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/

Marqs in Menlo

Marqs in Menlo Park, CA was a total surprise. We had heard it was opened by the former bartender at Oak City, which is a good bar. We headed in and what to our wondering eyes should appear but Kobe Slider's Duet ($12)? This was so unexpected that I had not brought my notebook or camera. Fortunately, Pat had her camera and the photo attached resulted.

Marq's sliders were excellent. Hot, juicy, petite. The accompanying fresh cut fries were enticingly thin, hot and salty. The lobster spring rolls ($9) and wild mushrooms on toasted brioche ($10) were equally enjoyable.

As soon as Marq gets his full liquor license, I can see some sliders and Tanqueray Martini's in my future.

Burgers 4.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 4.5 out of 5

Marqs in Menlo
1143 Crane Street
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-853-1143
www.marqsinmenlo.com

Jeffrey's Hamburgers - Menlo Park

Jeffrey's Hamburgers in Menlo Park is a great venue. The restaurant is a retro blend of steel, red laminate and great lighting. I can't think of a nicer place to have a burger and the throngs that migrate there from open until close every day must agree.

The only catch is, I was never too crazy about the burger. It always seemed a little bland and unimaginative although very well prepared. It is made from fresh ground chuck, just like it should be. The bun is a white bun, nicely grilled. The onion rings ($2.99) are fantastic crunchy, yummy perfect. The fries ($1.39) are good medium cut fries. Jeffrey's have a nice condiment bar.

Having tried several combinations, I gave it one more shot on a Saturday afternoon. I ordered the Bacon Cheese Burger and added the grilled onions ($7.99). When my burger came, I put some brown mustard and ketchup on it. I dug in and realized I had finally hit the right combo. The American cheese blended with all the other flavors in a perfect balance. The mustard-ketchup combo kind of created the special sauce that I always thought Jeffrey's needed.

I am now happy to know that Jeffrey's, practical walking distance from my house, is a reliable burger fix whenever I want. Jeffrey's San Mateo was reviewed previously.

Sorry about the lousy burger photo. I took it with my phone since I wasn't expecting to do a review.

SRK

Burger 4 spatulas out of 5
Onion Rings 5 spatulas
Fries 3 spatulas

Jeffrey's Hamburgers
888 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-322-1959
www.jeffreyshamburgers.com

Vida Bistro - Menlo Park, CA

Vida Bistro in Menlo Park has been a favorite hang out of mine for years. I was looking forward to reviewing the Vida Burger, a staple at owner Ali El Safy's comfortable restaurant. Ali once told me he got the recipe from his Mom.

The Vida burger is made of fresh ground beef mixed with garlic, parsley and onion and seasoned with salt and pepper. The patty is probably a little less than half a pound. It is topped with gorgonzola cheese, a roasted red pepper, and mayo. It all sits on a sesame bun. The Vida Burger goes for $11 with fries. It also comes with a nice side salad of mixed greens in vinegrette, and slices of tomato and onion.

My burger buddy John ordered one as well. John neatly cut his in half to reveal a perfectly cooked burger at medium. Biting into the burger the spices, cheese, pepper and mayo make a unique and satisfying taste. My only quibble is that the bun seemed a little stale so it did not hold togther as well as I like.

As usual the fries were great as well. The are thinner than your usual. Hot and salty and yummy.

We had a nice chat with Ali about slowing down and enjoying life. He had just returned from Rio and said that no one loves life more than the Brazilians. Ali's Bistro tries it's best to give the diner a little slice of that attitude.

Burger 4.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 5 out of 5

Bistro Vida
641 Menlo Ave.
Menlo Aprk, CA 94025
650-462-1686
www.bistrovidamp.com

Oak City Bar & Grill - Menlo Park, CA

Oak City Bar and Grill in Menlo Park is a great place to hang out and eat meat, have a Martini and pretend all is right with the world. I have eaten the 10-ounce Pork Porterhouse and devoured the Sirloin, but I had never tried the Niman Ranch White Cheddar Cheese Burger. "So I Did" as Mick Jagger once cried out in "Far-Away Eyes".

For $16 you get a delicious hunk of Niman natural-fed beef, topped artfully with white cheddar and perfectly cooked grilled red onions. I left the ample amounts of lettuce and tomato off to the side. The Sesame Brioche bun is also impressive.

The first bite of the burger was heavenly - a balanced blending of the cheese, the burger and the onions. I found it a very rich combo that quickly made me full, allowing me to turn my attention to the fries.

The "City Fries" included with the burger are really quite unique. Piled in a large wooden bowl, they are thin as matchsticks and very crisp. With a generous sprinkling of salt, they are addictive. Even as they grow cold, they are still great.

Finishing off my Martini and fries, I thought that Mick could find Satisfaction here - at least for the palate.

Burger 4 spatulas out of 5
Fries 5 spatulas

Oak City Bar & Grill
1029 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-321-6882
http://www.oakcitybarandgrill.com

JZ Cool Eatery - Menlo Park, CA

I have eaten at JZ Cool many times. Usually the cobb salad. It is a granola munching nirvana with organic this and natural that. Low impact, locally grown seasonal produce is stressed. My wife and I stopped by for lunch and noticed a lot of changes. More of a fixed menu. More sandwiches. Screaming my name was the grass fed burger with braised onions and aioli ($9). My wife got the roast pork sandwich with arugula and tomato pear chutney. There are no milkshakes or fries. I considered an organic root beer. But any root beer that looks like Sprite won't work for me.

The burger came out cooked medium to perfection. It sat on panini. The aioli was perfect with the burger. The beef was tasty and juicy. I loved it. 4 spatulas out of 5.

Now if I can just get Ms. Cool to fry up some organic O-rings and Fries and a grass-fed milk shake, I might eat nowhere else.

JZ Cool Eatery
827 Santa Cruz Avenue
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-325-3665
http://www.cooleatz.com/jzcool-eatery/index.html

The Dutch Goose - Menlo Park, CA

A Menlo Park institution for more than 35 years, the Dutch Goose is the bookend to the Oasis, with local residents debating which is better. Like the Oasis, the Goose has names carved into the wood booths and tables. Families, sports teams and beer drinkers watching the big screen TV, mix in peace. I went here with my 14 year-old daughter in a break from our traditional Saturday trek to Johnny Rockets. The restaurant was packed as we stood in line at the counter to order. There were still plenty of tables including outside tables.

While we waited for our food, we had an order of the famous deviled eggs that have been a Goose favorite for years. They are smothered in a spicy mustard-tinged filling. This goes surprisingly well with a beer.

My name was called and food was retrieved. I ordered the standard Bacon Cheeseburger ($6.75). It comes with lettuce, tomato slice, onion slice, American cheese and the secret sauce. The sauce reminds me of tarter sauce. Definitely mayo-based with lemon and pickle chucks. It is messy and liberally applied to good effect. The burger comes on a yellow bun with sesame top. The patty is most likely frozen and 1/3 pound. I couldn’t find someone to ask. My daughter had a plain cheeseburger with just sauce. ($5.75) She pronounced it quite good and rated it 3.5 (out of 5) after scraping off some of the sauce.

We also ordered fries. Until recently the Dutch Goose did not serve fries. To quote John Belushi, “ No fries, chips”. New owners brought in a fryer and the regulars were appalled. They should not have bothered. The thin fries still have the skin on the ends. They are greasy and unremarkable. I had low hopes when I saw a huge pile of pre-made fries under the heat lamp by the fryer as I ordered.

My burger was good. All the elements are well-balanced and play well together. The burger was properly cooked at medium. It wasn’t especially juicy, but I expect this from a frozen patty. They do offer other choices of cheese which I will try next time.

Burger 3 spatulas (out of 5)
Fries 2
No onion rings or milk shakes.


Dutch Goose
3567 Alameda De Las Pulgas
Menlo Park, CA 94025
650-854-3245
www.dutchgoose.net

Oasis - Menlo Park, CA

The Oasis is your classic college bar atmosphere. Wooden tables with names carved in them are surrounded by posters of past Stanford sports teams. In recent years the Oasis has become more family oriented, while still catering to beer drinkers, softball teams and students. TVs throughout the bar show different sporting events. There is a nice outdoor area with two long rows of tables. One thing that hasn't changed is the burger.

I prefer the double cheeseburger ($6.65). A classic, greasy-spoon style burger from two small frozen patties. Somehow the mustard, mayo, tomoto and onion seam to combine for just the right taste. Nothing fancy or pretentious, it just hits the spot.

The fries are only so-so and the onion rings are frozen standard issue. No milk shakes, but the beers are cold and the atmosphere fun.

Burger 3.5 spatulas (out of 5)
Fries 2 spatulas
Onion Rings 2 spatulas

Oasis Beer Garden
241 El Camino Real
Menlo Park, CA
650-326-8896
http://theoasisbeergarden.com/