Neighborhood

Ben: MARSALA MUSHROOM BURGER. Burger, medium rare, with sautéed wild mushrooms, swiss cheese and marsala wine sauce on a cibatta bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 43

NOTES:

- kinda trendy downtown bar, but in a good way

- great happy hour, 2-4-1 local drafts

- a great straight forward, not overcooked burger, actually medium rare, as ordered

- no ketchup, get over it

- don’t bother with the fries unless you get the sweet potatoes

- jalapeno mac & cheese is excellent

James: NEIGHBORHOOD BURGER. Burger, medium rare, with carmelized onions, blue gruyere cheese and pepper greens on a ciabatta bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 44

NOTES:

- contemporary clean design

- great happy hour (4-7)

- amazing selection of beer and wine

- ciabatta style bun

- they actually cooked the burger medium rare, so don’t get rare unless you want it bloody

- no ketchup, who cares?

- tasty!

Tommy's World Famous Hamburgers

Some of you may have seen these places around. It's a west coast chain that was apparently started in Los Angeles and eventually become a small family owned and operated chain. We had not intended to blog the burgers here since it was a chain and that goes against our burger mission for finding the best "San Diego burger experience", but sometimes you're hungry. The location we visited is on Clairemont Mesa Blvd. next to Kearny Mesa Bowl. After throwing some frames we decided it would be a good idea to grab a burger here and see what they were all about, sans blog. These are supposed to be world famous burgers and they are apparently know for their chili as well, which they smother everything on the menu in. This is an okay concept in theory, but very poorly executed. I got a double cheese burger with chili and all other toppings. James got a triple cheese burger with chili and everything. Our friend got a double cheese burger with chili and everything, and fries. The only good thing about any of these orders were the fries. The burgers were tasteless boiled patties and the chili was equally as dull. The mustard and tomato were the only thing that stood out. James was unable to finish his burger due to the lack of taste and quality. We all felt a blog would not be adequate here because you can't give less than a 1 for any category. Instead of the blog I offer you this one quote to sum up the experience:

"This was the most unaccommodating burger I've ever had. It ushered nothing into my mouth except the foul taste of shame and regret."

Big Kahuna's

Ben: BIG KAHUNA BURGER. Burger with monteray jack & chedar cheese, tomato, red onion, fine cut cabbage, mayo, ketchup and mustard on a sweet Hawaiian roll bun, toasted.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 41

NOTES:

- tiki hut style bar

- this burger is massive, including the bun

- daily fresh made buns, very tasty and very large

- nothing fancy about the bundle but the sheer size is intimidating, it nearly engulfs the entire serving basket

James: TERIYAKI BURGER. Burger with teriyaki sauce, cabbage, grilled pineapple, tomato and red onion on a sweet Hawaiian roll, toasted.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 44

NOTES:

- shared onion rings

- boldest burger ever!

- loaded with mini teriyaki ninjas that deliver pineapple roundhouse kicks to your taste buds that chuck Norris would be proud of

- Hawaiian sweet roll bun is massive, baked fresh daily

- chill island atmosphere and the owner is cool

Blueberry Hill Gourmet Hamburgers

Ben: GRAND THRILLS w/ fries. Burger with lettuce, tomato, pickle, jalapeno, pepperoncini, bbq sauce, American cheese and bacon on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 40

NOTES:

- kind of a build it your own style type menu

- Wednesdays – free draft with each entrée

- interior has potential, but a little too similar to Corvette Diner with out as much flare

- burger meat was perfectly handmade, slightly crumbly, but very delicious and juicy

- fries-a-plenty

- music kinda blows, but it could just be the xmas season

James: GRAND THRILL w/ fries. Burger with lettuce, tomato, pickle, pepperoncini, jalapeno, euro-style (swiss cheese and sautéed mushrooms) on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 41

NOTES:

- create your own burger format = plenty ‘o options

- burger patty was cooked perfectly

- bun could be a little bigger

- décor is a little disappointing

- kinda wants to be a sports bar/corvette diner

- pretty solid option for the o.b. area

The Tractor Room

(pictures coming soon)


Ben: BUFFALO BURGER w/ criss-cross waffle fries. Burger, medium-rare, with cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 47

NOTES:
- got the acorn squash with bacon and maple butter for a side
- also got the elk sausage ravioli and wild boar mashed potato spring rolls
- mellow living room/hunting lodge vibe
- not cheap, but worth every penny
- excellent mixed drink menu, one of the best in town with the freshest ingredients
- loads of exotic meats to choose from, hard to limit yourself to a burger
- only 3 burgers to choose from but they include beef, lamb and buffalo
- very solid burger that was cooked to perfection and did not disappoint

(picture coming soon)

James: LAMB BURGER w/ criss-cross waffle fries. Burger, medium rare, with carmelized onions, goat cheese, lettuce, tomato and onion on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 47

NOTES:

- drinks are super creative

- atmosphere is comfortable and the interior is well thought out

- goat cheese complimented the lamb very well and the carmelized onions really brought it together

- lamb was juicy and the shear girth of the burger almost ruptured my stomach walls

(picture coming soon)

Paradise Lounge and Grill

Ben: FRANKS BURGER w/ fries. Burger with jalapenos, cheese, tomato, lettuce, onion and chipotle sauce on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 40

NOTES:

- Déjà vu (strip club) next door adds to the background

- much bigger inside than it appears from the street

- all burgers have a 1/3 or 1/2 lb. option

- mountain of toppings, more than enough

- a little more than medium rare (ordered), more medium well (received)

- side of fries (included) but pretty skimpy

James: FRISCO BURGER w/ fries. Burger with swiss cheese, bacon, avocado, grilled onion and special sauce on a sourdough bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 42

NOTES:

- this burger was like a grilled cheese sandwich with a burger in the middle

- delicious

- sourdough with the grilled onions really seal the deal

- I would recommend this burger to anyone who likes cheese, meat and strippers

Hodads (finally)

Ben: BACON CHEESEBURGER w/ seasoned potato wedge fries. Burger with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 42

NOTES:

- great views of Newport St. from inside & lots of license plates & boards inside

- you may find it hard to get your mouth (and mind) around this burger

- no frills, very fresh ingredients & great burger

- blows Rocky’s out of the water

- shredded bacon is a nice touch allowing higher bpm (bacon per munch)

- seasoned potato wedge fries very tasty but hard to finish after a colossal burger

- a tad over oniony

(Photo to come)

James: BACON CHEESEBURGER w/ seasoned potato wedge fries. Burger with bacon, cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 45

NOTES:

- burger righteousness!

- tasty waves and cool burgers, shaka!

(Photo to come)

Danny: VEGGIE CHEESEBURGER w/ seasoned potato wedge fries. Veggie burger with cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 40

NOTES:

- hot waittresses

Commonwealth Cafe closed (aka Tioli's return visit)

(Sorry no photos)

Ben: VENISON BURGER w/ fries. Burger with Poached Red Wine Pears, Mushrooms, Bacon, Cream and Plum Jelly on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 36

NOTES:

- decent beer & wine selection, no booze

- pears seem to big in scale, too much pear to burger ration

- pear & sauce don’t seem to add much to the overall flavor, gets in the way of the venison

- would have been better with a nice dry rub & simple sauce

(Sorry no photo)

James: SANTORIN BURGER w/ fries. ½ Lamb, ½ Beef burger with Tzaziki sauce on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 38

NOTES:

- average bundle could have used something “crazier” like mint jelly

- the tzaziki sauce was a pretty good compliment b/c it had a minty taste

- the burger was juicy and flavorful

- you could taste both the lamb & the beef, easily demolished

(Sorry no photo)

The Gathering

Ben: SOUTHWEST BURGER w/ fries. Burger with avocado, jack cheese and salsa on a sesame seed bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 26

NOTES:

- trying to be contemporary, but something is slightly off

- bad light jazz could be the first sign of something being wrong

- small outdoor seating area and 4 beers on draft

- this burger is similar to hiking above the treeline – a mountain of meat that’s very dry and lacking in vegetation

- nothing magic about this place

- the mediocrity of this place settles in like a heavy fog, even the customers are boring

(Sorry no photo)

James: BLUE CHEESE BURGER w/ fries. Burger with blue cheese, lettuce and tomato on a sesame seed bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 30

NOTES:

- a denny’s like atmosphere and a middle of the road burger which is appropriate because I felt like I was eating a tire

- not much else to say

- terrible bloody mary, I’d rather pour ketchup in my water

- if any of you readers out there like lite jazz, get the hell off my blog

(Sorry no photo)

Dobson's Bar and Restaurant

Ben: DOBSON’S BAR ROOM BURGER w/ salad. Burger, med-rare, with cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and onion on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:

1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 36

NOTES:
- old timey restaurant feel, but not as cool as it could be
- parking is a bit of a hassle, unless you park at Horton plaza
- very good complimentary sourdough bread
- excellent bacon, some of the best I’ve ever had on a burger
- burger cooked perfectly
- good spread on toppings and condiments
- very juicy
- if you come for lunch be prepared to listen to some business schmoozing






James: DOBSON’S BAR ROOM BURGER w/ salad. Burger, med-rare, with cheddar cheese, smoked bacon, tomato, lettuce and onion on a bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:

1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 35

NOTES:
- the burger meat was cooked perfectly, but tasted a little bland
- bun was above average
- a little pricey, and a little to fancy for me
- excellent presentation
- parking sucks with lots of crazy pedestrians who think they’re traffic cops
- bacon was very smoky and delicious
- only one burger on the menu, but it’s pretty good

(Picture same as above.)

Offshore Tavern and Grill

Ben: THE OFFSHORE BURGER Burger w/ garlic tater tots. Burger with bacon, melted cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo, 1000 island dressing and onion straws on a toasted bun topped with a hot pepper and with a side of fresh pickle slices.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 46

NOTES:

- not quite on the water as the name implies, more off highway than off shore, but easy to get to

- only 3 burger options on the menu, but build your own is one of them

- 16 beers on tap

- great sports bar with lots of flat panel tv’s and a large outdoor patio

- burger cooked to order, bacon done to perfection

- this is a very solid burger with excellent taste, the deep fried onion straws as a topping is a nice twist

- garlic tater tots are dyn-o-mite

- kinda sloppy, you’ll need plenty of napkins, but it all stays together

- some additional appetizers/sides available: toasted ravioli (for the Midwest crew) and deep fried mac and cheese

James: THE OFFSHORE BURGER Burger w/ garlic tater tots. Burger with bacon, melted cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, tomato, red onion, mayo, 1000 island dressing and onion straws on a toasted bun topped with a hot pepper and with a side of fresh pickle slices.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 45

NOTES:

- cool atmosphere with a variety of seating options and flat screen tv’s

- huge burger with a ton of toppings including a pepper on a toothpick to top it off

- good service and quality burger

- an awesome place to watch your charger games or whatever inferior team you like

Just Burgers and Lounge

Ben: BACKYARD BURGER Burger w/ beer-battered onion rings. Grass-fed beef burger, bacon, cheddar cheese, bbq sauce, tomatoes, lettuce and grilled onions on a rye bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 43

NOTES:

- 100% grass-fed beef

- small interior and even smaller outdoor seating area

- located next door to the waterfront and far superior when it comes to the quality of the burgers

- very friendly staff

- rye bun, one of the best buns I’ve had

- excellent beer battered onion rings

- massive burger

- even have organic condiments

James: 4TH OF JULY BURGER w/ seasoned fries. Grass-fed burger, JB sauce, blue cheese, grilled onion, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickle on a rye bun.

HOW THEY STACK UP:
1. BACKGROUND 1 2 3 4 5
2. BONUSES 1 2 3 4 5
3. BUNDLE 1 2 3 4 5
4. BURGER 1 2 3 4 5
5. BUN 1 2 3 4 5
6. BOLDNESS 1 2 3 4 5
7. BARGAIN 1 2 3 4 5
8. BELT-BUSTING 1 2 3 4 5
9. BURDEN 1 2 3 4 5
10. BUZZ 1 2 3 4 5

TOTAL SCORE: 44

NOTES:
- this burger is not for the faint of heart

- you must love blue cheese to eat this

- you probably don’t have the sophisticated taste buds to appreciate this burger

- it is awesome, hands down the most cheese I’ve ever had on a burger and the grass-fed beef is delectable

- huge burger

- buy your burger here and go to the waterfront for “dessert”, ‘cause this burger destroys the waterfront burgers

How's this for scale?