It’s been a couple of months, and I’ve had time to try some more of the burger offerings throughout San Francisco to see if any of them can beat the previous top burger from Black Sands Brewery. This time, the burgers from Umami Burger, Finn Town Tavern and Bartlett Hall are in the running!
1. Umami Burger
I’m aware that it’s kind of a chain (as there are a few locations throughout the country), but it was recommended as a place I should try. So I headed in for lunch one day to see if it really had the umami and satisfied that burger itch. They are also one of the places that do The Impossible Burger, so I may have to come back for that one day, but I figured for this hunt, the all meat version was necessary. I ordered the Green Chile Burger with a half order of fries. The burger itself really is pretty simple. There’s not much more to it than the toppings listed, a bun, and a beautifully medium rare patty. However, it is a bit on the cold side, which leads me to believe the burgers come directly out of the fridge. The taste is pretty top notch though with a huge meaty, umami hit just as is promised by the name. The green chile was nice, but didn’t scratch that New Mexico itch. Perhaps one of the other options would be even better. The fries are fairly average and nothing special to be honest, but the umami ketchup served with them is definitely really good. So ultimately, while they produce a stellar burger, it’s not enough to beat out some of the other places I’ve tried.
2. Finn Town Tavern
I was meeting some friends for one of the best terrible films I’ve ever seen, and I needed to grab a bite to eat first, so I headed to Finn Town Tavern to give their burger a try. Much like many of the other burgers in town, theirs is a fancier version of the burgers from In-N-Out…two patties, “special sauce”. It’s a fairly decent sized burger for $18, and it comes with a side of fries. The burger was tasty, but honestly, it wasn’t anything special. The $7 Hangar Vodka happy hour was though, as I knocked back some cheap Martinis. The bun was probably the best part of the burger, as it held up really well and had a great flavor, but the patties weren’t that exciting, nor were the fries. And for that price, I do kind of wish there was something better. It’s a pretty cool venue, though, so I might come back to try out other things on the menu (as their fried chicken sandwich looks killer).
3. Bartlett Hall
Finally, one day when I was out running errands, I stopped in Bartlett Hall to give their burger a try. It’s a hefty $18, and you can add on bacon, avocado or an egg for an additional $2. As much as I love egg on my burger, I decided to just go for the standard cheeseburger with gorgonzola cheese (although Brie and Cheddar are both options as well). I think it’s a pretty solid burger, but it didn’t wow me. I like that they use the Acme bread buns because they definitely hold up well to a burger and are solid enough to soak up any juices that come out. But overall? The fries were okay, but not really impressive. I do like the venue, and I think I would come back to try other things, but if you’re heading here just for the burger, I’m certain there are better places nearby that are going to satisfy that craving a lot more.
Winner: Black Sands Brewery
The burger from Black Sands Brewery still had the taste and price to keep it on top. Umami Burger was probably the best burger I had in this round, but it’s definitely no where near as good. Can Black Sands Brewery keep its top spot during Part 7?
Ranking:
1. Black Sands Brewery
2. Wayfare Tavern
3. Gaspar
4. Wes Burger ‘n’ More
5. Epic Steak
6. Umami Burger
7. ABV
8. 4505 Burgers and BBQ
9. Super Duper Burgers
10. Bartlett Hall
11. Finn Town Tavern
12. Prather Ranch American Eatery
13. Causwells
14. Garaje
15. The Burger Bar
16. In ‘n Out
17. Gott’s Roadside
18. Popsons Burgers
But what was the best terrible film? My guess goes to A Wrinkle in Time. 🙂
Ha. No it was “They Live!” at the Castro Theatre.