Our first burger of Burger Crew Does San Francisco!
Burger crew meeting called to order on Friday, June 29, 2019 at 8pm.
Members in attendance: Angela d., Sumana S., Trevor Y., Dennis, K., Wayne T., and Innie C.
Guests: Christian Y. and Isabel G.
I. Ordering
There’s only one burger – the Best Damn Grass Fed Cheeseburger – Quarter pound grass fed beef patty with lettuce, onion, Gruyere cheese, and secret sauce on a buttery, griddled sesame & scallion bun.
DK & Isa and Innie & Chris each split a single ($9.95) and added bacon (+$2).
Trev & I, Wayne, and Sumana got a double ($14.25). Trev and I added the bacon, but Wayne and Sumana got theirs as specified in the menu.
Innie & Chris also ordered the brisket fries – brisket & cheese melted together over crispy fries topped with salsa verde, pickled onions & house white sauce ($11.50). DK & Isa got the spicy fries – chimichurri sauce & lemon parsley aioli ($5.50).
II. The burgers
We had mixed reviews on this burger. I think it had to do with the doneness of the burger that people got as well as single vs. double. Trev & I, Wayne, and Sumana all got burgers that were done medium rare. They had good chew. The meat to bun ratio was perfect with the double patty. The meat was nicely seasoned and tasted beefier than expected (given it was grass fed). The bun was nice. You know I love me some sesame seeds! It held up to the juicy patty, but the burger was very slippery and difficult to eat. Sumana ended up taking out her lettuce because of it. The bacon was chewy and didn’t really add anything to the burger (I wouldn’t suggest adding the $2 for the bacon). I thought the Gruyere was excellent!
So Innie & Chris and DK & Isa had a single burger and both of their burgers were overdone. They came out well done instead of medium rare (which is supposedly their standard). Because the burger was overdone, they didn’t really taste any beefy flavor. The entire burger was really dry (bun and patty included). DK and Innie both said the burger had the texture of meatloaf. The chewy bacon was the highlight for DK (that’s how bad the burger was).
III. The Fries/Sides
Spicy fries were not spicy, but they were pretty delicious. Maybe they should call them chimichurri fries instead. The brisket fries were just okay, but as it cooled, all the sauce and stuff congealed. The brisket was pretty good, but we were not wowed.
IV. Miscellaneous
As for most places in the city, there is crappy parking. There was a very long line to order. Once you place your order, you find your own table. There is outdoor seating only, and tables are communal. It was cold AF. The heaters only point at half the tables and the other half is SOL. We got there at 7:45pm. The first burger came out at 8:41pm. The last burger came out at 8:50pm. So be prepared to wait for your food. They have utensils, napkins, and sauces at the table (mustard & vinegar, house white, bbq, & ketchup).
V. Value
I ask the members how much they would pay for the burger they ate. We would pay anywhere between $3 to $12 for these burgers, which means they’re a little more expensive than we would expect to pay (but I think that’s the San Francisco tax.
VI. The verdict
We were split on this burger. I think you need to go double patty and make sure you get it medium rare (send it back if it’s overdone) The ratings: 1.7, 2.5, 3.2, 3.7, 3.7, and 3.8.
Next burger crew meeting: however long it took us to walk to Black Sands (1/2 mile away). Location: Black Sands Brewery, San Francisco, CA.
