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Quickie Review: O! Burger in WeHo, a complete disaster

// September 12th, 2009 // Comments // Restaurants, Reviews, rants

I read The Omnivore’s Dilemma. I loved it. It made me reconsider the food I eat every day. It made me second guess the path to destruction that seemed like such a good idea for the American farmer (I grew up in farmland). And it made me consider the difference in taste between naturally grown food and the corn-fed stuff that we typically eat every day. I’ll be the first to tell you that grass-fed beef tastes a hell of a lot better than corn-fed.

O! Burger is the exception.

There simply was nothing exciting, flavorful, or otherwise extraordinary about this burger. The beef patty was miniscule – absolutely reprehensible given the hefty price tag. I’m willing to pay $10.99 for a burger and fries, but it better be good. The napa cabbage, tomatoes, sweet pickles, chipotle ketchup and ranch were pretty good….. but I ordered a burger, not a salad.

OK, I understand the appeal of natural foods goes waaaay beyond just flavor. It’s an environmental issue, a political issue, etc. But for me, it’s simply inexcusable if it doesn’t taste good. Sorry O! Burger, but you better up the ante. Your organic sandwiches just don’t cut it.

My Favorite Burger in the Universe, Revisited

// August 1st, 2009 // Comments // Restaurants

It shouldn’t be much surprise, really, that my favorite burger in the universe is the Ronie Burger at the Miracle of Science Bar and Grill in Cambridge, Massachusetts. It was, after all, the very first thing I ever posted to this blog.

I recently made a pilgrimage back to my former Boston home, not for the burger, but for a reunion of my old college band, the Supercosmic Transcendentaldam Orchestra. We haven’t played together in around 2 years, but I figured it was a perfect time to use up those frequent flyer miles. Oh, and I may as well indulge in a little Ronie Burger while I’m at it…

The Ronie burger is a hand-formed beef patty mixed with finely chopped jalapeno, and topped with pepper-jack cheese, on a home-made bun that I still have a difficult time describing.  It’s not quite white bread, but it’s close, and it is ultimately what makes this burger stand out among the crowd.  I’ve never had a Ronie burger cooked wrong, and that is something that cannot be overstated.  Consistency is an extremely difficult thing in a burger joint, but the Miracle of Science has never, ever, let me down.  And I’ve probably eaten at least 100 of these.

I won’t get too involved here, as I’ve written about the Ronie before, but let me just say it one more time: if you are ever in the vicinity of the MIT campus, do yourself a favor and make a bee-line for the MOSBAG.  You won’t regret it.  Oh, and have yourself a Brooklyn Lager, the perfect pairing if you ask me.

Burger Dual Mirrors Rapper Politics

// July 22nd, 2009 // Comments // rants

Burger Bout via Squid Ink

In my best Auto-Tone enhanced voice…

If my research is correct there’s a burger war out there people!  No, not in the streets of Fallujah or the glorious nation of Kazakhstan, but right here in our very own backyard (the notoriously rough burger corridors of West Los Angeles).

I just read this burger breaking news on LA Weekly’s Squid Ink which highlights The Foundry’s call for the Father’s Office’s head. Signs declaring burger war were written in blood-red ketchup and posted on the doors of both FO locations last night.

Burger Bout via Squid Ink 2

Reading over this burger on burger violence coincides perfectly with the rapper on rapper warfare I heard about just this morning on NPR. Essentially, the piece contends that new rappers to the game often go after well established rappers in an effort to claim fame.

I believe that the guy on the far right is eating a burger

Although I’ve been due for a visit for way too long – I’ve never had the Foundry burger (and as I’ve mentioned before the Father’s Office is a highly controversial burger here at Hambur.gr) but I can tell you that Mr. Greenspan (the Foundry’s owner/chef) better not be dropping any “Mission Accomplished” banners prematurely.

Love it.

p.s. I’m on a boat!

The Burger Register: L.A.’s Twenty-Five Most Notable Burgers

// July 17th, 2009 // Comments // Roundups

The Burger Register: L.A.'s Twenty-Five Most Notable Burgers via Grub Street-LA

While certainly not a newcomer to the restaurant blogging scene, Grubstreet did just enter the LA market and published this somewhat controversial slideshow of LA’s best burgers last week. I love going through all of the comments and reading the furor behind the obvious lack of perennial LA favorite: Father’s Office (an extremely controversial burger here at Hambur.gr as well).

In-N-Out Burger: Sticks to Basics, Finds Success

// July 15th, 2009 // Comments // Uncategorized

Great piece on NPR about BusinessWeek reporter Stacy Perman’s new book, In-N-Out Burger: A Behind-the-Counter Look at the Fast-Food Chain That Breaks all the Rules. I guess if I you don’t already know, I am a big fan. Cannot get better for a fast food burger. And I get a thrill each time I order from the Secret Menu!

You can buy the book here.

*thanks to UnkleDL for the head up on the Polarize app for iPhone.