Burger Joint
Summary
According to Burger Joint's publicity page, their burger was named one of the top 20 in America by GQ magazine. This is an indictment of GQ's taste. To be sure, the Burger Joint burger is composed of good quality beef (sourced from Niman Ranch, just like the Barons' preferred Burgermeister), and they have desirable appurtenances, but they lack proficiency at the grill.
The best counterpoint to Burger Joint is Burgermeister. As mentioned above, they source the same beef, they have approximate price points. A BJ cheesburger with fries will set you back $7.45, while Burgermeister charges $8.29.
A note of caution: This review was written a relatively long time after the last visit to Burger Joint. We will certainly visit again and revise as necessary.
1. The patty (6/10)
Burger Joint's patty would have been great for $3.99, but lacked the flavor, density, and juiciness we would expect from almost $8. This may have to do with their seasoning mix, the amount of salt used, or shortcomings at the grill. Burgermeister's is significantly better.
2. The bun (6/10)
The dryness of the patty was exacerbated by the size and absorbancy of the bun. Too much bread and not enough juice from the patty results in an uncomfortably dry mouth and a difficulty swallowing. Also, the flavor of the bun had nothing to recommend it.
3. Produce (9/10)
Produce was fantastic--definitely on par with the 'Meister. It was fresh and varied.
4. Sauces (7/10)
Standard fare.
5. Sides (8/10)
Burger Joint include fries, which is on par with other good burger places. Fries are the only option, whereas the 'Meister offers a choice of fries, cole slaw, or salad. But who wants cole slaw or salad anyway. No one. The fries were well-cooked. They were crispy and plentiful. However, we take issue with the Joint's decision to use peanut oil instead of other vegetable oils (such as canola) to fry the potatoes. the Joint claims that peanut oil imparts more flavor to the fries. We don't think so. There was something discernably "off" with their flavor. We think this could only be attributed to the peanut oil.
6. Atmosphere/Service (10/10)
Counter staff at BurgerJoint is friendly and enthusiastic about the food. Orders must be placed and then picked up at the counter--there is no table service. At the same time, the quality of service at the counter is excellent. They asked how the burger should be cooked without prompting and engaged in friendly conversation about their cooking techniques. The kitchen and grill are in full view from the counter as well, leaving nothing to the imagination. The retro dining room was comfortable, clean, not overly crowded, and attractive.
7. Honorable Mention
While we did not fall in love the the cheeseburger at the Joint, we believe they deserve honorable mention for their shakes. Made to order with real ice cream, the Joint served the absolute best shake we had had for under $5 (just under... $4.75).
(by Joe)
According to Burger Joint's publicity page, their burger was named one of the top 20 in America by GQ magazine. This is an indictment of GQ's taste. To be sure, the Burger Joint burger is composed of good quality beef (sourced from Niman Ranch, just like the Barons' preferred Burgermeister), and they have desirable appurtenances, but they lack proficiency at the grill.
The best counterpoint to Burger Joint is Burgermeister. As mentioned above, they source the same beef, they have approximate price points. A BJ cheesburger with fries will set you back $7.45, while Burgermeister charges $8.29.
A note of caution: This review was written a relatively long time after the last visit to Burger Joint. We will certainly visit again and revise as necessary.
1. The patty (6/10)
Burger Joint's patty would have been great for $3.99, but lacked the flavor, density, and juiciness we would expect from almost $8. This may have to do with their seasoning mix, the amount of salt used, or shortcomings at the grill. Burgermeister's is significantly better.
2. The bun (6/10)
The dryness of the patty was exacerbated by the size and absorbancy of the bun. Too much bread and not enough juice from the patty results in an uncomfortably dry mouth and a difficulty swallowing. Also, the flavor of the bun had nothing to recommend it.
3. Produce (9/10)
Produce was fantastic--definitely on par with the 'Meister. It was fresh and varied.
4. Sauces (7/10)
Standard fare.
5. Sides (8/10)
Burger Joint include fries, which is on par with other good burger places. Fries are the only option, whereas the 'Meister offers a choice of fries, cole slaw, or salad. But who wants cole slaw or salad anyway. No one. The fries were well-cooked. They were crispy and plentiful. However, we take issue with the Joint's decision to use peanut oil instead of other vegetable oils (such as canola) to fry the potatoes. the Joint claims that peanut oil imparts more flavor to the fries. We don't think so. There was something discernably "off" with their flavor. We think this could only be attributed to the peanut oil.
6. Atmosphere/Service (10/10)
Counter staff at BurgerJoint is friendly and enthusiastic about the food. Orders must be placed and then picked up at the counter--there is no table service. At the same time, the quality of service at the counter is excellent. They asked how the burger should be cooked without prompting and engaged in friendly conversation about their cooking techniques. The kitchen and grill are in full view from the counter as well, leaving nothing to the imagination. The retro dining room was comfortable, clean, not overly crowded, and attractive.
7. Honorable Mention
While we did not fall in love the the cheeseburger at the Joint, we believe they deserve honorable mention for their shakes. Made to order with real ice cream, the Joint served the absolute best shake we had had for under $5 (just under... $4.75).
(by Joe)
posted by Boomtime at 5:15 PM
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