yet again. Here's another place that just hasn't been the same since Noble Chef changed hands.

The Noble Chef
6159 Balboa Avenue
San Diego, CA 92111

A revisit to The Counter:

**** This location of The Counter has closed

The Missus wanted their Veggieburger, so I was most happy to oblige. And we headed up to Leucadia, and The Counter. This time the cheese was swiss and I had onion strings on my burger.

As much as I enjoyed the idea of putting onion strings on my burger in my previous post, I think it really detracted from the overall flavor of the burger. I think I'll go back to simple grilled onions next time. The burger was again a perfect medium, and I enjoyed it.

We also tried the Fried Dill Pickles:

The Missus thought these too salty, but I didn't think so. The pickles were nicely breaded and fried well. Personally, I'd enjoy thinner sliced pickles……. better crunch….

The Counter
1923 Calle Barcelona
Carlsbad CA 92009

One last thing……. I had the pleasure of spending a wonderful Saturday evening cooking. A few weeks back John, Peter, and Angela of Sandwich Emporium asked me if I'd like to help out with a Bentos and Sake dinner they were having as a benefit for the American Cancer Society. I was indeed flattered….. so last night, the twins, along with MrS, TammyC, and I spent an evening cooking and plating….

I was honored to be able to help put together the menu, and though my feet and back hurt like heck right now, it was a bunch of fun. It is a great cause, and it's nice to have friends who are willing to help out.

It’s Burger Week (Again) Weevil Burger- in La Mesa

February 21, 2010 Cathy Burgers, What Cathy Eats!

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog you are reading and this time it's Cathy posting about a wonderful burger she enjoys regularly.

Hi. If you've been around San Diego for a while, you remember Boll Weevil, the burger/bar place where pool tables abounded. Most of the locations closed a few years ago (the Boll Weevil location on Clairmont Mesa is still there). We've always loved the burgers at Boll Weevil, because they would grill them medium rare. Weevil Burger does that also.
This reincarnation is in the same spot as a previous Boll Weevil, in the La Mesa Fletcher Parkway strip mall which houses 'the' Michaels and 'the' Souplantation, closer to Shizuoka which is near Dallas Street.
The interior is essentially the same, just cleaned up a bit (the original menu with prices is printed on that endangered species green sea turtle shell on the wall) with 4 flat screen televisions.

After you place your order, the Traditional Tray of Condiments is brought to your table. -pickles, onions, relish, sweet peppers, catsup, mustard, mustardrelish blend, tobasco, salt and pepper. You still have to remember to ask for mayonnaise.

The half pound Weevil burger, medium rare. ($4.59). It's $1.50 more to add cheese, lettuce and tomato and really, I don't want that on this burger. The meat is coarse ground and flavorful all by itself.
I did add pickles, onion and mustard. The bun is toasted. Nothing else is needed to make this perfect for me.

The pool tables and video game area was busy the night we were here.
The Mister ordered the 1/2 pound Mushroom-Swiss burger with a side salad ($8.99). Also medium rare. as a combo (with fries (straight or curly), onion rings or salad) it's $8.99 and quite a meal. He likes the fresh sauteed mushrooms and the taste of the Swiss cheese on his burger.

The croutons are made in house, from rye bread, which they use here for their patty melt… Just plain white lettuce and a slice of tomato, but on its own, the salad is $3.50, so the combos are less expensive than ordering individual items here.
This particular location is doing very well and has a variety of menu items, including gyros sandwiches and varieties of chicken, all of which are fried properly. Sometimes I do order the 2 piece fried chicken meal, because it is so good. Usually, though it's the 1/2 pound Weevil Burger. That's all I need.

Weevil Burger 9104 Fletcher Parkway (at Dallas) La Mesa 91942 (619)644-1010

It’s Burger Week (Again)- Fred’s Old Fashioned Burgers (El Cajon)

February 20, 2010 Cathy Burgers, What Cathy Eats!

This location fo Fred's has closed.

mmm-yoso!!! is the food blog written by Kirk, ed (from Yuma), Cathy and a few other friends. Today, it's Cathy's turn.

Hi. I knew it was the Third Annual Burger Week for us at mmm-yoso!!! and thought I would share some East County places The Mister and I enjoy. First, Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers.
The building that houses Fred's used to be a Taco Bell, so you know it is not very large inside. When it is busy, there are full outdoor tables.
The indoor ordering counter is pretty much unchanged from the old Taco Bell blueprint.
The Additional  Condiment Bar is right behind you after you place order and pay.
You take a seat in the different-than-Taco-Bell decorated area. Your food will be delivered to your table.
If you've ordered a shake ($2.95) (which you *must* do), it will be brought out first. The Mister and I decided to share a chocolate peanut butter one. Thick, rich, using real peanut butter, this satisfies my salt cravings and His chocolate cravings. You can order your shakes with or without malt and 'extra thick' or 'regular'. There are about 8 flavors to choose from.
Your burgers are brought out. Mine was a "Patty Melt" ($3.79). I must confess, the breads that are served here are the best and the real reason I like the food here. Even though this was not rye, it was a very fresh, very thick sourdough, grilled to perfection. The burger is topped with grilled onions, (sadly) American cheese and an excellent Thousand Island. I know, American Cheese and sourdough does not a Patty Melt make, hence the quotation marks above. The burger is hand shaped, not frozen, 1/4 pound and not thick, so as to fit on the breads. They pretty much can't be cooked to a medium rare, which I like.  The meat is not overly flavored on its own ( I added salt, pepper and pickles near the end of finishing the burger).
This time, The Mister ordered a Half Pounder ($4.64), without onions. It comes with lettuce, tomato and Thousand Island sauce (he got pickles at the bar) and is served on the wonderfully fresh, toasted potato roll you see here. Again, the bread is what brings me back more than the taste of the burger. Oddly, the crinkle cut fries are somehow seasoned with a light layer of salt and apparently are cooked in beef fat. They have a wonderful flavor without having to add anything, not even catsup.

One other item of note, both Coke and Pepsi are served here. Buying a "combo" does not save any money, the individual prices add up to be the same. It's an interestingly decorated good use of the old Taco Bell space that does a steady business. Not bad, but not outstanding burgers.

Fred's Old Fashioned Burgers 1285 East Madison (two signal lights south of I-8, behind the gas station on the SW corner) El Cajon 92021 (619)447-2300

It’s Burger Week (again) – Burger Lounge – Kensington

February 18, 2010 mmm-yoso Burgers

Burger Lounge seems to be quite a polarizing chain. Some folks I know, sing high praises of Burger Lounge. But the only thing that bothers me about the things they say about BL, is that most of it centers around BL's use of Tallgrass Beef, and most of them recite this in a mantra like fashion. Very few things are said to me regarding the taste. One good thing is…. that I love good grassfed beef, it is much more "beefy" in flavor. On the other hand, posts by other food bloggers seemed to align the burger at BL with fast food burgers. Or perhaps even worse. We were curious, so on a recent evening, the Missus and I headed out to Burger Lounge's Kensington location.

Upon entering, I was struck at how "fast-foodish" the place looks. The menu is short and sweet, 3 types of "burgers" (beef, turkey, and veggie), three salads, chicken tenders(no mention of how the chickens were raised), fries & rings, and cupcakes.

As I placed my order, the young lady manning the counter, made sure to inform me that the burgers are "grilled medium", which sounded just perfect to me. This young lady was a joy to watch, she was efficient, yet very nice, especially to the older customers and children (and their parents)who came in later.

The Missus, still recovering from Her burger at The Waterfront, again went with a Veggie Burger ($7.95):

The Missus, a big fan of quinoa, loved this burger. I was told that the veggie patty had a bit of spice to it, and good heft. Based on Her enthusiasm, I may even (gasp!) try it myself next time.

Of course we got a "half and half"($4.95), the combination of fries and onions rings, which is delivered in a sorta-kinda cool looking cardboard take-out box.

The rings were nicely breaded with a good crunch, just the way the Missus enjoys them. The fries were on the dry side, and as with "fresh cut" potatoes, wilted pretty quickly. Both were seasoned with a parsley-salt mix in a very even-handed manner.

Of course, I ordered the Grilled Lounge Burger ($7.95), sans dressing since I really wanted to taste the beef.

I also chose the white cheddar which was nice and mild, and fresh onions to add a bit of punch to the burger. On the good side, I've had my share of grass fed beef that has been on the dry side. This burger was juicy, maybe a bit too juicy. The roll didn't hold up very well, but did have a distinct flavor. The onions were diced, which proved to be a bit problematic, as it kept falling all over the place.

One of the two biggest issues I had with the burger is illustrated below:

What happened with the "our burgers are grilled to medium rare" policy? Also, the burger lacked flavor, I'd been expecting some of the wonderful grass fed goodness to seep through. When I broke off a piece of the patty for tasting, I noticed that it also lacked seasoning. As I later explained to my "go green" friend, you need to season your meat. I've bought stuff from Lobel's in the days before a porterhouse would run into the triple digits. And if you don't season that hundred dollar steak (or $20 ground beef), it won't taste right. Same holds true here……

One more thing….. this burger cost $7.95…… compare that to the burger at The Counter, which I put in the same basic category. That burger was just 55 cents more…..

I've heard that the Turkey Burgers at Burger Lounge are good, and the Missus really enjoyed that Veggie Burger. Maybe it's those two items that put the "burger" into the Burger Lounge. For me, the Lounge Burger was a disappointment.

Burger Lounge
4116 Adams Avenue
San Diego, CA 92116

It’s Burger Week (again) – The Waterfront Bar & Grill

February 16, 2010 mmm-yoso Burgers

During every burger week, I try to get at least one of the species I call a "pub burger". A few of my acquaintances look down at pub burgers. But I enjoy the simple, straight forward, unpretentious burgers served at places like Rocky's and Mr Peabody's. When someone tells me these burgers are mediocre, and I admit there are a few that are, or that it tastes like something their Mom would make, I ask, "what's wrong with your Mom's burgers?" And automatically peg them as being unsentimental. My next question would be, if these burgers are so simple, why is it that copycat corporate pub burgers never measure up? Maybe because the burger lacks soul? Or perhaps there's something about a well seasoned grill or griddle, at a joint that has obviously served thousands at varying levels of impairment…. a place like The Waterfront Bar and Grill, around since 1933.

Open from 6am in the morning, just in case you need a few "hairs of the dog", or prefer a full breakfast(yes, this place has a non-liquid breakfast menu) the place always seem to have a few "lounge lizards" occupying the bar.

All of which reaches a crescendo during the "hour of happiness", with the bar packed with everyone from the suits to laborers, and the professional imbibers. The usual Server working here is efficient, funny, and no nonsense. You will provide your ID and credit card for a tab…….

It says quite a lot that the Missus had Her one burger week hamburger at The Waterfront. The Missus chose the Blue Cheese Bacon Burger ($10.25), a half pound burger smothered in melted blue cheese, topped with thick cut bacon(and let's not forget the grilled onions). As if this wasn't enough, it comes with fries…..

The fries are the ever-crisp "floured fries" which delivers what the beer drinker wants, fries that'll stay crisp during the beer session. I'm thinking the Missus really enjoyed this, since She wiped the whole thing out, telling me "ddddisss wizzzz weeely delisssssshhhhis" while finishing up the last bite. Pretty impressive.

I went with The Texas Burger ($8.40), a half pound burger topped with grilled onions, which also comes with fries.

I always enjoyed the grilled onions, it adds a nice savory sweetness to the burger. As for the burger, it is handformed, and not as greasy as I remembered. The patty was decently seasoned with salt and pepper. If anything, it is perhaps pressed too hard when formed, as it is a bit "chewy". The roll is a generic "Acme sesame seed bun".

One of the signs of a classic pub burger, is that the lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles are served on the side. Also, all the various "sauces" are either on the table, or served on the side with the burger….. after all, they've got to keep moving in the kitchen, and don't have the time to dress your burger…. you can have it your way, so long you do it yourself!

Don't even think about a medium rare burger here, they don't. At least I won't be asked how I want my burger done, and have it delivered well done anyway.

Overall, a decent burger, even without cheese, nor any "dressing". No pretense, no fuss, no muss except for trying to keep the fries on your plate. In these days of frou-frou burgers, I find this refreshing…..

The Waterfront Bar and Grill
2044 Kettner Blvd
San Diego, CA 92101

Open 6am to 2am daily

It’s Burger Week (again) – The Counter – Carlsbad

February 15, 2010 mmm-yoso Burgers

**** This location of the Counter has closed

*** An updated post on The Counter can be found here.

Let's see….. it's mid-February, about the time most of us have said, "what the heck" and have let those New Years resolutions fall by the wayside. Or perhaps you're like FOY and fellow food blogger Masa Assassin, and have already reached your goals for the year! Hmmm, don't you hate people like that??? Just kidding…. I just figured it was time for another burger week. So hang on, loosen up the ol' belt a coupla notches, and let's get going.

I first read about The Counter when Kat of Our Adventures in Japan ate at the Kahala location during one of her visits home. The first thing that struck me was how good the onion strips looked, I was literally wiping drool off my chin. The second thing that entered my head was, "wait a minute, Honolulu gets a location of The Counter, and we're left high and dry in San Diego?" Talk about burger envy….. If that wasn't bad enough, Rosa, The Catty Critic, did not one, but two posts (make that three posts) on The Counter. But like most food bloggers, Rosa is quick to lend a hand and provide information. The Catty Critic quickly informed me that The Counter had opened in San Diego….. I quickly found out that The Counter had opened… all the way up in Carlsbad! Sigh. Then it struck me… I have no problem driving down to Chula Vista for tacos, which is about the same distance as Leucadia, so why would I make a big deal about driving up to The Forum in Leucadia?

The Missus and I haven't been back up here since Anthropologie opened up in Fashion Valley. I believe this used to be Sushi on the Rock. We arrived just as the shop opened and were led to a seat. The ceilings of the restaurant are pretty high, and all the hard surfaces make for a pretty loud space.

The menu at The Counter is pretty interesting, you can select a "signature burger", or go through a six step process to design your own burger. It's a BYOB (Build your own burger) process.

It's really not that complicated…. you don't need to be like the guy sitting next to us who had to read each step…. and each item out loud, in his "outside voice"!

Of course, I just needed to try out the onion strings, so we got a "fifty-fifty" of onion strings and fries ($4.95):

First off the BBQ sauce tastes pretty artificial and didn't go real well with either item. The "ranch" was very watery….. ketchup was the way to go for us.

I loved the onions strips, which were thin, crisp, with a good ratio of batter to onion (for me), was basically a bit greasy, but in the most fulfilling way.

The Missus prefers breaded onions rings, so She didn't enjoy these as much as I did. It also struck me that this will be great as a burger topping….. and it is offered as a premium topping ($1 more).

The fries were of the thin-cut shoestring variety, which makes for maximization of a crisp exterior.

the fries had a nice crisp texture, but were way over-seasoned. The potatoes were so salty it tasted metallic and bitter. Even the Missus, who loves salt could only eat a few fries.

The Missus wasn't feeling like a burger, so She got a 2/3 lb Veggie Burger (!) in a bowl ($1 more), with organic mixed greens, etc, etc….. All I can say, is that it looked like a pretty huge salad ($11.50):

The Missus enjoyed the 2 veggie patties and the pesto. The Danish Blue Cheese was very salty, and would probably have fared better inside two buns. This was a good amount of food, and the Missus couldn't finish it.

Even though I was quite taken by the menu and options, I'm in the habit of minimizing all the toppings and frills the first time I have a burger at a restaurant. Not wanting to get fancy, I got a 1/3 pound burger (medium), on a hamburger bun, with Gruyere, red onions, lettuce mix, and tomatoes ($8.50):

The Gruyere was nicely melted over my burger, it was creamy and mild. When I cut my burger in half I was over-joyed!

Finally, a perfect medium burger…. at a chain no less! Those of you who have read my previous posts on burger joints will remember what a hard time I have getting a medium burger. Many places will ask you how you want you burger, but you'll always get it well done, or over-done. I've started to call that the burger "shibai". This on the other hand was a good burger, moist, with a nice char on the exterior. The char added a nice flavor, and good resistance when first biting into the burger. The beefiness of the burger was better than another burger chain which serves grass-fed beef. Man did this hit the spot.

Now that I've got the first visit over-with, I'm ready for the next step… hmmm…. onions strings? A fried egg? Soft ripened brie perhaps? Heck, maybe I'll just have the same simple burger again, because it was sure hit the spot.

Some final thoughts…. you ever know where all those yuppies went to when they had kids and hit middle age? Carlsbad… The service is kinda hit and miss, one young lady was very nice but spaced out, another young man was very efficient. The counter, has a counter ( bar), and it looks pretty well stocked. We saw two women boozing it up pretty good…. at 11 am! These are "gourmet burger" prices, but I felt we got what we paid for.

The Counter
1923 Calle Barcelona
Carlsbad CA 92009