D.C.'s Best Burger Joints ... and a Staten Island Extra

After receiving word this week that one of the President's favorite DC burger spots closed - for failure to pay its rent! - I decided it was as good a time as any to finally release the results of a little burger study I did when I lived in Washington. Believe it or not, I've actually had several requests for this, so here it goes ... 

During my four years in the City of Roses, I thoroughly enjoyed exploring Portland's gastronomic hot spots and often offered reviews and pictures of wonderful meals on these electronic pages.  In Portland, I found that even the best and most popular restaurants were reasonably priced for a humble religious and I had a cohort of friends always game to try a new restaurant.   

When I first moved to D.C. I had hoped that I'd be able to continue my culinary adventures and report on them here on the blog. But alas, graduate studies kept me busy and the significantly higher prices in our nation's capital kept me from venturing to some of the best and brightest spots. 

I decided I needed a more wallet-friendly way of exploring the capital's food scene. I also discovered that our President (and his lovely wife) are fans of junk food, especially the all-American burger and fries.  Whenever either of them snuck out of the White House to cheat on their diets, the Washington Post would almost inevitably have a brief article and photo covering the event as if it were really news.

Politically speaking, there isn't very much President Obama and I agree on.  But I decided, in a spirit of bipartisanship, that I would visit some of his and Michelle's favorite burger joints and review them on my blog. (Interestingly, it turned out the President and I don't necessarily agree on the capital's best burger either! Michelle and I, however, are more simpatico.)

At the start, I should mention that I was not attempting to find the District's best burger, but to tour the District's burger joints. So I didn't look to visit restaurants or bars that serve excellent burgers as part of a lengthier menu. Rather, I chose to limit myself to places that serve burgers and fries almost exclusively.

My evaluation of the burgers covered the quality, quantity, and flavor of the meat; the texture and taste of the bun; and the quality and diversity of the toppings.  I also took account of the french fries' flavor, temperature, and texture, and noted any special dipping sauces that might have been on offer.

Finally, I gave restaurants bonus points when they offered milk shakes, deserts, or some other pleasant extra. Speaking of points, I should note that, in fact, there really is no point system ... I just made a list of the places I visited in ascending order of enjoyment.

10. Elevation Burger

My least favorite burger came from Elevation Burger which has several locations in the DC-MD-VA area, and is also franchised in eight other states. They pride themselves on serving organic, grass-fed, free-range beef ... but it was the burger itself that I so disliked. The patty didn't seem as if it were made of ground beef at all - rather, it seemed to be more 'lumped' ... which, in these parts, works for crab cakes but not for burgers. The bun was also pretty terrible - basically the starch-white industrial bun found in public school cafeterias. The toppings and fries were fine, but not enough to save the burger. I wouldn't waste the calories on Elevation again.

9.  BGR

BGR, or The Burger Joint, was the first of the D.C. burger establishments that I visited. They have locations throughout the South, in California, and in New York, though outside of the City itself. I enjoyed the burger well enough - it was a good size and it was nice and hot, but it wasn't especially flavorful. I had it topped with bacon, American cheese, and grilled onions - all of which were very good. But the bun was a little too bready for my liking, and the sweet potato fries weren't quite as crisp as I like them to be. BGR was fine, but I would look for other options before making a return visit. 

8 and 7. Z-Burger and Five Guys

I rank and evaluate these two burger joints together because it's hard for me to distinguish between the two of them. Both of these franchises are native to the DC area, although Five Guys has spread to all but three of the fifty states and Z-Burger has remained a local establishment.  Both restaurants serve a quality burger, quickly, and cheaply (and wrapped in aluminum foil!).  Their fries are hand cut, hot, and served in giant portions (their toppings are numerous and adequate) but are rarely crisp enough.

I have a slight preference for Z-Burger's bun, which is loaded with sesame seeds. I also like that they offer a variety of milk shake flavors (75 to be exact) and that they serve onion rings. On the other hand, Five Guys offers peanuts for an 'appetizer' as you wait.  Over all, both establishments are quite good and together they kind of served as a base line for what I expect out of a good burger joint.

6.  Ray's Hell Burger 

This is the President's favorite in-town burger joint. The picture above shows Mr. Obama at Ray's chowing down with then Russian President Medvedev. The locals are also over the moon about this place. They've had to open a second location mere storefronts away from the original to handle the crowds.

Perhaps my own experience suffered from all the hype. It seemed to me that offering extremely large burgers was what most recommended Ray's. Otherwise, the toppings, sauces, bun, and fries, were all pretty standard issue. Sorry D.C., but I don't think Ray's demise is worth shedding tears over.

5.  Black & Orange 

Originally called Rogue States, Black & Orange was founded by celebrated chef Raynold Mendizabal and has two locations in D.C. Black & Orange is known for being open into the wee hours of the morning.  But to me, its true uniqueness lies in the fact that while other burger joints name their burgers by the combination of toppings that adorn the burgers, at Black & Orange the names denote different flavors and seasonings used in forming the patty. These include curry, soy, jerk, and black truffle among others.

I enjoyed the black truffle oil burger which was very flavorful - and the peppered bacon I added on was simply fantastic. I thought the bun was okay, but it didn't stand out as anything special. The fries, too, were simply adequate. However, the Old Bay mayonnaise for dipping is an inspired addition!

4.  Bobby's Burger Palace  

The nearly ubiquitous celebrity chef Bobby Flay has jumped onto the burger craze bandwagon with his BBP chain. The gourmet burgers on the menu are named for different major cities and feature toppings that represent that city's culinary trademarks. These include a Dallas Burger with barbecue sauce, and a Philly burger with peppers, onions, and provolone.

Flay also gives you the option of having any burger "crunchified" which means that it comes topped with potato chips. I went ahead and gave it a try, but it didn't do anything for me at all. After compressing the monstrosity enough to take a bite, the mass of chips quickly became something akin to wet sawdust as it melted into the cheese and soaked up the ketchup. I also didn't think the onion rings were nearly crunchy enough.

Still, the Crunchburger's bun and the cheeseburger itself were quite good, and the fries - both regular and sweet potato - were very good. The sweet potato fries were especially good: crispy and served with a great spicy mustard. And I really enjoyed the black and white milkshake which was the perfect consistency.

3.  Kraze Burger

Kraze Burger (pronounced Crazy Burger) is, believe it or not, a South Korean burger chain. Their first American location was in Bethesda, and they have since opened another DC restaurant.  There are numerous interesting options for burger toppings at Kraze, but unfortunately I don't recall that kimchee was one of them! I ordered a fairly standard bacon cheeseburger with an onion ring added on, but everything about it was perfectly done. And the handcut fries were - unlike Five Guys a few doors away - perfectly crisp.

2.  Good Stuff Eatery

The soft potato bun is probably my favorite nest for a burger, so Good Stuff Eatery was certainly off to a good start. And the burger itself and the toppings were very good as well.  But then I tasted the superb toasted marshmallow shake ... and then I sampled the various dipping sauces for the french fries, especially the fantastic Old Bay Mayo ... these delights allowed me to easily overlook the fact that the french fries were on the soggy side.

1.  Shake Shack

I actually don't know if this is Michelle Obama's favorite DC burger, but after her lunching at Shake Shack garnered a lot of attention from the media, let's just assume it's her favorite ... in which case, I couldn't agree more!

I'm probably a bit biased, since Shake Shack was founded by the legendary Danny Meyer in New York City, but to my mind they offer the platonic ideal of the french fry: crinkle-cut, hot and crisp, and available with a cheese sauce that's closer to fondue than to the toxic canned "cheese" that usually gets poured over fries or nachos. The burger itself is griddle-pressed, hot and just slightly crisp around the edges, and the lettuce and tomato are always cool and fresh. Again, they're all set on my favorite: a soft potato bun.  And then there are the milkshakes and concretes, perfect in consistency and flavor.

Now that I live in NYC there is a Shake Shack just about three blocks from where I live. It is a miracle that I have had the fortitude to resist (I've only eaten there twice since August!) or else I'd weigh three hundred pounds!

A Staten Island Extra ... 

While I was undertaking this survey of DC's burgers, a friend insisted that one would be disloyal to one's home-place if they did not believe that some restaurant in their hometown served the best burger in the world.  When he said this, I honestly couldn't think of a place on Staten Island that fit the bill.  Shake Shack had to serve as my hometown favorite.

But I'm happy to say that the burger craze that Shake Shack helped spawn has now led to at least two burger joints opening on Staten Island: Standard Burger and Burga.  I've gotten to both since I moved back to the city, and although I enjoyed Standard Burger's "Texan" very much ...

I have to say that Burga is simply the best burger joint I have ever been to, anywhere, ever.  Their truffle oil fries, and thin, crisp onion rings; their black and white milkshake; and the fabulously flavorful burger (or should I say burga) have all been absolutely perfect every time I've eaten there.

A Big Post on the Big Easy

A few weeks back, in one of my homilies I referred to a wonderful trip I made in February to New Orleans, Louisiana.  I promised when I posted that homily that once comps were finished I'd get around to writing a full-length post on all the sites, sounds, and tastes that I experienced in the Big Easy. Well, I'm happy to say that I've passed comprehensive exams and now have the time to make good on my promise ... 

I'd been hoping to visit New Orleans for years, going back at least to my senior year at Notre Dame when I wrote my thesis on Archbishop Joseph Rummel who integrated the Catholic schools of the archdiocese in the early 1960s.  But this year I finally had a great excuse to visit because my friend Scott has been living in New Orleans for a work assignment.  

Just blocks from where I was staying, I began my visit to New Orleans with a visit to the National World War II Museum. Founded as the National D-Day Museum, it was located in New Orleans because it was there that Andrew Higgins designed and built the famous landing crafts that were used in Operation Overlord.

Although the Museum now covers the entirety of the Second World War, and is massively expanding, its explication of the conflict is accomplished primarily through the numerous "D-Day" landings that marked both the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of operation. Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks have also produced an excellent movie for the Museum which I though handled the moral issues of the war in particularly subtle and impressive fashion.

While Scott worked during the day, I explored different sections of the city under crystal clear skies.  First up was the heart of the French Quarter and Jackson Square with the iconic Cathedral of St. Louis -where I was also pleased to concelebrate Mass on Sunday morning.

I also spent nearly a whole day riding the St. Charles streetcars and walking the Uptown and Garden District neighborhoods, including the campuses of Tulane and Loyola Universities.

I spent hours just looking at the amazing architecture of the homes and their beautifully maintained lawns and gardens. I also took dozens of photos, but I'll spare you by offering just this example of a Garden District home all decked out for the start of Mardi Gras...:

... and this picture of the boyhood home of Eli Manning (who had just won his second Super Bowl MVP with my beloved New York Football Giants!!!):

The Garden District also offered the perfect opportunity to pop into one of New Orleans' classic above-ground cemeteries.

Throughout my visit I ate amazing food at all sorts of different restaurants.  I worked my way through a checklist that included all the classic New Orleans' dishes: gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish pie, poboys, muffaletta, and the like. 

Jambalaya and Abita Beer 

Soft-shell Crab Poboy at Mother's. I also really enjoyed the traditional roast beef poboy at Mahony's 

but somehow didn't get a picture of all that deliciousness. 

Crawfish Pie at Franky & Johnny's

Raw Oysters at Luke

I'll just highlight a few of the best meals I enjoyed during my stay, starting with a North Portland-esque neighborhood restaurant called Cochon.

The place really did feel like it belonged to the Portland food scene in so many ways - but then there were the creole touches that reminded you where you were. With our delightful cocktails we sampled the house-cured meats, macaroni and cheese, fried alligator, and the grits. I'm fairly certain this was my first experience of alligator, and it really does just taste like chicken!

Another culinary highlight was the James Beard Award-winning Willie Mae's Scotch House in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans. The crowds line up long before lunch to sample the house speciality: fried chicken, corn bread, and the ubiquitous red beans and rice.

It was seriously some of the best fried chicken I have ever had in my life. I could have sat there all day gorging myself on that crispy goodness.  But you have to save room for dessert!  Which means you head back to Jackson Square, to the world-famous Cafe Du Monde - if not for coffee with chicory ....

... then for the fabulous beignets with powdered sugar and for the people watching. Throughout the week I found my path inexplicably winding its way just close enough to the Cafe that it seemed a shame not to stop by for just a few more beignets!

One of the real highlights of the trip was the chance to see some of the most important sites in the history of Holy Cross in the United States. We have been in New Orleans since 1849 and outside of the  University of Notre Dame, its hard to conceive of a more iconic apostolate in the U.S. 

Unfortunately, since Hurricane Katrina Holy Cross our priests have withdrawn from the city and closed Sacred Heart parish:

And the hurricane did tremendous damage to the Brothers' Holy Cross School, an all boys academy for grades 5 through 12.  The original campus was right along the levees in the Lower Ninth Ward, and I had the chance to see the now condemned buildings and the FEMA trailers where classes were first held when the school reopened after the storm.

But I was also able to tour the miraculous new campus that the school has built on the site of a former parish church, grade school, and high school.  

The new buildings were designed by a Holy Cross and Notre Dame alumnus and were modeled on the original main building of the school.  

The chapel and dining hall are yet to be built, but the academic and athletic facilities have been completed and they rival anything you'd fine on the nicest college campuses in the country. There are currently no brothers on the faculty, unfortunately, but the headmaster warmly welcomed us and I enjoyed speaking with some of the faculty and students. I very much hope to make return visits to this wonderful apostolate!

I was also lucky enough to be in New Orleans at the very beginning of the Mardi Gras season so I was able to attend three different parades. Happily, one of the parades included the Holy Cross Tiger Band:

I most enjoyed the evening parades we saw, but unfortunately those photos didn't come out quite as well. I also had a hard time juggling my adult beverage, my camera, and all the beads I needed to catch!

Despite their reputation, these Uptown Mardi Gras parades are really very family oriented. There were lots of little ones with their parents along the parade route - sometimes perched atop step ladders so as to better catch more beads! I also made a couple of trips down into the French Quarter's notorious Bourbon Street. 

Although it was undoubtedly a bit cliched, I still very much enjoyed sitting out on the patio behind Pat O'Brien's soaking in the sun and the refreshing Hurricanes they serve!

I should also note that I enjoyed several of the city's official cocktail, the Sazerac, including while sitting on the front porch of the Columns Hotel, while HBO set up for a shoot of Treme inside.

At night, Bourbon Street takes on an entirely different feel - and like Times Square, you really want to experience it at night. Towards the end of my stay, when we made our evening trip to the Quarter, it had gotten quite a bit cooler - which I think helped tame some of the less inspiring traditions of Mardi Gras in New Orleans. So I was able to soak in the atmosphere without encountering too much vice!

Whatever its reputation as a sin-city, I think New Orleans does have one highly civilized civil code that trumps those in so many other American cities: responsibly enjoying a frozen adult beverage while walking the city streets is perfectly legal, and I can attest, quite enjoyable.

My trip also included a tour of the Chalmette Battle site from the War of 1812, and several wonderful visits to live music venues on Frenchman Street. Unfortunately, my pictures in those darkened venues didn't come out so well - and without sound they wouldn't capture the experience anyway. So, you'll just have to make a visit for yourself! 

I'm grateful to Scott for hosting me, and happy to report that I will be making a return visit to New Orleans in January 2013 to present a paper at the annual American Catholic Historical Association meetings. I already can't wait! Laissez les bons temps roullez!!