First Stop

Sunday, November 6, 2005 marked the first night of our epic exploration, and our first stop was Burgermeister in Cole Valley.

Voted #1 on several burger lists (including The Guardian and SF Weekly), Burgermeister has given itself the slogan "A Taste You Can Trust" - and yes, I would fall backwards into this establishment's arms. The restaurant boasts a laid-back atmosphere, friendly and prompt service, and wouldn't you know it, free refills. While being a tad upscale for the average consumer, Burgermeister offers plenty of salads, sandwiches, milkshakes, and even soups for one's diverse palette, but we were there to see if we could really Trust the Taste of this burger.

Assisted by my lovely girlfriend Corinne, the four of us contemplated the many choices on the menu. While Joe and Corinne went with the traditional Cheeseburger, I went with a Bacon Chee, and Jon decided to wow us all by going with the Double Cheeseburger, weighing in at a gastronomical 1 lb.

The Patty (8)

This establishment takes pride in the fact that they only use the finest organic beef from Niman Ranch, located in Marin County. The beef doesn't include hormones, filler, or the like... this makes for one fine patty. It was seasoned properly so that it didn't need any kind of special sauces, and didn't shrivel on the grill. The dishes we got looked like they could've been shot for a magazine (and we'll bring the cameras next time). The only problem is we weren't asked how we liked our burgers cooked, and as a result, everything was made well-done.

The Bun (8)

Well, it had sesame seeds, wasn't greasy, worked alongside the beef, and not against it. If only society could learn from this good bun's example.

Produce (7)

The quality of lettuce was impressive, and I can never refuse a good red onion, however our tomatoes were a little greenish, and the pickle was floppy. It didn't take from the flavor of the overall burger, I guess I'm just nitpicking now.

Sides (9)

Another impressive feature of Burgermeister - sides come with your order, and it's a good thing, because these burgers are a little pricey. You get a choice of fries, salad or cole slaw. The fries were excellent; not too dry or salty, the perfect accompaniment to a good burger. The cole slaw was a tad bland, but considering I don't really know what's in it, I'm not really going to hold that against them.

Atmosphere/Service (9)

Call me crazy, but to me, atmosphere is more than half of a dining experience. In other words, if the food's bad, but they got a good jukebox, I wouldn't be that upset. Luckily, Burgermeister has the best of both worlds. Fast n' friendly service, good music, fun decor... all in all, Burgermeister is a great place for a night out, but because of the price, you better make it once in awhile.