Jack's Prime Burgers & Shakes - San Mateo, CA

Jack’s Prime Burger’s & Shakes in San Mateo, CA came highly recommended by a fellow burger enthusiast. I wasted no time in getting my self to the clean, modern looking place to give a burger a try. Jack himself greeted me at the door and showed me to a wood-tabled booth. I compliment Jack for not going for the faux chrome-and-white-tile 50’s diner look, but rather a more authentic and classy mid-century vibe in the converted shell of the old hubcap store on El Camino Real.

A diminutive young lady with a British accent, like Jack’s, quickly took my order of Jack’s Prime Classic Cheeseburger ($9.00 with bacon added). It also comes with shoestring fries. The fries are normally $2.50 on their own, but there are a whole host of other sides offered including onion rings, sweet potato fries, fried pickles (all $3.95 each) or Irish Nacho Fries ($4.50). My server nicely offered to make my fries a half and half with onion rings. Perusing the menu, I am intrigued to go back and order the Ultimate Bacon Burger with maple bacon mayo and bacon in the burger.

The burger was delivered to my table in less than ten minutes on an impressive plate with fries, onion rings and fixings, which included pickle strips placed artfully in an X, lettuce, tomato slices and onion. The crisp and tasty bacon sat on top of melted American cheese. The bun was puffy white with an X cut in the top. The patty itself is made from 1/3 pound of Meyer Ranch natural Angus Beef. It is not ground on site, but brought to the store and cooked fresh. I found the burger to be cooked perfect medium, juicy and flavorful. The Thousand-island inspired sauce was updated with what I think was a little dill for a nice twist. Among lots of new burger places lately, this the best new burger on the Peninsula since the Counter opened in Palo Alto.

The onion rings were beer battered and crisp with sweet onion in the middle. The first were a little too thick for what I would call shoestring – more about the size of MacDonald’s fries. They were hot and fine, but not as outstanding as the burger.

I will definitely be returning to Jack’s. I liked the vibe as much as the burger.

Burger 4.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 3 Spatulas
Onion Rings 3.5 spatulas

Jack’s Prime Burger’s & Shakes
3723 S. El Camino Real
San Mateo, CA 94403
650-638-1479
www.jacksprime.com

Burger Bar - Macy's San Francisco, CA

The Burger Bar recently opened to much fanfare in San Francisco. One Friday afternoon I took the crowded elevator to the sixth floor of Macy’s on Union Square. I almost couldn’t get off with the crowd waiting to get in the restaurant. I went in and noticed no one sitting at the tables, but the hostess quoting a half hour wait for a table. So I sat at the bar without waiting. There was lots to look at with a full compliment of booze behind the bar and memorabilia for sale.

After perusing the menu I chose the basic Black Angus Beef Burger ($9.75). I added Swiss cheese (75 cents), Bacon ($1.15) and got it on the sesame bun. The choices of buns (6), cheeses (8) and other toppings were endless. They even offer a half lobster ($12). I also ordered buttermilk onion rings ($3.55).

The burger arrived very quickly and I dug right in. The burger patty was thick and pink and perfectly cooked. It was especially light and airy and had not been over-packed like so many often are. The bacon was crisp and all the topping, lettuce onion and tomato were fresh and crisp. The sesame bun was toasted and firm, but fresh. I must say t is one of the better burgers I have tasted this year.

The onion rings were also fabulous. Crisp batter covered sweet and juicy onions.

Next time, I think I will go for one of the many combo burgers, maybe the Rossini with Kobe beef, sautéed foie gras and truffles for $60. But more likely, I will try the Country Natural made with sustainable beef for $10.50.

Burger 5 spatulas out of 5
Onion Rings 5 spatulas

Burger Bar
6th Floor of Macy’s
251 Geary Street
San Francisco, CA 94102
415-296-4271
www.burgerbarlv.com

Oasis Double Cheeseburger always good.

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Your humble Burger Boy interviewed on A Hamburger Today.

Hegen Burger, Oakland, CA

Hegenburger

Double Hegenburger $5.45
Fries $1.25
Onion Rings $1.75
Ranch Dressing $.55

Near the entrance to the Oakland Airport you can drive right past this place. In a somewhat seedy strip, the place is immaculate on the inside. Everything is made of old laminate and wood paneling, but is spotless. Classical music plays on the overhead speakers. 

The burger is served neatly wrapped at your table in a neat little red and white basket. The burger patties come with your standard lettuce, tomato, onions and pickles. Mayo is the loan condiment but you can add mustard or ketchup at your table. 

The burger was very good. Just the right balance of fresh tasting beef and American cheese. It was hard to get my mouth around the stack. Fries were thin, hot but nothing special. I liked the onion rings a little better. Small, battered, thin, crips and hot. 

I really liked this comfortable old shoe of a place. 

Burger 3.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 2.5 spatulas
Onion Rings 3 spatulas

Hegenburger
280 Hegenberger Rd.
Oakland, CA 94622
510-569-9115 

Classic 101 Burgers and Shakes, Belmont, CA

Double Bacon Cheeseburger, $5.89. Fries $1.39.

Formerly the Dairy Belle, this restaurant has changed its name to better reflect what they do. The place is clean and bright. The double has two quarter-pound patties, American cheese, mayo, mustard, ketchup, onion, lettuce and tomato. The burger was served hot and fresh. The sesame bun was soft and tasty. The crisp bacon was placed between the two patties, a nice touch. Fries were thin, salty and fresh. Overall, a nice classic burger.

Burger 3.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 3 spatulas

Classic 101 Burgers and Shakes
575 Ralston Ave.
Belmont, CA 94002
650-592-0505

BBC, Menlo Park, CA

I had never had the burger at the BBC in Menlo Park before, but everyone had always told me it was very good. It is. The BBC Angus burger is made from free-range, hormone-free beef, impressive brioche bun, tomato aioli, red onion, tomato and pickle. I thought the burger pattry itself was fresh and tasty. it was cooked just right. The "secret sauce" style aioli made a nive addition to the whole thing. The fries were medium cut, hot and tasty. The outdoor setting near Cafe Barrone pleasantly added to the mix.

Burger 4.5 Spatulas out of 5

Fries 4 spatulas

BBC

1090 El Camino Real

Menlo Park, CA 94025

650-327-8789

www.britishbankersclub.com/