In-N-Out Burger - best thing about the U.S.A.

In-N-Out Burger in Mountain View, CA is a California burger chain. According to two young ladies visiting the U.S. from Mexico for the first time ever, it is the best thing about the United States.

For a few years now I have worked with kids in Juarez Mexico with a charity I co-founded called the Juarez Children’s Education Program. We sponsor children through school in Mexico that would otherwise drop out for lack of money. Recently two of our best students graduated from high school and came to California for 4 weeks of cultural exchange ad English immersion.

At the end of the 4 weeks, I asked them what their favorite thing was on their visit. In-N-Out burger they both answered without hesitation. Their graduation celebration had just ended so we decided to take them to the In-N-Out for a final celebration.

Both of them had the #2 combo, of a single burger with fries and a drink. I had a #1 Combo of a Double-Double, Fries and a drink ($5.54).

We took our number and set down at the spotless white and red booths. In-N-Out is family owned and runs all its own stores without franchising. They pay their employees relatively well and everyone that works there is courteous and hard working. This store is always packed, so you have to wait a good 10 minutes for your meal, but when your number is called the food is always hot and fresh. Why is that so hard for all the other fast-food chains?

Usually the girls had eaten much slower than me when we had meals. Not here, they dug right into their food with gusto. My Double-Double was great as always. The small beef patties are all fresh cooked, buns baked locally. The lettuce and tomato are crisp and fresh. American cheese is melted over the whole mess. I add grilled onions to mine. Their special sauce is thousand-island like and great.

Fries are cut right before they go in the fryer and come right out of the fryer onto you tray. They are thin, salty and hot and don’t taste like any other fries I have tried. They have an unusual spongy quality and aren’t crisp on the outside like other fries. Some people like them more than the burgers.

A few days later I took the girls back to their homes in Juarez. We flew into the El Paso airport and before crossing the border back to El Paso, I asked them where they wanted to eat. They both said In-N-Out even though they know there are none in Texas. We settled for Wendy’s, but that is another review.

Burger 4.5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 5 spatulas

In-N-Out Burger
1159 Rengstorff Ave.
Mountain View, CA
www.in-n-out.com

Tied House - Mountain View, CA

Tied House in Mountain View turned out to be a nice surprise. I typed “best burger Mountain View” into google on my iPhone. Clarke’s came up about 10 times, In-N-Out twice, my blog once and then “Tied House”. I have always said the food at brew-pubs is an after thought. Large portions do not necessarily make a good meal. This one seems to care a little more about the food. Although I have eaten at Tied House many times, I never tried the burger. I should have.

The menu sports a Wild Game Burger that rotates between buffalo, venison, elk and ostrich. That day was buffalo. I have had buffalo before and don’t prefer it to straight beef. My server, Patrick, recommended the Roasted Garlic Burger, I added bleu cheese ($9.50). The burgers are made of 1/2 pound of ground chuck. There is a garlic aioli and red onion crisps. The burger was a little over-cooked but with a tasty charcoally crust. I gave it a 3.5 spatulas out of 5.

The $9.50 included half and half of onion rings and fries. The o-rings were medium-thick and battered. 3 spatulas. The fries were medium-thick, coated and cold. 2 spatulas.

The Tied House is a lively place in an old warehouse type building. There are flat screens playing sports and the service was excellent. If you are looking for a good art-house brew and a burger, this could be your place.

Burger 3.5
Onion Rings 3
French Fries 2

Tied House
954 Villa Street
Mountain View, CA 94041
650-965-2719
http://www.tiedhouse.com/

Another location in San Jose.

Clarkes Charcoal Broiler- Mountain View

Steve and I decided to check out Clarkes in Mountain View. For 50 years or more, Clarkes has been the feeding trough for burger boys on the peninsula. The building is decrepit at best, which adds to its charm. There are blue vinyl booths with faux wood laminate tops for inside carnivores and outdoor seating as well.

Clarkes flame broils it's 1/3 pound fresh burgers. They come out very smokey tasting, which I generally do not prefer. I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger ($7.20), O-rings ($3.95), fries ($1.50) and a chocolate milk shake ($4.85). Steve went for the straight cheeseburger. We took our number and took our seat. Very soon our order was ready.

At Clarkes you get just the burger, ordered toppings and bun. They have a big fixings bar nearby loaded with onions, condiments and other items to pile on. You used to have to ask for tomato, but no longer. It is at the bar. There is no "special sauce" which I missed.

As we munched, I found the bacon a bit chewy, not adding to the positive experience. The smokey burger itself was OK, but nothing exceptional. Steve pointed out that I shouldn't order bacon, then maybe I could better experience the burger. I rated mine 3 spatulas out of 5. Steve liked his better. Onion rings were thick cuts of onions with heavy breading. I thought they were the best thing in the meal and rated them with 4 spatulas. Fries were thicker, skins-on style. They were only warm, not hot. 2.5 spatulas. The milk shake was thick and cold and rated a 3.5.

I found Clarkes better for its retro ambiance than its food. I would go back for another taste or just to get a feel the past days on the peninsula.

Burger 3 spatulas (out of 5)
Fries 2.5 spatulas
Onion Rings 4 spatulas
Shake 3.5 spatulas

Clarkes Charcoal Broiler
615 W. El Camino Real
Mountain View, CA 94040
650-967-0851