SF Burgr Blog

So many burgerz so little time

[sfburgr]

PLUM BAR

Hello! How was your weekend? We've been getting fogsick over here and are longing for the lazy sunshine days of summer. Andrew knows I've been particularly bummed out by all the gray so he surprised me with an east bay date. We went to Oakland to check out Plum Bar. This was one of the top 5 burgers on the list and I think we finally agree with this one.  

Andrew

Meat (4.0)- nothing too extravagant, but good flavor.  A little on the small side, but really good.

Condiments (5.0)- I really liked this mix, pickles, some sort of slaw and something resembling Thousand Island dressing.  It was reminiscent of a Big Mac, but about a thousand times better.  I'm also grouping in the fries here.  Crispy, hot, and had some seasoning I have never had on fries before.  Excellent.

Presentation (4.0)- this was actually a legit bar, with a separate restaurant attached under the same name.  Don't make the mistake we did- if you want the burger, go to the bar.  The bar itself only had a few other patrons so we sat down and were served immediately.  You can also get the burger, with fries, a beer, and a shot of Jameson or Fernet for $22.  They call it a "Happy Meal"- awesome.

Overall (4.5)- really good burger (and fries/drinks), cool bar, and right next to Lake Merritt.  This place is definitely worth checking out if you need a nice burger/fries combo and want to get out the city for a bit.

Jordan

Meat (3.5)- This burger was cooked well, thin, and a little on the small side. Still juicy and really flavorful.

Condiments (4.5)- I am trying to get better at eating stuff on my burgers (though I am a meat+cheese+bun purist at heart) but I still can't do pickles. There were a few sauces, some grilled onions and lettuce that were all really fresh and complimented the burger quite well. The bun was also really great, and didn't fall apart. 

Presentation (4.5)- Like Andrew said, we got the Happy Meal, which was an awesome deal and super delicious. The burger/fry combo was the perfect proportion for dinner and we left full but not stuffed. The bar is really cool, and it was so nice to have dinner in the sun.

Overall (4.5)- This was such a fun surprise, and it's always nice to dress up and try something new. Plum Bar (not the restaurant) has a great menu and is a really cool little spot in downtown Oakland right next to Lake Merritt. It was so refreshing to get out of the city for a little bit, and PB is a great date spot. 

Where should we go next?

[sanfranliving]

If someone asks my where I want to get a burger

[sfburgr]

CITIZEN'S BAND

This place was close to where we both work, so we figured we would give it a try:

Andrew

1. Meat (4.0)- despite the fried egg, bacon, and cheese on my burger, I could still taste the rich flavor.  Very moist and juicy.

2. Condiments (4.5)- the aforementioned egg, bacon, and cheese were awesome.  There was also some excellent sauce, not sure what it was, but together all of these made this burger a good one without overpowering the meat.  Also, the bun was fresh and one of the better buns I've tasted on a burger.

3. Presentation (4.0)- the restaurant itself was really casual and quirky.  Good service, and lots of really good looking comfort food like Mac n Cheese and Fried Chicken on the menu.  

4. Overall (4.0)- great burger, good venue.  Would highly highly recommend to anyone in SOMA to checkout.  Definitely going back for some other things on the menu, too.

Jordan

1. Meat (4.0)- I had my burger medium rare (which to me is the only way to eat a cheeseburger) and it was juicy and delicious. 

2. Condiments (4.5)- I had the burger as-is, with blue cheese. The best part about this burger is that it comes with a tomato/olive tapenade and a garlic aioli, and with the inclusion of blue cheese, none of the condiments overpowered one another. The bun was awesome, but I will warn you, this burger is messy! 

3. Presentation (4.0)- French fries were crisp and seasoned, and the overall meal was delicious. I mentioned before, this burger is super messy, so you should definitely be comfortable with your dining partner before ordering this burger. 

4. Overall (4.0)- This was a great dinner. I was full but not stuffed, and the flavors were delicious. We're definitely coming back. 

What is your favorite burger joint in San Francisco? Where should we go next?

[sfburgr]

@itsnotthatserious Tonight!!!

[sfburgr]

MAVEN

After reading that Maven possessed one of the top 5 burgers in San Francisco, we thought it would make a good enough place to start:

Andrew (14.5/20)

Meat (4.0)- pretty good.  My burger was cooked medium.  Still very juicy with enough flavor to be eaten on its own.

Condiments (3.0)- the burger was topped with grilled onions, some sort of aoili, and relished pickles.  Very nice, but nothing too fancy.  The flavors were complimentary but not overpowering or distracting.

Presentation (4.0)- burger looked good when it came out.  Maven itself is a really swanky bar/restaurant in the Lower Haight.  We ended up getting a drink at the bar and waiting around 25 minutes before being seated at the "Chef's Table" where we watched the cooks prepare our food.

Overall (3.5)- the burger was really good, especially for $11, however, top 5?  I don't know.  I'm not seeing it.  This would be a great dinner stop if getting drinks in the Lower Haight, but honestly, it is not absolutely worth the trip out of your way.  Pretty cool spot, I'd recommend it and go again, but its not in my top 5.

Jordan (13.0/20)

Meat (3.0)-  I had my burger medium rare, and it was good, flavorful, but nothing to write home about. 

Condiments (3.0)- I like my burgers plain "No Salad" as Andrew says, but for the purpose of this exercise, and to eat like a grown up I've decided to branch out and eat the burgers as they come off the menu. The "salad" and sauce was good, flavorful, and didn't overpower the burger which I appreciate. I liked the grilled onions the best. 

Presentation (4.0)- I voted this category in, because I think an overall look and feel is important. The fries were crispy and hot, and the burger had a great cheese-meat-bun ratio, hence the 4.0 rating. 

Overall (3.5)- This was a great dinner and a really cool date spot, but top 5 burgers in SF? Hell no. This dinner was good, the drinks were strong and we were too stuffed for dessert, so I'd definitely recommend Maven for dinner or drinks with friends or for a date night, but i'm absolutely sure we can do better. 

[sfburgr]

SF BURGR- Criteria

This blog started as an excuse to eat as many cheeseburgers in this city as we could without seeming completely disgusting or gluttonous.  The idea is simple, we will eat as many of SF's finest burgers, and provide our review.

The criteria is pretty basic.  On a 5 point scale, we will rate each burger on the four following points (highest possible score is 20):

Meat- pretty basic, how does the actual patty taste?  Bland?  Spicy? Charred? Fatty?

Condiments- the accoutrement of the burger, the fixin's.  Was there enough?  Was the flavor overpowering?  Was it too sparse?

Presentation- how did it look?  What was the ambience of the restaurant?  How was the service?  The drinks?

Overall- how was the burger and overall experience?  Would you go back?  Recommend it?

So there it is.  Enjoy!