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25 Degrees Still One of My Favorites

// June 30th, 2009 // Comments // Restaurants, Reviews

I’ve been saying for a long time that my favorite burger in LA is at 25 Degrees, the slightly pricey but always delicious and darkly lit joint in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. The other night, I made the trip again, braving the crowds lined up on Hollywood Blvd. to see Michael Jackson’s star on the Walk of Fame, and it didn’t disappoint.

The tricky little secret at 25 Degrees is that, while the menu features a variety of build-your-own-burger toppings, the pre-designed options are significantly cheaper – and come with fries or onion rings. Let’s compare: the “Number Three” that I ordered, features mezzo secco jack cheese, green chili, chipotle, and avocado, with fries, and costs $12. If I were to order that burger as a made-to-order creation, it would be $9 for the burger, $1.50 for the cheese, and $1 each for the green chili, chipotle, and avocado, plus $4 for the fries, a total of $17.50. Of course, the downside is that there are only three such combination burgers, and part of the fun is ordering up strange concoctions.

In any case, this was yet another tasty burger. The meat was cooked exactly how I like it, rare. And my favorite part of 25 Degrees is without a doubt the bun, crispy on the outside with just a hint of butter, and an airy and light interior that squishes nicely into place. The toppings weren’t my favorite, but all the ingredients were quality. I could have used a little more spice, which I assumed the chipotle would add. I also recommend the Guinness milkshake, which has a nice chocolatey flavor without overpowering the Guinness.

As always, a successful trip to one of my favorite Hollywood spots. Go early, it fills up quickly, and they don’t take reservations. Also, try to avoid going on the day after Michael Jackson dies.

Burger King Ad is, um, Suggestive

// June 24th, 2009 // Comments // Miscellany

I’m still working on an epic recap of the Hambur.gr trip to Five Guys last week, but in the meantime I thought I’d share one of the most disturbing concepts in burger design (and advertising design) that I’ve come across in a very long time.

Via Agent M Loves Tacos.

5 Guys: A Review that is Also a Preview

// June 17th, 2009 // Comments // Reviews, Uncategorized

A few weeks ago, I found myself back on the East Coast and in close proximity to a 5 Guys franchise. I’m an enormous 5 Guys fan: without exaggeration, I can tell you that I picked a apartment once predominantly because of its proximity to one of the original 5 Guys locations.

I first discovered 5 Guys by accident in my old home town of Washington, DC, and it was essentially love at first bite. The burger is juicy without being too greasy; the toppings are varied, excellent, and free; and the never-frozen meat supports the fact that they (like many other fast-food joints) only serve it well done. The patties are generous–even the “Little Burger” has two patties, with the regular size getting a third. I know that some purists on this blog don’t care about the sides, but the fries at 5 Guys are simply divine: big cuts of potato, the potato’s origins clearly marked on the shop wall (”Today’s potatoes are from: Idaho Falls, Idaho”), fried in 100% peanut oil, and served in ridiculous quantities regardless of what size is ordered. Although I rarely have occasion to order them, the 5 Guys hotdogs are quite good as well, and their breakfast sandwich–served, I believe, only at the Dulles Airport location–are spectacular.

Here’s my burger, as seen from my cell-phone camera:

Ordered, as I always do, all the way (i.e. with all the toppings listed with asterisks here). You get one of those, you share an order of fries with a friend, and you won’t even need to chow down on the free roasted peanuts provided at most locations (if you’ve got severe peanut allergies, you are out of luck!).

It turns out that I picked a good weekend for my visit. A few hours earlier and about a thousand miles away, 5 Guys had a slightly more influential customer than your humble correspondent:

It looks like my colleagues and I will be heading to one of the two Los Angeles-area 5 Guys locations this Friday, so stay tuned for another, possibly less biased review. In the meantime, I’ll prepare to defend my assertion that 5 Guys is dramatically better than In-N-Out.

Sanrio Burger is Cute and Creepy

// June 17th, 2009 // Comments // Miscellany

My sister is an unusually creative person, and probably the only human being with a more dry sense of humor than me. This morning she left this little beauty hanging on the front door as I left for work. Awesome.

From Sanrio, the company that brought you characters like Hello Kitty, comes plush (and zippered!) hamburger guy. Licking his lips? Why yes, I have that same reaction.

Review: BoHo in Hollywood: a newcomer makes a worthy showing

// June 13th, 2009 // Comments // Restaurants, Reviews

I wasn’t really sure what all the fuss was about: how could a restaurant really call itself Hollywood’s first and only gastropub? It’s a bit of a lofty claim, but then Hollywood is a notoriously difficult place to find a decent beer, let alone a perfect burger. I, for one, though, applaud this place for filling a sadly vacant space in Hollywood, nestled right next to the Arclight Cinemas (the world’s most incredible theater complex), in the space where failed steak joint Charcoal used to be. Also, does anyone really think we need another mediocre sushi restaurant? Yeah, I’m talking to you, Club Sushi.

The first thing you’ll notice when you enter BoHo is the incredibly welcoming atmosphere, a sort of a cross between your dad’s study (no, not your father’s office) and the Elk’s club. Big cushy chairs, mismatched and comfy, with dark rustic wood decor. You might also notice the enormous row of beer taps, all craft-brews, and mostly local to California and the west coast.

Of course you’ll also notice the tempting menu options. A small plates list with twist: fried oyster po’ boy sliders, and pork belly with maple jus, just to name a couple options. You’ll probably also pass a few diners chowing through the “Pile O’ Ribs,” a dish that lives up to its name.

But then there’s the burger. The menu reads:

BoHo Burger Delux, cambazola cheese, caramelized onion, heirloom tomato, dill pickles, Thousand Island, fries, aioli

I don’t know about you, but I was caught off guard here: Thousand Island? This isn’t In-N-Out (oh, wait, that’s special sauce, sorry). And why would the burger have Thousand Island and aioli? Confused, I decided to just go with the flow, order it up, and see what happens.

What happened next was slightly serendipitous while being mildly disturbing. My burger did not come as described. In fact, I’m pretty sure not a tomato was in sight. Nor was there any Thousand Island. The aioli was served on the side, along with a homemade ketchup. And there was lettuce on the burger. I admit I don’t like at all when the food I receive is significantly different from what I order, but in this instance, it actually worked out for the best.

The meat is not your typical burger patty; it crumbles. This wasn’t a bad thing, necessarily, since it nicely offset the thick and sturdy bun, which was sadly a little stale. The downside to the crumble is that, as Sinosoul pointed out, there’s no charred crust, the tasty goodness that makes a rare burger a rare treat. Similarly, the burger seemed under-seasoned, although the meaty flavor came through well. I wasn’t especially happy with the pickles, but the lettuce and creamy cheese balanced this burger well.

In all, I’d say the dining experience at BoHo is better than the burger, but it’s a worthy entrant to the Hollywood scene. It’s not cheap in the slightest – weighing in at a whopping 15 dollars with fries – but then, it’s Hollywood. Heck, I’d go back just for the beer list.

BoHo
Website: http://www.bohorestaurant.com/
6372 W. Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90028
323.465.8500