Who doesn't enjoy a big, juicy burger? It's the epitome of being American. Although scared off temporarily by SuperSize Me and Fast Food Nation, we're back to eating burgers, and no doubt about it, they're oh-so-good. I feel patriotic just eating one.
In LA, we had our fair share of burgers - everything from In 'n' Out, a California drive-thru classic, to The Counter, a retro-mod diner where you can custom-make your own burgers, to Father's Office, the king of gourmet burgers as pronounced by Los Angeles Magazine, and to which we attested and whole-heartedly agreed. Our weekly stand-by, though, was The Hamlet, a Brentwood neighborhood small-chain restaurant that had an upscale lounge/sports-bar/classy diner vibe, relaxing and casual. The burgers were yummy and reliable, and we couldn't get enough of the steak fries. I miss it dearly.
Now transplanted to Silicon Valley, we're on the hunt again for somewhere we can call home. We've taste-tested the burgers at Jeffrey's in Menlo Park, which reminds me a little of Johnny Rocket's in SoCal. You order your food at a counter (long lines, so be prepared), seat yourself in red, retro-mod booths and someone brings out your food. It has a casual family feel - lots of kids around - but kicked up a notch. The food is standard: a burger and pickle, fries in a basket, nothing spectacular, but it wasn't awful either. Honestly, I'd go just for the vibe and to sit down, but I can get just as good a burger if not better at Carl's Junior or In 'n' Out.
On a friend's advice, we tried out his favorite pick for burgers, The Boardwalk. Sorry, we just can't agree on that one. It's a dive bar full of noisy college students and deadbeat dads. You feel like Al Bundy will walk in any moment, and I had my Purell out the whole time. The hot dog and burgers we ordered were shrivelled and soggy, and the fries were soaking in oil. Ewwww.
We have yet to try out the most popular local spots for burgers here - Kirk's and Clarke's, so I'll keep you posted.
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