4 out of 5 burgers

On a recent trip to Charleston, SC I was fortunate enough to get to try some real southern burgers at The Sloppy Cow. Believe it or not, this was my first time trying “stuffed” burgers. For those of you who are still living in the dark (as I was), a stuffed burger has different ingredients stuffed into the patty, infusing it with flavor and generally tasting amazing. The Sloppy Cow is a great spot for tourists and locals alike so if you’re ever in Chucktown “y’all come back now ya hear?” – couldn’t resist.

The omniscient Sloppy Cow mascot adorns the wall

The Burger: The Sloppy Cow boasts nine specialty stuffed burgers including the “Bleu Cow Bleu” with bleu cheese, crumbled bacon, grilled onion and mushrooms, topped with garlic chili sauce and the “Smoking Cow” with smoked Gouda, bacon, smoked tomato relish and caramelized onion. The patties are all beef (this is the South, after all) and served on your choice of a burger bun or Texas toast. The burgers are extremely juicy and unsurprisingly sloppy with all the stuffed ingredients. Their burgers take toppings to a whole new level and create a unique taste experience, inside and out.

The “Spicy Cow” – roasted jalapeno relish, jack cheese, chipotle onions, bacon and spicy mayo

The “Spicy Southerner” – jalapeno pimiento cheese, topped with chipotle mayo and a fried green tomato

The “Cheesy Cow” – beef patty stuffed with three cheese blend

The Fries: If only fries could be stuffed, too. In comparison to the burgers, the fries are pretty standard. You can also opt for coleslaw, pasta salad or potato salad on the side. The only thing that could make this place better would be offering the traditional southern sides we experienced in other Charleston restaurants. I’m thinking mac and cheese, a biscuit, mashed potatoes, grits, etc. Go big or go home.

The Ambiance: We were there on a slow Monday night, but I’m told the Sloppy Cow is generally a busy and happening place to be. Since we were the last customers of the night, we had very fast service. The stuffed burgers are all $10, including your choice of side dish. You can also get an enormous and delicious milkshake for $4, which I think everyone should. Overall, great place to get a feel for the burgers of the South!

The Sloppy Cow’s casual interior – we had almost the whole place to ourselves!

For more information, check out the Sloppy Cow Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

3 out of 5 burgers

It feels like it’s been a year since I actually sat down to blog, which leads to all these feelings of blog guilt. Shameless self-promotion time: part of the reason I’ve been too busy for burgers is my new travel column for the Huffington Post. So if you like traveling as much as you like eating burgers (or better yet eating burgers while traveling!) you should check that out. Okay, back to the good stuff. Remember one of my favorite burger spots/place to meet cute boys, Bullitt? I went to check out their sister restaurant, Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem in the Mission over the weekend for a burger and bottomless mimosa brunch. It’s a very fun atmosphere on the weekends with a reasonably good burger – but it’s definitely a bar first, restaurant second.

Dr. Teeth’s dapper logo stands out on Mission and 19th

The Burger: DTATEM doesn’t skimp on portions, and the beef patties are thick and filling. Unfortunately, they are pretty unremarkable otherwise. At brunch, your only options are what kind of cheese you want on top. Had I known, I probably would have chosen to go for dinner when they offer more specialty burgers – including the Bullitt favorite “The Easy Rider” with brie, avocado, and sauteed spinach. I’d also be very interested to try the “Peanut Butter and Jelly Bacon Burger,” just for kicks. Even without fancy toppings, the burger fundamentals were good here and I’d still recommend it.

The Dr. Teeth Burger with cheddar cheese and a side of regular tater tots

The Dr. Teeth Burger with jack cheese, a side of fries, two shots and bottomless mimosas. Aggressive.

The Fries:  Dr. Teeth prides themselves on what they do with the “Tater Tot Bar.” Get plain tots, sweet potato tots, truffle tots, mayhem tots with caramelized onions, russian dressing and melted cheddar cheese, or my personal favorite tot-chos with melted cheese, jalapenos, salsa, guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo. Not exactly diet friendly but worth every calorie. Or you can just get fries, whatever. I never thought I would see the day where I was so unenthused about regular fries, but the tater tots here are done so well there’s no reason to get anything else.

The Ambiance: As previously stated, Dr. Teeth is a great bar and thus the drinks are more of a priority over the food. People are there to enjoy Sunday Funday and it’s a lively atmosphere fueled by tater tots and mimosas. The prices are very reasonable (a burger and tots for $8!) We had fast service, mostly because we were sitting directly at the bar. Since reservations aren’t accepted, be prepared to wait a bit to be seated; it’s well worth it.

Dr. Teeth’s crowded and festive interior – a great place for a leisurely and bottomless brunch!

For more information, check out the Dr. Teeth and the Electric Mayhem Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

4 ½ out of 5 burgers

Some people like to order from a set burger menu, while others prefer the ability to build their own. If you’re in the latter group, The Counter is the ultimate hamburger Mecca. When you get to your table, you’re given a clipboard with a checklist in lieu of a menu. You use the pencils on your table to make your own burger from scratch. The amazing quality and variety of ingredients and toppings makes The Counter stand apart from other make-your-own options. I tried this franchise on a recent trip to Pasadena, but there are numerous locations in California and worldwide so check for one near you!

The Counter’s Pasadena location (also in 23 California cities and world wide)

The Burger: The greatest thing about the Counter is that if you know your own tastes, you’re going to love whatever you order. First, choose between beef, chicken, turkey, veggie and the “market selection” patty – bison when I was there – in either 1/3, 2/3 or 1lb size. Then, select your cheese, anything from my personal favorite Tillamook cheddar to brie, or feta. Next, toppings and sauce options galore! Pick the usual lettuce, tomato and onion or spice it up with chili, guacamole, artichokes and fried eggs. I loved the chipotle aioli and the sweet BBQ sauce. Finally pick a bun, maybe an English Muffin if you’re feeling adventurous. If you want to forgo the bun, try the Burger in a Bowl salads with the same ingredients.

Beef patty with lettuce, onions, blue cheese and hot wing sauce

Beef patty with Tillamook cheddar cheese, bacon, tomato, guacamole and BBQ sauce

Beef patty with Tillamook cheddar cheese, grilled onions, avocado and bacon

The Fries: I’ve noticed that a lot of restaurants make a great burger, but neglect to put the same effort forth with the fries. Not so at The Counter. In addition to their regular thin-cut fries, they offer fried dill pickle chips, crispy onion strings, Tillamook cheddar cheese fries, chili cheese fries, Parmesan fries and sweet potato fries. They also offer the option to get a “Fifty-Fifty” basket mixing two of any of the above options. I tried the regular fries and the onion strings, both of which were thin-cut and crispy without being too greasy. Ask for some extra sauces on the side!

The “Fifty-Fifty” with regular fries and onion strings, served with Ranch and BBQ sauces

The Ambiance: The Counter in Pasadena has a California cool vibe, with graffitied skateboards on the wall and crisp silver accents on the bar and tables. They also have a full bar and spiked milkshakes if you need a lunchtime pick me up. The entire staff was friendly, helpful and eager to explain the way the process works. With a 1/3 lb burger starting at $8.75 (including cheese and 4 toppings), I consider it well-priced. My one caveat is this: if you really wanted to go wild with toppings, it could rapidly become expensive.

The menu at The Counter comes on a clipboard for complete customization

The Counter’s bright interior is informal, with clean splashes of color

For more information, check out The Counter’s Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

3 ½ out of 5 burgers

“Slider’s Diner is now offering sliders!” the sign at the register proclaimed. Um….weren’t they always? Apparently not. Misleading name aside, Slider’s burgers of any size are tasty and customizable. If you’re not put off by the Tenderloiny location (you can also find them in the Castro), you’re in for a filling dinner. One of my favorite things about Slider’s Diner is their condiment bar, allowing you to truly make your own burger just the way you like it.

Slider’s shines with an unmistakable neon sign

The Burger: You can watch the Slider’s chefs cook up your burger just the way you like it. The patty is juicy and the cheese nicely melted. In addition to their new sliders, they offer a handful of specialty burgers, including the avocado cheeseburger (below) and the chili cheeseburger. Nothing earth shatteringly creative, but a solid burger staple. Extra points for the nicely toasted bun [insert immature joke here]. We tried out both the sliders and the traditional burger, and I would say the full-size is slightly better. Maybe they still have to perfect the mini-burgers or perhaps consider a name change.

Sliders: beef patties with cheese and regular french fries

Avocado Cheeseburger: beef patty with (surprise!) cheese and avocado, served with onion rings

The Fries: Both the regular fries and the onion rings were delicious without being overly greasy. The onion rings were particularly tasty, crispy and flavorful. There’s also an option for cheese and chili cheese fries. Feel free to make use of the condiment bar on the side dishes, as well for an added kick. Everything at Slider’s is served pretty plain, allowing you to make it your own. 

The Ambiance: Slider’s has a sleek and simple interior with black tile and exposed silver surfaces. It’s not fancy, but it’s clean and practical. All the burgers are under $8, with sides $2 – $4. There’s no table service, but you don’t need that since you’ll probably want to spend a fair amount of time at the condiment bar.

The self-service condiment smorgasbord

Slider’s sleek black and silver interior

For more information, find Slider’s on Yelp or Google Maps.

3 out of 5 burgers

The cherry red awning reads “Bill’s Place, Home of the Hamburger.” I don’t know if Bill can take credit for the hamburger itself, but his place is definitely a cultural gem of the Richmond. Don’t expect anything fancy, but if you go in with an open mind I think you’ll find that Bill’s is the anti-foodie burger. It’s not pretending to be anything it’s not and I appreciate that. On the other hand, it’s a little kitschy and that’s not for everyone. People either tend to love or hate this place, but it’s worth going down and checking it out for yourself.

Bill’s iconic red awning – there’s a lot going on here

The Burger: Bill’s boasts 27 “celebrity burgers” named after various SF personas, landmarks and sports teams. The burgers are all 1/3 lb beef patties cooked to order, extra greasy. Some of their more interesting offerings are the “Jack Hansesn Burger,” named for the famed bay area news media figure, a cheddar cheeseburger on an English muffin and the “Carol Doda Burger” in honor of Carol Doda, who introduced topless dancing to the city and to California, two 1/3lb hamburger patties served side by side and topped with an olive. These intriguing options are sure to be greasy and delicious, but not necessarily the healthiest burger choice.

Giants’ Burger – beef patty with cheddar cheese, bacon and avocado

Paul Kantner Burger – beef patty with American cheese, grilled onions and thousand island dressing

The Fries:  Bill’s fries are very potatoey. If you like In-N-Out’s fries, you’ll definitely like the potato flavor here. The fries are smushy (as opposed to crispy) and there’s not a lot of seasoning. Toward the end of the meal, they started to get a little soggy, but just like everything else at Bill’s, they are authentic.

The Ambiance: It’s probably clear at this point that I wouldn’t suggest Bill’s place if you’re hosting the Queen of England. It’s informal and kind of a throwback, but it’s a lot of fun. The service, if not always friendly, is diner-hilarious and prices very reasonable – $6.77 for the basic burger and fries!

Bill’s no frills interior has an old-time feel and gritty clientele

For more information, check out the Bill’s Place Website, or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

3 out of 5 burgers

The Brickhouse Cafe and Saloon is a bustling SOMA lunch spot, a great place to watch the Giants march to the World Series Championship, and home of the “Big Ass Burger.” All of which made it a shoe-in for my first review after a stupidly long burger hiatus. Brickhouse has solid menu offerings and large portions, a re-purposed barn decor and a full bar for those of you who share my love of “drunk lunch.” While it’s not the best burger I’ve ever had, it’s filling and consistently satisfies burger hunger pains.

Brickhouse’s exterior in sunny SOMA

The Burger: Brickhouse’s menu boasts seven signature burgers including the “Hawaiian” with canadian bacon, swiss cheese, grilled pineapple, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle and the “Blue Moon” with blue cheese, spicy buffalo sauce and romaine lettuce. You can also order the “Big Ass Burger” which is a large beef patty with your choice of extra toppings for a customized experience. Whatever you order, I can guarantee Brickhouse’s diner-esque portions will be large and filling. It’s greasy and cheesy but I still can’t decide if it’s in a good way or not. 

The SOMA burger: beef patty with swiss cheese, sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms  and avocado

The Western BBQ Burger: beef patty with onion ring, cheddar cheese and BBQ sauce

The Fries: The Brickhouse fries are thin-cut and crispy. You can also substitute garlic fries or onion rings for an extra $1. Like the burgers, the fries are filling and yet unremarkable. Maybe next time I’ll go for some garlic to (literally) spice things up a bit.

The Ambiance: Brickhouse has a great vibe. The exterior and interior brick makes it lives up to its name, and the tin siding wall and exposed beams give it an element of the outdoors (without ever having to worry about the San Francisco fog!) The prices are pretty standard at $10-$12, including a side of fries. Even during the lunch rush, our food was brought out within ten minutes.

The Brickhouse has a vintage country vibe with exposed beams and a full bar!

For more information, visit the Brickhouse Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

4 out of 5 burgers

My Grandma came to visit me a couple of weeks ago and graciously agreed to make a burger review guest appearance! We went to Burger Bar in Union Square, the more causal counterpart to chef Hubert Keller’s Fleur de Lys. I was half-expecting it to be ghastly tourist trap similar to the Cheesecake Factory, but was pleasantly surprised by the high-quality, unpretentious burgers. We had a great table by the window which allowed us to experience Union Square without having to deal with the crowds.

Burger Bar’s sign gets a lot of eye traffic on the Macy’s in Union Square

The Burger: Burger Bar has ten “Chef’s Burgers” that all look amazing (especially the Rossini, – kobe beef, sauteed foie gras and shaved truffle burger – a mere $60). They also offer a make your own option with toppings galore. We opted to make our own, but I’d definitely go back and try one of Keller’s signature items. Overall, the ingredients were of a high quality and wide slection, the portions were perfect and I left feeling very satisfied. I was impressed that a menu as extensive as Burger Bar’s is able to maintain a high quality that caters to any taste.

Black Angus Beef patty with cheddar cheese, avocado, onion, lettuce and chipotle aioli

Black Angus Beef patty with lettuce, tomato, pickles and onion

The Fries: Burger Bar’s fries are a separate side item, but you have a wide variety of options. BB offers skinny fries, fat fries, sweet potato fries, zucchini fries, onion rings and even beer battered jalapeno pickles. I had the fat fries, and thought they were delicious! They were served a bit too hot, but once they cooled they were nice and crispy on the outside with a light potato fluff on the inside. They also tasted great dipped in the chipotle aioli from my burger. 

The Ambiance: The restaurant itself was actually more informal than I was expecting based on Chef Keller’s reputation for high-end eateries. The booths have televisions in them, which creates a sports bar vibe. Despite this low-key atmosphere, the food is still pricey. Build your own burgers start at $10, with every topping an additional 50 cents or more, and the average Chef’s Burger is about $20. That being said, in a touristy area like Union Square the quality is unbeatable.

Burger Bar’s interior is not quite as upscale as Chef Keller’s other restaurants, but it does boast a full bar

Be sure to ask for a seat by the window to take in the view!

For more information, check out the Burger Bar Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

4 out of 5 burgers

I really struggled with whether to categorize this post as an “on the road” entry or not. Although Smart Alec’s is in Berkeley and not SF, as a Cal grad, it still feels like home. Two weekends ago I was back in berks for the home opener football game and stopped back at one of my old favorites, Smart Alec’s. In addition to being located right across the street from my Freshman dorm, Smart Alec’s gives students free fries if they bring in an assignment for which they received an A+. Smart Alec’s describes itself as providing “healthier alternatives to regular fast food,” and it’s the closest to a guilt-free burger that doesn’t taste like a vegetable garden (ie it’s not The Plant). In true Berkeley fashion, Smart Alec’s is fresh and healthy, but still delicious.

Smart Alec’s corner location on Telegraph and Durant, close to the tie-dye street vendors for all your hippie needs

The Burger: Smart Alec’s does a create your own burger system, offering the “Big A” veggie patty, the “Big B” beef patty the “Basil Chicken” patty and an avocado and gourmet burger with your choice of patty. Once you’ve selected your patty, you can top it will all the traditional toppings and condiments. Smart Alec’s isn’t about specialty burgers or toppings, but it does do a great job using quality ingredients and fresh meat for a delicious (and healthy!) meal. All Smart Alec’s burgers are served on whole wheat buns. They also have great salads and soups if for some reason burgers aren’t your thing (although you should probably stop reading my blog).

The “Big B Burger” – beef patty with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato and pickle on a whole wheat bun

The “Avocado Burger” – beef patty with jack cheese, avocado, lettuce and onion on a whole wheat bun

The “Basil Chicken Burger” – chicken breast with lettuce tomato and onion on a whole wheat bun

The Fries: No trip to Smart Alec’s would be complete without an order of fries. I personally recommend the chili cheese fries, but they also offer regular and garlic fries. As pictured below, they are big enough to share. Only Smart Alec’s could make chilli cheese fries seem not only delicious but also made fresh; they come out of the kitchen piping hot and you have to eat them with a fork to grab the extra toppings.

Chili Cheese Fries – air-baked fries topped with chili, cheese and green onions

The Ambiance: Located near Sproul Plaza, Smart Alec’s is frequented by students and has a laid-back atmosphere. It’s not fancy, but it’s a great spot for people watching or grabbing dinner after a football game – go bears! With a burger starting at $3.49, it’s a great deal for those on a college budget or those looking to avoid SF prices. For me, it’s always a nice walk down memory lane.

Smart Alec’s is a Berkeley tradition, voted Best Burger and Fries by the Daily Californian student newspaper!

For more information, check out the Smart Alec’s Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

4 out of 5 burgers

On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I found myself wandering The Strip’s gargantuan hotel mazes in search of one thing: food. Sunday Buffet lines proved treacherous and I began to despair that I would never satisfy my hunger, when suddenly Holsteins appeared like a hamburger mirage in the desert. This funky burger restaurant would only be found in Vegas; it’s a fresh concept with huge portions and a pricey menu designed to entice hungry gamblers. I was impressed by the high quality and creative Sin City burgers Holsteins had to offer and highly recommend you patronize it during your next trip to Las Vegas!

Holstein’s is in the Cosmopolitan Hotel on the Las Vegas Strip

The Burger: Holsteins’ menu offers 15 specialty “Big Buns” which – as pictured below – are enormous. Two favorites are “The Longhorn” (beef patty topped with Texas smoked beef brisket, whiskey BBQ sauce, creamy cole slaw and dill pickle) and “The Rising Sun” (Kobe beef, teriyaki glaze, nori furikake, crispy yam, spicy mayo and tempura avocado). They also offer seven options in “Tiny Buns” sliders if you don’t feel like eating half a cow. One thing that sets Holsteins apart is the high quality of their meat, which makes every patty juicy and flavorful. The presentation is also great, and it’s clear that a lot of thought goes into crafting each burger.

The “Nom Nom” – kobe beef, cheddar cheese, potato chips, thousand island dressing

The “Gold Standard” – dry aged beef sirloin burger with smoked bacon, aged goat cheddar cheese, tomato confit, baby arugula and garlic-chive aioli

The Fries: Holsteins Big Buns come with your choice of shoestring or steak cut fries served in a little silver bucket. Points for cuteness. My shoestring fries were tasty but very salty. Maybe its designed to make you drink more? In true Vegas style, Holsteins has a wide selection of spiked Milkshakes called “Bam-Boozled Shakes” so you can keep the party going and wash down your fries.

The Ambiance: Holsteins is inside the swanky Cosmopolitan Hotel’s food court area, so like most of Vegas it’s windowless and kind of depressing. They combat this with brightly colored cartoon-esque wall panels and an open floor plan. We had to wait thirty minutes for our table, but once seated, the service was incredibly fast. The one downside: with most burgers costing $16 (and the “Billionaire Burger” costing $28!) I wish I had better luck with blackjack before buying my burger.

Holsteins’ graffiti decor puts creates a colorful and edgy atmosphere

For more information, check out the Holsteins Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.

3 out of 5 burgers

Bistro SF Grill is an Eastern European inspired hamburger joint and steak house that serves some adventurous meats with Mediterranean toppings. Having just returned from a trip to Croatia (where, unfortunately, I did not find any hamburgers to review) I can now safely say that I am not a huge fan of Eastern European cuisine. So bear that in mind when you consider that I didn’t love Bistro SF Grill’s hamburger. I was impressed with the unusual patty offerings – they serve  boar, venison, bison, ostrich and even alligator (!) burgers – but I found the dining experience to be a bit disjointed as I don’t think they’ve clearly defined their menu or their style.

Bistro SF Grill shows pride in their unique menu

The Burger:  As I said, for sheer patty options, Bistro SF Grill is the best I’ve seen. If you have adventurous taste buds, this is definitely the burger place for you. Personally, I prefer my burgers with beef patties, so I ordered the traditional “Bistro Burger” and was disappointed in the quality. It was greasy, but not in a good way. It was piled high with toppings, but their flavors didn’t really jive. I also tried some of the “Merguez” lamb burger, which was better in terms of flavor but not what I would consider a true hamburger in the traditional sense.

The “Merguez” burger – Mendocino spicy Kosher lamb mixed with Harrisa (oregano, garlic, sweet paprika, spearmint, sea salt, crushed black pepper and cayenne pepper) topped with sauteed red bell peppers , caramelized onions and  lemon cucumber yogurt sauce

The “Bistro” burger – Kobe beef ,crispy bacon, cheddar and pepper jack cheese , caramelized onions and sauteed bell peppers

The Fries: The fries were actually a highlight of Bistro SF. We ordered both onion rings and curly fries (which resemble each other, as pictured below) and I found them to be deep-fried deliciousness, albeit a tad greasy. The onion rings were particularly good, and I love their thick-cut style. In true European style, the ketchup was in a glass jar with a spoon.

Crispy onion rings

Curly fries

The Ambiance: Bistro SF Grill just hasn’t found their vibe yet. The bright red walls and big screen TV were a little too much for me. It’s like they can’t decide if they want to be a high-brow European culinary safari or a greasy burger spot. The service was friendly, yet slow and with most burgers costing between $12 – $16 with fries extra, it wasn’t a great bang for the buck. But where else can you get an alligator burger?

The somewhat kitschy interior couldn’t decide if it was more sports bar or restaurant

For more information, check out the Bistro SF Grill Website or find them on Yelp and Google Maps.