Rate-A-Restaurant #409: The Bucket (Eagle Rock)

 

Restaurant: The Bucket

Location: 4541 Eagle Rock Blvd. (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Hamburgers

We stipulated:

Another place we have driven past for years, The Bucket had gone dark a few years ago, and it looked like we had lost our chance to try it out. It was revived, yet we didn't visit... until New Food Sunday.

They stipulated: "With new owners and a new outlook it has gotten a second lease on life. The idea of providing locals a place to enjoy good food and good drinks at a reasonable price is re-energized and ready to become a place for the community to call a home away from home."

What we ordered: Bucket Burger (Cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion, thousand island; $6.65); York Burger (Cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, grilled onions, grilled mushrooms and Thousand Island; $6.90); Chicken Street Taco (Corn tortilla, cilantro, onions and choice of spicy or mild salsa; $2.25 each); Make your own fritas ($7.25)

 

High point: I was pleasantly surprised by the tacos. For a burger joint, the street tacos are solid.

Low point: There was no line, but we had to wait a surprisingly long time just to pick up our pre-ordered, pre-paid food.

 

Overall impression: Good, solid burger for the price.

Will we return:  I think for Taco Tuesday, when the tacos are just $1!

Rate-A-Restaurant #403: Goldburger (Highland Park)

Restaurant: Goldburger

Location: 5623 York Blvd. (Highland Park)

Type of restaurant: Hamburgers

We stipulated: Maria and I continue "New Food Sundays," inspired by the Los Angeles Times' latest 101 Restaurants special issue. There have been an explosion of new hamburger joints in our vicinity, and we frequently drive by Goldburger on York -- so it was time to try their take on the "smashburger."

They stipulated: "What started as an instagram account showcasing great burgers in great cities turned into a burger popup unlike any other in LA. Smashing grass-fed beef​ since day one, our focus has always been to mix the highest quality ingredients with just the right nostalgic elements, like American cheese and a plush white bun. We don't just add ketchup and mustard to your burger (or make you do it yourself!), we prepare LA style smashburgers that are meant to evoke everything that's great about our city."

What we ordered: The Goldburger: Grass-Fed double cheeseburger with grilled onions, fresh pickles, and a house-made award winning garlic-mustard aioli ($10 each) — 2 with cheese, 2 without. I ordered mine with diced peppers. Curly fries ($5)

High point: Delicious, buttery burgers and nicely made curly fries.

Low point: They close early -- 8 p.m. -- and may stop taking orders early, so plan accordingly.

 

Overall impression: Good burger.

Will we return:  I think so!

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.

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 #284: D-Town Burger Bar

(Pic via D-Town Burger Bar's Facebook page.)

Restaurant: D-Town Burger Bar

Location: 216 W 6th St (Downtown)

Type of restaurant: Burgers



We stipulated: After an evening grabbing drinks and catching up with friends at The Fall (over on Spring Street, highly recommended), we realized we needed something to soak up those drinks. D-Town was still open -- but barely -- at around 10:45 when we walked in.

They stipulated: "The menu on the wall is straightforward with seven combo offerings and with the same items available a la carte. There is also a Happy Hour menu, available from 4-7PM, with shakes, onion rings, chili cheese fries, and a grilled cheese sandwich for $2 each, but no burger deals," writes The Hamblogger.



What we ordered: Burger with fries and drink, $6.75; chicken sandwich $5.50




High point: The mix of regular and sweet potato fries. And the food hit the spot.

Low point: Chicken sandwich was just OK (a bit dry). Probably would have been better off getting the burger.



Overall impression: Great prices, and late night hours on the weekend; D-town is the kind of place that's perfect for the downtown crowd.

Chance we'll go back: Next time it's late, I'm in downtown and need some quick/good/inexpensive eats.

Food Porn: The Best Burgers in L.A.

Hungry for a little local food porn? The idea of a "Best Burgers in L.A." list seems a little tired -- haven't we already seen dozens of web sites take a stab at such a roundup? But what makes this list, from Refinery 29, work is the photography. Erin Yamagata does a great job capturing the delicious essence of each burger.

The Refinery 29 list includes all the usual suspects -- with one or two unexpected (well, for me at least) ones: Original Tommy's, Pie n Burger, The Counter, The Apple Pan, Black Hogg, Father's Office, Pier Burger, The Spice Table, Egg Slut Truck, The Oinkster, Little Bear, Umami Burger, Five Guys and In N Out.

The appearance of chain shops on the list may ruffle some feathers; I can let most slide -- including In N Out, Umami, The Counter and Tommy's, all of which originated here. But including East Coast-based chain Five Guys on the list is bordering on offensive.

Rate-A-Restaurant #277: Abby's Diner

Restaurant: Abby's Diner

Location: 4862 Eagle Rock Blvd (Eagle Rock)

Type of restaurant: Diner



We stipulated: Taking a bike ride through Eagle Rock, we decided to stop for lunch at Abby's Diner. Maria had been there a few weeks earlier, and was taken by its charm (and even more importantly, its cheap prices).



They stipulated: Simplicity. No-frills menu, nothing unusual. No credit cards. But open late.



What we ordered: Mike: Pulled pork sandwich (special) with cole slaw; Maria: Hamburger; Kids: Corn dog; side of onion rings.



High point: It's no Oinkster pulled pork sandwich, but Abby's was decent and reasonably priced.



Low point: Abby's offers several kids items for $1.95 -- a bargain. The waitress mentioned that we could get a kids corn dog that wasn't on the menu, and I assumed that meant it would be the same price as the other kids offerings. It was not. I wish she would have told me; I might have just settled on the kids stuff on the menu.



Overall impression: I wish the food was a touch more interesting (rather than feeling like stuff that I could conceivably make), but you can't beat the prices (everything is pretty much under $5). I also like the idea of the place -- cozy, classic diner.

Chance we'll go back: I could see us hitting it again while riding around Eagle Rock, but we may first want to try some of the other nearby spots that we haven't hit yet.