Dear AHT: The Burger Lounge in La Jolla, California
Posted by Robyn Lee, September 15, 2008 at 10:30 AM
Clicking in to the AHT inbox recently, we've got this bit of juicy intel. Eat up!
This last weekend my wife and I went down to Coronado Island in San Diego. On the way we stopped in La Jolla for lunch. We ate at a place called Burger Lounge and it was terrific, although I think you would have criticized the bun to beef ratio. When we got to Coronado there was another Burger Lounge there. I had never heard of this chain of burger places—do you have any word on them?
I've never heard of this premium burger chain before, but it doesn't sound bad; they use "organic grass-fed Tallgrass Beef directly from the grower" and make "fresh cut French fries, house-made onion rings, and home-style-baked buns." Another plus is that eating at Burger Lounge may be less environment-killing than eating somewhere else because it's certified green.
Have any of you eaten at Burger Lounge? What did you think of it?
I have eaten at the original (La Jolla) location many times since it opened about a year ago, as it is only about a mile from my house. It is very good and consistent. The grass-fed beef has an interesting, somewhat sweeter taste. The buns are baked fresh daily to their recipe--a mix of white and wheat flour with some molasses. The location in Coronado just opened, I believe; the second location is in Kensington; I have heard one may be opened in Downtown SD next.
Good as it is, it cannot to compare with my favorite burger in SD--the Drugstore Burger at the Lodge at Torrey Pines (you can get it either at the bar off the lobby or the grill by the putting green--but not at the high-end A.R. Valentin restaurant). Niman ranch half-pounder, perfectly seasoned. AHT should check it out and review it!
I planned a visit to the La Jolla while I was in San Diego this summer and it was such a disappointment. The fries were hard-- not crunchy, just stale, and the rings anemic and underseasoned. I also had to tear off about half the bun just to make the burger to bun ratio acceptable. Definitely not worth fighting for parking and a table in crowded downtown La Jolla.
I have to disagree with the comments above. Burger Lounge is DELICIOUS and San Diegans have definitely become a huge fan of the restaurant more recently. A new location is even opening in Downtown San Diego, in July!
The Burgers are definitely grass-fed, and you can tell because of the juicy that runs down your fingers as you're eating the burger!!! Beef that is not grass fed would not retain liquids in such a way.
I DEFINITELY recommend Burger Lounge to anyone who is visiting San Diego. It's definitely a San Diego restaurant icon, and was voted San Diego Magazine's Best Restaurants. You won't be able to find the same juicyness and authenticity in burgers or fresh-cut, garlic seasoned french fries and onion rings anywhere else.
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This last weekend my wife and I went down to Coronado Island in San Diego. On the way we stopped in La Jolla for lunch. We ate at a place called Burger Lounge and it was terrific, although I think you would have criticized the bun to beef ratio. When we got to Coronado there was another Burger Lounge there. I had never heard of this chain of burger places—do you have any word on them?
3 Comments:
I have eaten at the original (La Jolla) location many times since it opened about a year ago, as it is only about a mile from my house. It is very good and consistent. The grass-fed beef has an interesting, somewhat sweeter taste. The buns are baked fresh daily to their recipe--a mix of white and wheat flour with some molasses. The location in Coronado just opened, I believe; the second location is in Kensington; I have heard one may be opened in Downtown SD next.
Good as it is, it cannot to compare with my favorite burger in SD--the Drugstore Burger at the Lodge at Torrey Pines (you can get it either at the bar off the lobby or the grill by the putting green--but not at the high-end A.R. Valentin restaurant). Niman ranch half-pounder, perfectly seasoned. AHT should check it out and review it!
PAR92037 at 6:50PM on 09/15/08
I planned a visit to the La Jolla while I was in San Diego this summer and it was such a disappointment. The fries were hard-- not crunchy, just stale, and the rings anemic and underseasoned. I also had to tear off about half the bun just to make the burger to bun ratio acceptable. Definitely not worth fighting for parking and a table in crowded downtown La Jolla.
staylora at 1:22PM on 09/16/08
I have to disagree with the comments above. Burger Lounge is DELICIOUS and San Diegans have definitely become a huge fan of the restaurant more recently. A new location is even opening in Downtown San Diego, in July!
The Burgers are definitely grass-fed, and you can tell because of the juicy that runs down your fingers as you're eating the burger!!! Beef that is not grass fed would not retain liquids in such a way.
I DEFINITELY recommend Burger Lounge to anyone who is visiting San Diego. It's definitely a San Diego restaurant icon, and was voted San Diego Magazine's Best Restaurants. You won't be able to find the same juicyness and authenticity in burgers or fresh-cut, garlic seasoned french fries and onion rings anywhere else.
vicknchips at 2:15PM on 06/25/09