Rate-A-Restaurant #347: Good Stuff Eatery (Chicago)

Restaurant: Good Stuff Eatery

Location: 22 South Wabash Ave (Chicago)

Type of restaurant: Burgers





We stipulated: Looking for a quick dinner after an afternoon at Millennium Park, Maggie Daley Park and Grant Park, we decided to find a spot to eat in the Loop.



They stipulated: "Top Chef" alum Spike Mendelsohn is behind the eatery. "Good Stuff Eatery was inspired by Cathy Mendelsohn's vision for a place where people can enjoy the nostalgia of eating the best of their American favorites: handcrafted burgers, handcut fries, handspun shakes and farm fresh salads made with the highest quality ingredients. The pilot store of Good Stuff Eatery opened on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. in July, 2008." Also: any burger can be ordered as chicken instead.





What we ordered: Maria: Spike's Sunnyside (Dairy Fresh Cheese, Applewood Bacon A Farm Fresh Fried Egg On A Brioche Bun With Good Stuff Sauce) $6.98; Mike: Blazin' Barn with chicken (Pickled Daikon & Carrots, Mint, Cilantro, Thai Basil & Spicy Mayo) $6.98; Kids: Farmhouse Burger $6.50 each; plus we splurged on shakes (chocolate and blueberry/raspberry, $5.95 each) and fries (3.75).







High point:  The dipping sauces. Sriaicha mayo, chipotle mayo, mango mayo, etc. The kids liked their shakes and Maria liked the egg in her burger.



Low point:  I thought my chicken sandwich looked limp, and didn't pack the spice as promised.





Overall impression: Maria liked it more than I did. We splurged and spent $50 on what is essentially fast food, but I'm not sure I was feeling it.





Will we return: I might be willing to try the turkey burger instead next time.

Rate-A-Restaurant #339: Eden Burger Bar (Glendale)

Restaurant: Eden Burger Bar

Location: 333 1/2 N Verdugo Rd. (Glendale)

Type of restaurant: Hamburgers



We stipulated: Maria had been raving about her visits to Eden Burger, but I hadn't had a chance to check it out. (Plus, I gotta be honest, the promise of a great burger doesn't excite me the way it does others. I've had good burgers already, could Eden really be any better?)

They stipulated: Eden Burger's wide-ranging menu also includes gourmet hot dogs, pizzas and sides.



What we ordered: Fig burger (fig, sun-dried tomato, crispy prosciutto flakes, arugula, lemon basil aioli, fig and olive tapenade -- I got it without cheese) $12; Firehouse (jalapeno bacon, giardiniera, field tomato, habanero jack, avocado mayo) $11; bistro fries with spicy ketchup



High point:  Love the jalapeño ketchup for the fries, and the fig and sundried tomato mesh nicely with the burger.



Low point:  No turkey burger option! What's the deal with that?



Overall impression: Juicy burgers, and a true decadent meal. But the decor is terrible, like walking into a 1980s timewarp. Why go with the gourmet burger concept yet decorate the restaurant like it's straight out of a Miami Vice episode?



Will we return: Absolutely.

Rate-A-Restaurant #329: Shaka Shack Burger (Santa Monica)

Restaurant: Shaka Shack Burgers

Location: 1701 Ocean Park Blvd. (Santa Monica)

Type of restaurant: Burgers



We stipulated: I was in Santa Monica to record at KCRW, so Maria came out and met me for lunch. Scanning close-by lunch spots, we noticed Shaka Shack had received decent reviews on Yelp.

They stipulated: "Owners, and eclectic couple, Michael Anapol and Kathie Gibboney, are keeping the aloha spirit alive by bringing their own special spirit to the neighborhood. Anapol grew up just west of the Shack, surfing and playing volleyball at Bay St. and State Beach. In support of his beach habit he began working in some of L.A.s finest restaurants and soon developed a passion for good food and pride in good service. He even married a chef, innovative Lisa Stalvey, who further schooled him. Although divorced, they remain good friends and working partners, having even competed together on NBC’s restaurant reality show, The Chopping Block, where they progressed to finalists."



What we ordered: Mike: Samoan Salmon (1/3 pd. Alaskan salmon patty, avocado, soy mayo, sweet pickle relish, red onion, baby greens) $9.95; Maria: Shaka Royale (1/3 lb. Angus patty, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion and pickles) $7.50



High point:  Salmon burgers can be hit and miss, but this one was a real winner, featuring nice dill flavoring.

Low point:  Maria liked the sweet potato fries, but I thought they tasted too greasy.



Overall impression: Sometimes you want a sloppy, juicy, dripping burger, and the Shaka experience succeeded on that note. On the downside, there's a small staff, so you may be waiting a while for your order. If you're in a hurry for lunch, it's probably not the best place to visit for a fast bite. Especially since parking is also problematic.

Will we return: I'm in Santa Monica all the time, so perhaps, if I happen to have enough time.

Rate-A-Restaurant #328: Meat District Co. (Pasadena)

Restaurant: Meat District Co.

Location: 69 N. Raymond (Pasadena)

Type of restaurant: Burgers/Steakhouse/American



We stipulated: We were invited by Meat District Co. to sample the new restaurant's menu -- and happened to have the kids spending the evening at a nearby kids club. It was time to get our meat on.

They stipulated: "Meat District Co. works in partnership with some of America’s most sustainable producers delivering experiences & dishes that tick all the boxes when it comes to quality & taste. Meat District Co. remembers a time when beef came from a farm and not a factory – when ’100% beef’ was actually from a cow. We have decided its time to bring the farm to your doorstep with ALL NATURAL ‘NEVER EVER’ BEEF (hormone, steroid & antibiotic free produce)."



What we ordered: Starter: BEETROOT FRIES (With jalapeño mayo) $7; Maria: TRUFFLE BURGER (1/2 lb patty with truffle Parmesan, arugula, roasted peppers, tomato & truffle aioli) $15; Mike: BABY BACK PORK RIBS (18oz Half Rack) $19






High point:  Maria's burger was definitely hearty; and the beetroot fries were actually more like chips, but delicious.

Low point:  We probably needed a bit more guidance from the wait staff. We unfortunately didn't realize until after our meal was done that we should have probably tried "The Hook," which is their signature dish.



Overall impression: A nice space and a really thorough menu. It does seem like perhaps they're trying to do too much, however, instead of focusing on one or two specialties. There are a lot of meat-focused restaurants around town; how will Meat District Co. stand out?



Will we return: I do want to return and try "The Hook."

L&L's Cheaper Version of the Ramen Burger Comes to Town

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue founder/president Eddie Flores calls it "bigger, better and cheaper" than the original. I can't speak to it being bigger or better, but L&L's take on the now-trendy ramen burger is indeed cheaper. And it's now showing up in local L&L locations (at least, as far as I know, in Glendale, Eagle Rock and Pasadena).



I tried the L&L ramen burger during our recent trip to Hawaii and.. it wasn't bad. There's an interesting taste when you slap a burger between two tightly-wound patties of cooked ramen.



(I tried both the ramen burger and the ramen BBQ chicken sandwiches. Although I usually prefer chicken, in this case the burger was better.)



Chef Keizo Shimamoto originally came up with the idea for the ramen burger, and famously drew four-hour lines last fall when he brought it to Torrance. According to the LA Weekly, a brick-and-mortar Ramen Burger is coming:

The Ramen Burger brick-and-mortar, which will soft-open on Aug. 1, will be a walk-up window located next to the popular Koreatown bar Lock & Key. Patrons of Lock & Key will be able to order the ramen burger inside the bar, as the two venues will share a kitchen. A hidden cocktail bar PLUS ramen burgers: It doesn't get much better than that.

The Ramen Burger menu will consist of the original ramen burger, which features a handmade ramen bun, scallions, ground beef patty, baby arugula and secret shoyu sauce. The spicy La Sriracha Macha specialty ramen burger, which debuted at last month’s DTLA Night Market, will become a regular menu item available at the brick-and-mortar.

The veggie ramen burger will also be available, as will various iterations of french fries: red miso and cheese; aonori seaweed and sea salt; and Shaka Shaka fries. There will also be the option to add a fried egg and bacon to any of the burgers.

If you can't wait, the L&L ramen burger is on sale now.

Jonathan Gold's 10 Favorite L.A. Burgers: I Want To Go To There

(Pic: Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

When Jonathan Gold reveals his ten favorite Los Angeles burgers, it's worth paying attention. I have not tried nearly enough of these:

The Apple Pan: "Is the Hickoryburger, touched with a bit of smoke in the sauce, the one to get? In my opinion, yes." 10801 W. Pico Blvd., West L.A.

Aroma Cafe: "Pljeskavica, a thin, Balkan hamburger, as big and round as a phonograph record, flavored with salt and onions and peppers, briefly cooked over a hot charcoal fire and stuffed into a focaccia, is an awe-inspiring unit of consumption." 2530 Overland Ave., West Los Angeles

Chroni’s Famous Sandwich Shop: "May be the best Los Angeles-style chiliburgers in town." 5825 E. Whittier Blvd., Los Angeles

Comme Ça: "These are unfussy hamburgers that taste like good aged meat." 8479 Melrose Ave., West Hollywood

Connie & Ted’s: "There is no arguing with a thick patty of well-aged beef, cooked to a bloody medium rare, served with a basket of fries." 8171 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood

Cora’s Coffee Shoppe: "Magnificent, drippy constructions of loosely packed Wagyu cow." 1802 Ocean Ave., Santa Monica

Father’s Office: "A soft, oozing patty garnished with blue cheese, a pinch of bacon and a thick blanket of deeply caramelized onions, served with a dense thicket of arugula on a hard-crusted French roll." 1018 Montana Ave., Santa Monica

Pie 'n Burger: "About texture, the crunchy sheaf of lettuce, the charred surface of the meat, the outer rim of the bun crisped to almost the consistency of toast." 913 E. California Blvd., Pasadena

Plan Check: "A griddled patty layered with translucent ketchup leather, a microscopically thin layer of crisp, fried cheese, and shaved pickle." 1800 Sawtelle Blvd., Los Angeles

Spice Table: "Gives the impression of an In-N-Out burger with better meat, enriched with the funky Indonesian chile sambal instead of secret spread." 114 S. Central Ave., Los Angeles

Read Gold's full comments on each here.

Rate-A-Restaurant #289: Umamicatessen

Restaurant: Umamicatessen

Location: 852 S Broadway (Downtown)



Type of restaurant: Deli/Burgers





We stipulated: Maria and I were in downtown one Saturday morning to join one of the Los Angeles Conservancy's famed walking tours. Afterward, we decided to finally check out Umamicatessen for lunch (we were overdue).



They stipulated: "Inspired by international street bazaars and the classic American delicatessen, UMAMIcatessen is a table-service dining hall inside the Orpheum with approximately 170 seats, a full bar, and 5 different kitchens preparing food concepts by notable chefs from around the country."


Maria's bleu cheese burger


Onion rings and fries

What we ordered: Maria: Bleu Cheese Burger; Mike: Ahi tuna burger (hand chopped ahi tuna, crushed avocado, gingered pickles, wasabi flake $15); onion rings and fries ($3 and $3.50); soft serve ice cream


Mike's ahi tuna burger

High point: The high point was just getting a table, considering how crowded the Umamicatessen seems to always be. But also: the egg buns, and the ahi tuna was delicious.

Low point: Maria's burger was a disappointment, which may be why it's no longer on the menu. The cheese was not the best, and her burger was cooked way too rare.



Overall impression: Love the space, and happy to see a bustling restaurant like Umamicatessen next door to the revived Orpheum. (Also nearby: Two Boots Pizza, and more!) And yes, I know, we're lame for sticking with the Umami Burgers -- but stick with a winner, right? The delicatessen portion of the Umamicatessen menu just honestly doesn't sound as appetizing. But you know what was appetizing? The various sauces (above: Diablo sauce, Jalapeno ranch and Garlic aioli.)



Chance we'll go back: We aleady have, and we will again. We'll also just make sure Maria's burger is thoroughly cooked.

Rate-A-Restaurant #238: The Counter

Restaurant: The Counter

Location: 5779 Wilshire Blvd. (Miracle Mile)

Type of restaurant: Hamburgers/Sandwiches

We stipulated: The Counter was offering free lunches to patrons in advance of the opening of its new Miracle Mile location. We've been a fan in the past -- so we decided to make the trek to the Miracle Mile on a Saturday (even though I do that same damn drive every day of the week)



They stipulated: For the test lunch, almost everything was available. Here's how the Counter describes its concept: "Step into The Counter and you’re greeted with a clipboard and an extensive list of fresh ingredients that allow you to build your own gourmet burger. Our 312,120+ different burger combinations make every burger as unique as each customer. Rarely is the same burger made twice in one day."



What we ordered:
MIKE: Turkey burger with jalapenos, roasted corn & black bean salsa, roasted red peppers and organic mixed greens, plus chipotle aioli and housemade guacamole, on a multigrain bun

MARIA: veggie burger with soft ripened brie, mixed greens and applewood smoked bacon

EVAN: kids mini burgers (plate of two with American cheese and pickles)

SIDES: sweet potato fries/parmesan fries

Apple pie shake



High point: That Apple pie shake was pretty amazing. We normally wouldn't have tried it, but seeing how it was a test lunch, we couldn't resist. Also, the sweet potato fries are a consistent winner. And Maria was surprised at how good the veggie burger was. (She negated it, of course, by topping it with bacon.)

Low point: I keep ordering the turkey burger at the Counter, and it always comes back too charred. On another, more recent, visit, I ordered the chicken sandwich and was pleased. It will be chicken for now on.



Overall impression: The Counter brings a much-needed sit-down alternative to the horrific Marie Callender's on that block of the Miracle Mile. And it's always a good alternative when you're looking to meet with a bunch of people, particularly with kids.

Chance we'll go back: Definitely, we're plotting a visit soon to the Pasadena location.