Burger crew meeting called to order on Saturday, July 22, 2018 at 12pm.
Members in attendance: Angela d., Trevor Y., Wayne T., Dennis K., and myself (Innie C.)
Guest: Marty d. (princess of Burger Crew royalty)
I. Ordering
There was only one burger on the menu, the M&G Burger (7-oz Angus ground chuck, caramelized onion, roasted garlic, relish, cheddar cheese, sambal aioli, acar pickles, French fries), which was $15. We were able to cook our patties to order (medium rare or get out). Angela and Trevor shared a burger and elected to get theirs with no cheese. The acar pickles and French fries were served on the side.
II. The Burgers
We all agreed that the burgers were very juicy, with a good sear and texture. The patties were rough grind, thick, and hand-formed**. The crew speculated that because of the juiciness, the fat ratio was probably around 70/30. However, the high fat content didn’t really contribute to a meaty-tasting flavor. We all felt the patties could have benefited from more seasoning as well. Angela/Trevor and Wayne’s burgers were cooked closer to medium rare, as ordered, but Dennis’ and my burger were a solid medium. Wayne felt that his patty was too seared, approaching burnt in some spots.
**Insert inappropriate and indulgent “That’s what she said”
The cheddar cheese was wonderfully melty and gooey, and didn’t distract from the patty. The onions were caramelized and nicely seasoned. The bun, which our server informed us was brioche, was toasted and held together well while we ate. The sambal aioli looked and tasted a lot like thousand island. (As a self-proclaimed spice hound, I was slightly disappointed by the lack of kick that is implied by the mention of sambal.)
Although there were acar pickles included in the menu description, they were not in the actual burger (they were all served as a side). The pickles consisted of cucumber, shallots, radish, and julienned carrots lightly pickled in a slightly sweet and mild vinegar, and were tasty when eaten by themselves. However, eating them with the burger didn’t add the necessary acid, tang, nor flavor that was needed to contrast the fattiness of the meat. A more traditional pickle in the burger construction would have also helped by adding a crunch to an overall uniform texture.
III. The Fries/Sides
The fries were delicious! The thick cut fries were double fried to nice golden color and well-seasoned with course salt. One of the best parts of our meal.
IV. Miscellaneous
The restaurant is a part of a corner strip mall, shared with a Kogi taco place, a pizzeria, and a yoga studio, and the small parking lot gets packed. However, there is another row of additional parking in a lot directly behind the restaurant. The beer selection was limited, but had some good choices available. The staff was attentive, and our waters were refilled regularly. All the burgers took a pretty long time to come out, with Angela/Trevor’s coming out quite some time after the rest of the crew received their burgers. Music selection was good, although the general atmosphere of the place was a little loud. They have a happy hour menu (Monday – Friday 4-7p), that includes the burger ($12 instead of $15) and $2 off drinks.
V. Value
The members were asked how much they would pay for the burger they ordered. We would pay anywhere between $9 to $12, which makes the price for the meal a bit on the high side since it’s regularly priced at $15 (including fries). The happy hour price, however, could make it good deal!
VI. The verdict
Overall, the burger had potential, but some key elements were lacking. The ratings were 4.0, 3.6, 3.3, 3.7, 3.6
Next burger crew meeting: August 12, 2018 at 12p.
Location: Trencher, Echo Park (Innie’s choice)