Flipper's Gourmet Hamburgers

Yesterday was my last day at the job I've had for 8 years. I liked the job and loved the people. I was feeling kind of sad, so when my wife asked me what would cheer me up. I said, "cheeseburger." Weird, right? Here I am, on a quest to find the best burger and the first thing I reach for when I'm down is a burger. Comfort food, yes. We decided on Flipper's in Montclair. I hadn't eaten there in years, so I wasn't sure what to expect. Honestly, what a strange name for a burger place, Flipper's. That's like naming for fish-n-chips joint, "Hooves." Anyway, I get the Big Flipper burger (half pound patty with cheddar & jack cheese) for about $10. Price: Not bad for a burger this big. It comes with a side of steak fries (mmmm steak fries), a nice-sized side salad and this yummy, sweet ranch sauce. Got home, unpacked and plated up my dinner. This is a big burger. It looked like a someone melted cheese on a bicycle seat and slapped it on a bun. Look at the picture. That's a full-sized dinner plate! Where am I going to put my fries? Appearance: Huge. Some of the smaller fries started to orbit the thing. So, I take a bite...then another. What's missing from this burger? Meat, check. Cheese, check. Fix'ns, check. Flavor...that's it, no flavor. What a bland hunk of beef. I continued to eat, and eat, and eat. I had a few bites left when if started to hit me. I got this half pound brink sitting in my stomach. Uggg, discomfort food. I couldn't finish. I felt sad and a little embarassed. I guess the pound of fries I ate left little room for the last bite. I threw in the napkin. Done. I probably won't go back again until I forget about why I never went back. So, so at best. Next week: The Unemployed Burger!!! Anyone have any coupons?


Flipper's Gourmet Hamburgers, 2060 Mountain Blvd, Oakland, CA 94611

Luka's Taproom & Lounge

Tonight my wife brought home a cheeseburger from Luka's Taproom & Lounge. This is a good burger. The kind of burger that deserves a plate, and maybe even a moment of silence for the delicious cow that sacrificed so I could have this meal. This here is a $12 burger. Pretty expensive, but once you see it you won't blink,"$12 sure, I'll take it! Hell, I'll take 2!"

So I take my first bite, then my second, third forth & fifth. This is a very good burger. The patty was cooked medium rare. Nice, pink and juicy with pretty grill marks. The cheese was a bit of an after thought. Melted white cheddar. The lettuce and tomato was soaked in the burger drippings. Kind of nasty, but in a great way. Can't stop thinking, "Wow, this beef is delicious." The bun was better than most, but is more of an freshly baked sponge that's there to sop up the burger juices.

By my last bite, I'm hurting. That's a big burger. I fast-forward to me consulting a cardiologist for a Luka's-related bypass surgery, so I could enjoy one more burger before a lifetime of bran muffins and metamusil. What a great burger. A life threatener! A health risk in a bun. The kind of meal that deserves a nap. Maybe I'll take a week off, my chest hurts.

Luka's Taproom & Lounge, 2221 Broadway, Oakland, CA 94612

Sparky's Giant Burgers

I stopped by my local burger spot today. It's about a mile or so away from my house. It's an old-school, Mom-n-Pop burger shack. The place is funny. I'd classify it as a "dive" more than a restaurant. You can eat inside, on their patio or order from they're walk up window. I got a cheeseburger and fries. It ran about $7.50. Price: Not bad, not great.
I unwrapped my burger and was pleasantly surprised at how appetizing it looked. A little green, a little red and a hunk of brown with a yellow gooey blanket of goodness nestled in the middle. Not too shabby. Appearance: Tasty with a nice balance of color.
I didn't realize until that moment, that I was pretty frick'n hungry. After a squirt or two of ketchup, I took my first bite. The flavor of the beef is the first thing you notice. Smokey, well seasoned and meaty. This is the star of the burger. There's a definite over abundance of cheese. Usually, one thick melty slice is plenty. They put two. The tomato was fresh, thick and crisp. The lettuce was green but seemed to soak up the majority of the greese. It was limp and kind of nasty. The bun was a bun. Nothing fancy. Taste: Good beef, nice flavor; but a little too cheesy and I had to take out half of the nasty lettuce.
All-in-all, not a bad burger. I actually finished it and a order of fries in under nine minutes. I told you I was hungry. I have to say, not a bad start to my burger quest. We'll see what next week has in store for me.

Sparky's Giant Burgers, 4120 Redwood Rd, Oakland, CA 94619

6/12/09-Intro

Hey, This is my first posting. I'm excited about eating some cheeseburgers! I've eaten at a lot of the local burger places many, many times, but I thought I'd start fresh. All my postings will be based on the actual burgers I'm eating, not on reputation or previous experiences. Also, I've decided to do this once a week. I probably could eat a burger every day, but they're really not too good for you and like I said before, I'm unemployed. Burgers cost money. So, I'm ready to start my burger quest, let's eat!