Maybe it’s just me. A few weeks ago, I asked my colleagues on Slack for recommendations for their favorite burgers and veggie burgers, as I wanted to expand the food section of our city guide. I knew there would be one burger that would dominate: the burger to beat all burgers.
I should have known better.
Here at The Stranger, we’re passionate and opinionated. Even something as innocuous as “favorite burger” can turn into a shouting match. (Some of us were in high school or college debate clubs. Old habits die hard!)
Initially, the atmosphere was very friendly. Social Media Manager Christian Palocco praised Le Coin, saying, “Going to a French restaurant just for a burger can seem pretentious, but Le Coin in Fremont is hands down the best burger I’ve had in Seattle. The high quality meat is cooked to perfection and the caramelized onions and mimolette fondue are a real treat. The frites are one of my top five French fries and are so important to the burger experience.”
Fondue? Burgers? Yes. I like this direction.
Our Food & Drink Calendar editor Julian Bell says, “I love the burger at Pick Kwik Drive-In. It’s a classic fast-food burger like Dick’s, but with plenty of veggies (lettuce, tomato, onion) and similar to In-N-Out. If you prefer something a little fancier, I also like Bateau and Boat Bar’s Secret Menu Burger, which is made with dry-aged beef.”
Being an indecisive vegetarian, I considered two options: Red Mill’s Red Onion Garden Burger and Lil Woody’s Pendleton, topped with a house-made black bean patty. The Pendleton is a sloppy, saucy monstrosity piled high with barbecue sauce, cheese, and a generous helping of fried onion rings.
After a few polite votes for Red Mill and Loretta’s Northwestern, video production director Shane Walnd dropped a burger bomb: “I’m an Island Soul Boy, so I’m a big fan of the Soul Burger + Fries. The beef here is amazing, plus it’s got a fried egg, American cheese, hot link, bacon and jerk mayo on a brioche bun. It’s a filling meal and not for the faint of heart.”
Does that count as a burger?! Responses slowly started coming in quicker, with people declaring their favorite burgers just as good as the ones topped with whole breakfasts: Katie Phoenix defended the Mean Sandwich, vegan Shannon Lubetich insisted (never has a more provocative statement been heard) that no Seattle burger can beat Poulsbo’s Juicy Jay’s Smoked Burger, and Evanne Hall, who previously claimed Tin Table’s Froozie Burger was her favorite, chided everyone for not coming up with the Bait Shop burger sooner, featuring In-N-Out’s double patty and perfectly melted cheese.
When Caroline Dodge reminded everyone of Virginia Inn’s handmade fries, things changed. It wasn’t about the burger anymore, it was about mood, time of day, hunger level, price. In the end, there is no best burger in Seattle, the best burger is in our hearts.
The bottom line? The Stranger loves burgers. All burgers. So much so that they’ve partnered with Jack Daniels to create an entire week just for burgers. From now through Sunday, June 16, 20 restaurants are offering $12 specialty burgers. This isn’t a search for the best burger in Seattle; it’s a celebration of all the possibilities of the burger, from Angus beef to blackened salmon and spicy turkey to marinated tofu. Check out the full innovative menu here, then go out and binge. (Don’t forget to tip.)
Happy Burger Week! You’ll probably never ask your coworkers for recommendations again. (Just kidding. Yes, I’ve been craving milkshakes lately…)
