RECON: MR. BARTLEY'S BURGERS

Cambridge, MA


Sadly, Cojo went back to California before I did, but Murph and I carried on and went to Mr. Bartley's.  Bartley's has been a part of Cambridge for around 50 years.  The restaurant has family style seating and the walls look like a frat house. It's chaos, and all in good fun. If you know me, you know I don't like strangers, but Murph loves to talk to strangers and she struck up a conversation with the father and son duo seated uncomfortably close to us. (She's so brave!) All their burgers are named after pop culture phenomenons and politicians. I chose the Joe Biden burger, and Murph went with the Bill Clinton. Joe Biden comes with American cheese, bacon and BBQ sauce; Bill comes with BBQ sauce and cheddar cheese. (There's a sex joke in there somewhere...)

Murph got sweet potato fries and I got onion rings so we could mix and match. They didn't provide anything but ketchup, and we all know a proper dipping sauce is key or I'm not interested, so our waitress brought out a blue cheese dressing which was the perfect companion for the fried treasures. She did warn me this dipping sauce would cost extra- Bartley's is a little pricier than Flat Patties, but I think you're paying for the name and heritage as well. The sides come piled next to the burgers, the burgs are probably 3-5 inches high, and they stack the sides as high, if not higher. It is 100% too much food.

It was delicious: rich, salty, filling.  We were starving, my blood sugar was super low and we probably waited 30-40 minutes for the burgs to come out, but we scarfed them down in half that time.  We were so gung-ho at first and then your brain tells you you're full, but you keep eating because its tasty, and then your brain threatens you, "If you eat one more bite I will make you puke." And your tongue is like, "Fuck you, Brain." It's a bitter battle. Your stomach is the real victim, it doesn't have a voice.  

If you go to Boston, or if you're an Asian over-achieving tourist checking out Harvard, don't miss Mr. Bartley's.  You would be doing your tongue a disservice to skip the politically charged fare.

Recon: THE GOLDEN STATE

Los Angeles, CA

Anything that celebrates the great state of California is likely to grab my attention.

I popped over to The Golden State a couple weeks ago with my friend Cojo.  Nestled into the Canter’s Deli strip of Fairfax, you might never see it if you weren’t looking. The interior is casual and neat, kind of a modern, industrial look.  A World Cup game was raging on the TV and more than a few patrons had their eyes glued to it.  I asked about the Beer Float (obviously) but decided against it when I learned it was made with Old Rasputin beer, which is an extremely dark beer.  Guinness is too strong for me so I knew I had no chance, but if you like dark beer, do it. 

I went with the Minted Lemonade, which was tasty- not too sweet- and the mint was a nice touch.  I ordered The Burger, which consists of Harris Ranch beef, Fiscalini Farms cheddar, glazed applewood smoked bacon, arugula, housemade aioli and ketchup.  This is something I think we’ve all been noticing a lot more lately, restaurants marketing their ingredients.  I do like the idea that you know where you food comes from,  but I’m not enough of a foodie to know whether or not Harris Ranch or Fiscalini Farms are fancy, high quality establishments.  I guess the answer’s in the taste? 

There’s a choice of sides, but I decided to go as American as possible and chose the potato salad- it was excellent.  It was perfectly American with distinct flavors of dill, egg and parsley.  The Burger was high quality meat and very soft, juicy but not messy.  It was well seasoned and the bacon added a good hint of salt.  The cheddar tasted like cheddar to me. The bun was toasted lightly and the arugula was a nice touch.  The sweetness in the bun contrasted well with the meat and I definitely ate the entire burger, but could not finish the potato salad to save my life.  It wasn’t scoop of ice cream size, it was softball size.

Cojo did The Burger without the bun and opted for sweet potato wedges.  They were thick cut, with a crispy char on the outside and a super soft, almost pureed, inside.  Very different from any other sweet potato fries I’ve had.  They have hot dogs and salads as well and I think I might get a hot dog next time.  They also do coke and root beer floats, which could make a tasty treat on a hot summer day (even though we don’t seem to be having any hot days this evil summer.)

The service was great; everyone was extremely friendly and informative.  They have a framed California flag over their small bar and I kind of wanted to steal it and take it home with me.  Patrons were mostly young.  The area is kind of hipster, what with the vintage shopping and gorgeous RVCA store up the street. I'm neutral. The Golden State was good, but being a Westsider, would I drive all the way over there just for their burger?  Probably not.  If I was in the area, maybe at the Fairfax Flea Market, and wanted to grab a bite with a friend, I’d definitely suggest it.  If I were having a party and needed potato salad, would I order a massive amount?  Absolutely.   I think you get the idea…

Recon: GOTT'S ROADSIDE DINER

San Francisco, CA

"Don't let your burger be lonely."

Over Memorial Day weekend I took a little journey up to Northern California with one of my best friends, to visit one of my best friends.  We spent a day in San Francisco, perusing the Ferry Building and the surrounding farmers market and arts/crafts/jewelry fair going on across the street.  When it came time for lunch we got in line at Gott’s Roadside Diner and made some very tough decisions.  Elizabeth and I shared a cheeseburger. Beverly opted for the Ahi burger and Johanna had the cobb salad. We ordered the garlic fries and the sweet potato fries, and Elizabeth snuck in a chocolate milkshake.  While they had diet cokes, I opted for my DC/rootbeer, and watched as the cashier actually managed to punch in a “half & half” into the computer.

The place was super packed and it took a bit for our numbers to be called, but when the burger came out wrapped in paper and piping hot, I knew we waited for a reason. It was full of flavor and stacked well. They served it on an egg bun that provided a sweet contrast to the meat, which definitely had some heat in it. It was juicy and flavorful and I definitely ate every last bite. The menu had plenty of other interesting options, including a bleu cheese burger and a bacon one. (I know, its like the first time ever I didn't order the bacon burg!) I would definitely mix it up next time. Salad had fresh quality ingredients, but I would have liked a stronger dressing; it seemed watered down.  Beverly’s ahi burger was excellent, she devoured the whole thing.  

The fries were exquisite; a bigger part of the meal than I expected. The garlic fries were strong- if you don’t like garlic don’t even look at them. If you like garlic, order them immediately. The sweet potato fries were even more interesting: they had some chili powder concoction on them which kicked up their flavor value and balanced out the sweetness of the potato itself. They were my favorite sweet potato fries that I have had anywhere, ever. Ding Ding Ding! I may have just declared a “best!”  Don't get too excited, the cucumber ranch served with the sweet potato fries was way too tangy/cucumber-y for me. I can see where they were trying to go with it- to meet the spice of the fry with the tang of the dressing-but maybe hold back on the cucumber and add some dill. 

The chocolate shake was a perfect finish to the meal. It was rich and creamy and satisfying. They have the usual sodas and a small array of beers as well.  My posse is addicted to Diet Coke, so I’m afraid we didn’t branch out much here.  Ketchup, mustard, salt and pepper are available at mini condiment stands on either end of the restaurant. You can watch the whole grilling process, just on the other side of the counter:

Gott’s was packed with families and friends, and the dining area (indoor and outdoor) is huge.  A friendly staff welcomed us and refilled our drinks while we gabbed over the long lunch. The décor is simple and neat with hints of Americana. Cost was around $15 per person and definitely worth it.  I can’t wait to return and try something else!

Recon: GOOD STUFF

Los Angeles, CA


“You are what you eat, so eat good stuff!”

Samantha and I ducked out of the office at lunch to pay a visit to Good Stuff, a locals only lunch spot on Pico.  Samantha went healthy on me and ordered a California wrap with sweet potato fries, but I went straight for the jugular: the avocado bacon cheddar burger with fries and a Diet Coke-Rootbeer mix.   We took our numbered receipts and grabbed a nice table under a skylight. Our orders came up quick and I asked for ranch at the counter to dip my fries in.

My burg was delicious. They use shredded lettuce which I really enjoy, and haven’t yet encountered on my blogging journey.  The bacon was thick cut and crisp, providing great texture and the whole thing was encased in a sweet wheat bun.  It was totally satisfying without making me feel grotesquely full- because obviously I ate the whole thing.  It dripped some juices, but held together nicely and I loved it.  I have to say, Good Stuff is dependable- as evidenced by the bustling lunch crowd.  You know what to expect and they always meet those expectations.  Samantha’s wrap came with salsa and looked picture perfect.

The fries are great.  Golden and crisp with an excellent crunch- the ranch goes great with them, but there’s ketchup on every table for you die-hard ketchup folks. Samantha’s sweet potato fries were crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.  She said they were the best part of her meal (which is what happens when you go healthy.)  Drinks are the usual fountain sodas, Odwalla juices kept in a little fridge and then smoothies for the health-minded.

The staff is efficient and friendly and the line runs right down the center of the joint.   All their oils are trans-fat free, they use angus beef and free-range eggs.  After we ordered we noticed a small specials board tacked up behind the counter which offered a grass-fed lamb and buffalo patty. I considered trying to change my order but the line was so long, there was just no way, so check the specials board before you order!  The place also offers sandwiches and salads but even if I went there with the intention of having a salad, I think I would end up with a burger.  I can’t resist.

The crowd ranged from teenagers to seniors, but a lot of young professionals were clearly on their lunch breaks looking for that mid-day pickup.  We each paid a little less than $11 and it was absolutely worth it.  The walls are painted with murals and one of their slogans is “Fresh and Healthy since 1979,” clearly their thirty-plus years in business has given them a leg up on the competition.