Red Mill- 2nd time

I happen to be by a Red Mill Burger today and I decided to try it again.  Since my visit in October, I had been informed many times that I didn't experience the real Red Mill Burger since I didn't have bacon or sauce.  I have to admit...  everyone was right.  This time I got the bacon  burger with sauce and it was delicious!  The bacon is super crispy and the sauce was not what I expected.  I was worried it was 1000 island dressing (which I hate) but it wasn't.  It was a mayo based dressing with just the right amount of zip in it.  I ate the entire burger...  quickly.  The bun started falling about near the end but it wasn't too bad.  The meat was delicious but the smokey, thick bacon had the most flavor.  I will definately go back.  So far one of my favorite burgers!  I will tell everyone...  you must get the bacon and the sauce. 

Plus, the wall of Bacon is worth the trip.

Lunchbox Laboratory

My sister was in town 2 weeks ago and we decided to grab a burger while she was here.  I've been sticking to the 5 Guys in my building lately so I haven't done much exploring.  It was nice to try something new.

Lunchbox Laboratory is located in South Lake Union and we hit it up for lunch on Monday. The place is totally fun, decorated with retro lunchboxes and signs from the 60's and 70's. Jane ordered The Burger of the Gods and I went with The Native New Yorker.   The service was good and the burgers arrived quickly.  Jane's was by far the better burger.  Hers had Candied Balsamic onions and a  Gorgonzola spread.  The burger was well cooked and just the right amount of sweetness.  It was a delicious concoction.  Mine came with Monterey Jack cheese, onions, buffalo ketcup and ranch dressing.  It was good but a couple of problems.  Too much sauce!  It was so messy I could barely eat it.  The buffalo ketcup had more of a kick then I expected.  The Ranch helped even it out but I could have done with half the amount of ketcup.  There was so much sauce on the burger that I can't honestly tell you how the meat tasted.  The bun held together nicely which is a big plus.  Jane got sweet potato fries and I stuck with the skinny fry.  They were good but maybe a bit average. 

The menu features all kind of yummy milkshakes including Nutella, Boston Creme donut and  Butterfinger!  Plus there is a big selection of Boozie shakes including Key West Pie and the Drunken Elvis (Peanut butter, banana, vanilla vodka and Malibu Banana)  I was too full for the shakes but I would definitely go back and split a burger with someone so that I could have the shake. 
Overall it was a great lunch.  Wonderful getting to spend time with my sister, fun stuff to look at and good food!  Thumbs up!
The show, Americas best bites,  featured Lunchbox Laboratory on January 24th when they highlighted the 5 best burgers in the US.  Their pick was the Dork Burger featuring a Duck and pork patty, Monterey Jack Cheese, onions and garlic mayo.  WOW.


http://www.americasbestbites.com/restaurants/580/americas-best-burger-the-dork-burger-lunchbox-labratory/

Red Mill Burger

Whenever I search "Best Burgers in Seattle" I get the same 2 listings.  Red Mill Burger and Dicks Drive In.  I decided it was time to check  out one of them.  Red Mill is about 5 miles from my house so it was the lunch plan for Saturday. It's in a part of town that I don't know called Phinney RIdge. I found it with no problem and really liked the neighborhood.  It was 2 pm on a Saturday and the place was packed.  I ordered the basic cheese burger, fries and a diet coke.  I got the burger without the special sauce.  What I found out later is that i didn't experience the "real" Red Mill Burger..   I guess the way to order it is with bacon and special sauce.  I should have asked some folks before I went .  Oh well. 

The burger itself was pretty good.  I thought it was a bit thin and didn't have a ton of flavor.  The bun was tasty and  big.  The bun held together nicely and didn't distract from the burger.  The cheese was super yummy and nicely melted.  But it wasn't anything outstanding.  The fries were also okay .  Thought they were good but didn't knock my socks off. 
After I ordered my burger I looked at the grill in the back and there was a giant mountain of bacon.  I mean a MOUNTAIN. It was stacked in a square and was probably a foot high.  The restaurant is tiny and has maybe 6 tables and some bar stools.  There are 3 picnic tables out front which were packed even though it was raining.  I can't imagine how crowded it would be at noon.  
Now I have to go back and try it again.... with Bacon and Sauce.
http://www.redmillburgers.com/

Bob's burgers and brew

http://www.bobsburgersandbrew.com/

The other night I was out and I was starving!  I saw a place called Bob's Burgers and Brew.  I didn't feel like staying in for dinner so I got it to go.  I got the Bacon Burger and fries.  The truth is that I was so hungry that I ate the burger without really taking the time to enjoy it.  The bacon was Delicious!  The bun held up well in the car.  I'm not sure I can review it fairly since I barely remember it.  I will say that it was big!  I could not eat the last few bites.  The fries were a bit disappointing.  They were your basic  fries.  I will have to go back and try it when I can actually think about what I'm eating :)

The Habit

It's been a while since I posted due to my move and new job.  But, things are starting to settle down so hopefully I'm back to updating the blog.  I flew back down to Sacramento last weekend and went with the family to The Habit.  I love the Habit.  I reviewed their new concept Hook Burger a few months ago when I was down in LA.  I've eaten at the Habit numerous times in Fresno but this was my first visit to the Sacramento location.  It is a very casual burger joint.  If you aren't a burger fan (which would shock me) then you have plenty of other options on the menu- Tri-tip, chicken, Tuna, veggie burger, etc.  You have fries , sweet potato fries or onion rings to choose from.  Plus there are shakes which I always want to try but usually end up too full to give it a shot.  The burger is nicely char grilled and has a fresh delicious taste.  You have plenty of toppings to choose from and they don't cover the burger in any of that 1000's Island dressing.    The bun holds up nicely.  

My only complaint is that the sweet potato fries aren't anything special.  Well, that and it would be nice if they had an ice cold beer to serve along with the burger :)   
I've been eating a lot of burgers lately but nothing that I've felt worth blogging about.  I had a 5 Guys burger the other day which was fabulous.  I love their burgers.  But, I've reviewed them recently and will continue to compare burgers to them.  I also have to admit I had a Wendy's burger last week and it was pretty darn good.  The bun was super sweet and soft.  I had stayed away from them for a while because the one near my old house had terrible service.  This one near my new house was nice.  
I'll try to hit some new locations soon.  More photo's to follow.  http://www.habitburger.com/

Eat up!

Seattle- Burgermaster

I'm back!  I've moved north to Seattle so I'll be reviewing some of the top Burger joints in the Northwest.  That doesn't mean I've forgotten CA.  I still have a house there and will be back to check out the places I missed.   In the meantime, let's see how the rainy NW compares.
My first stop is Burgermaster http://www.burgermaster.biz/  .  I found them listed on many of the top burger list for Seattle and it just so happens they have a location 4 miles from my new place.  After a day of running errands, I decided a burger and fries is just what I needed.

Burgermaster is an old drive-in. They started in 1952 and now have 5 locations.  I'm not sure when the Aurora location opened but it looks like it might have been 1952.  You pull up and turn your lights on and a waitress comes to your car.  The waitress might be one of the original employees.  Sitting in the car made me remember being a kid and ordering at the  drive-in in West Virginia.  Kinda fun.  I ordered the burger, fries and soda.  Later I was wishing I ordered the combo with a shake because the shake choices sounded delicious! The burger came with the basic toppings but included relish.  Since I'm not a fan of the relish I substituted ketcup instead.

So here's the thing, the burger was good.  The bun was tasty, the meat tasty and well cooked.  But it wasn't anything over the top.  It was a really good grilled burger. The bun held together but was basic.   The best part was the tomato and lettuce.  It was the nicest slice of tomato I've ever had on a burger.  So often they are too thin or hard or too soft.  This tomato was perfect.  The fries were a disappointment.  They were your basic shoestring fries.  While I enjoyed the lunch, I'm not sure it is worth going back again.  I now live within walking distance of a 5 Guys so everything is going to be compared to...  is it better then 5 Guys.  otherwise I can walk out my front door and order my burger within 5 minutes. 
It's a good start in Seattle but I'm betting I can do better.  I'm going to start my research and plan the next outing.  Stay tuned!

Finally ate at Bob's

 

My time in Burbank was coming to an end and I knew I had to get back to Bob's to try their burger.  Finally I made it happen.  The building itself is very cool and retro.  It's the original Bob's and they sell T-shirts and banks with Bob displayed.  It is in a part of Burbank call Toluca Lake.  Fairly upscale and a lot of walk-by traffic.  I sat outside on the patio and ordered the cheese burger.  The service was fine, nothing special.  The burger arrived and right away I noticed the dressing.  I always forget that Burger joints in CA seem to think that Thousand Island dressing needs to be on every burger.  They call it their Special sauce.  I've said it a few times but I'm saying it again, I hate 1000 Island dressing!  It's the same no matter what you call it.     So, I scrapped it off and put the burger back together.  The burger was just okay.  It wasn't anything special.  Honestly it tasted like a typical diner burger.  It was  a little overdone and the cheese was American.  The bun was non descript and the toppings were lettuce and tomato.  The fries were the meaty kind which I like but definitely from a bag and dumped in a fryer.   
Overall I'd say that the experience of eating in the location, watching the people walk by, looking at the memorabilia posted in the lobby made it worthwhile.  It brought back all those memories of childhood.  The food was just okay.  I took my photo's and checked the location off my list. On to the next Burger.