About Scott R Kline
Scott R. Kline is a photographer, father, traveler, husband and burger-lover based in the San Francisco Bay Area. He loves road trips, Burning Man, scotch whiskey, mid-century furniture, his dog Rex, building houses in Mexico, and seeing what comes next in life. You can visit the Facebook page for Scott R. Kline Photography at http://tinyurl.com/2eodlxu.
Recent Posts by Scott R Kline
San Francisco’s Just For You Cafe
April 23, 2012 by Scott R Kline
Just For You Cafe in the Dogpatch Neighborhood of San Francisco, sits about two blocks from where I now live. Their food is all fresh and local and is served with the Louisiana influence of owner Arienne Landry. I love their fish tacos and their tuna melt, but I had never reviewed their burger. Until today.
Saturday is generally a busy day at Just For You. They are a very popular place for breakfast and they have a brunch menu on Saturdays and Sundays. I went late and avoided the wait. Stephanie was in charge today and she always takes great care of me and the rest of the hoards. As always the entire staff was friendly and prompt.
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| Owner Arienne Landry behind the counter at J4U. |
I ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger ($10.50). Even though they don’t have gruyere on the menu, they always have it, so that is what I asked for. I also added fries ($2.50). The burger comes piled high with tons of fresh vegetables. Green leaf lettuce, tomato slices and pickle slices are piled on the nicely toasted Acme white bun. Mayo was liberally applied. The seven-ounce patty is made from fresh ground natural beef. Even though they swore they don’t add any salt and pepper to the beef, it has a nice flavor as if they did. The burger was cooked a nice medium as ordered. If I had to find a fault, it was not quite as juicy as I sometime like. The bacon was salty and thick on top of the gruyere which was nicely melted. The bun is spongy but tough enough not to fall apart under the stress of all it holds.
The fries are amazing. Fresh cut, they sport skins and medium thickness. They aren’t soggy like some fresh-cuts (Hello In-N-Out). Stephanie told me they fry them twice. The first time gets them part way there. Then they are drained and fried again right before serving to put that crisp finish.
The great thing about having a burger here is all the other things your lunch partner can have if they don’t like burgers. Finish off your meal with the great beignets.
Burger 4.5 Spatulas out of 5
Fries 5 spatulas
Just For You Cafe
732 22nd Street (In Dogpatch)
San Francisco, CA 94107
415-647-3033
www.justforyoucafe.com
Great Burgers and Spuds at Short Order in LA, California
March 3, 2011 by Scott R Kline
Short Order in Los Angeles sits in the area at Third and Fairfax Original Farmer’s Market, which is really a bunch of permanent food installations. The burger stand sits out in the open air. We were there on a lovely February Saturday and enjoyed the warm winter L.A. air. I ordered the Short Order Burger ($12) with Grass Fed Beef from Magruder Ranch. It comes with morbier cheese, griddled mushrooms, bibb lettuce and mustardy-mayo. I added bacon as well. We ordered the Short Order Spuds with sour cream dipping sauce with North Country Bacon ($6) rather than fries.
We chatted up our charming server, finding out about the neighborhood and admiring her tattoos. She was as relaxed and charming as the setting. Everyone was friendly and chatty and we felt at peace with the world. I had a beer as Pat and I chatted up our nearby patrons.
The burgers arrived along with the spuds. Wrapped neatly in yellow paper, they were a work of beefy art. The first bite did not disappoint. All the flavors blended so nicely wit the slightly spicy sauce. The beef had only the slightest pepper in it that really brought out the great taste of the juicy beef. The bun was firm and toasted perfectly. I must say, this is one of my favorite burgers in some time.
The spuds reminded me of how much I used to like TGI Friday’s potato skins. These are the gourmet version. Popping wth flavor along with the dipping sauce.
Take a chill pill and visit Short Order, next time you are in L.A.
Burger 5 spatulas out of 5
Spuds 5 spatulas
Short Order
6333 W. 3rd St. Stall #110
Los Angeles, CA 90036
323-761-7970
www.shortorderla.com
San Francisco’s Spork Steals the Show
January 17, 2011 by Scott R Kline
Spork in San Francisco is my new favorite restaurant.
Pat and I went there for dinner after a lovely day in the Mission, checking out all the vintage stores and eating Dymano Donuts. Spork is a place serving old-school classics in a new-school fashion.
They have sustainable-this and local-that versions of slow-food takes on old classics. And despite the political correctness of their offerings, everything tastes like it was pan-fried in lard in a steel skillet by my grandmother. That’s a very good thing!
The In-Side-Out Burger ($14) screamed “eat me” from the menu. The beef is fresh from Sun Marin Farms.
Two patties griddle-fried, peppery and crispy on the outside. Moist and pink on the inside. The concoction towers over the plate. It is a stack of ingredients as follows starting at the plate: Butter lettuce, tomato slice, beef patty, bun circle, special sauce, beef patty, tillamook chedder and a grilled onion topping so sweet it could be applesauce.
The special sauce reminded me of the spicy thousand-island type I make at home, only no islands. You have to eat this with a fork and knife, but it doesn’t diminish the burger experience.
The Smashed Fries are an interesting idea. Small potatoes with the skins on, are deep-fried and smashed flat. They are crispy and salty and tasty. Not your classic fries, but a very scrumptious alternative like everything at Spork.
Pat had the pork chop ($23). Big enough to feed a family of four, it was thick and juicy and perfect. For desert we had the After School Special ($6). Humphry Slocumbe malted vanilla ice cream with chucks of chocolate covered potato chips and caramel swirls. Enough said.
As for the ambience, the place is in a converted KFC location. Turns out KFC invented the spork, a combination spoon and fork. The kitchen is in the old freezer. They have converted the old oven hood to a light fixture. We lucked out with a table by the window and watched Valencia Street traffic with more stylish bicyclists than cars. Go. Eat. Spork.
Burger 5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 4 spatulas out of 5
Spork Restaurant
1058 Valencia Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
415-643-5000
www.sporksf.com/
Redwood City’s Bay Burger Gourmet
December 26, 2010 by Scott R Kline
Bay Burger Gourmet Hamburger in Redwood City was recently pointed out to me by my burger buddy Jeff. They picked a nice spot on Woodside road where there aren’t any great burgers to my knowledge. It is set in a strip mall with ample parking behind. The room is large and on this rainy day a little cold.
But the place is pleasant, painted in bright colors and offering cheerful table service. The Dalai Lama’s instructions for life are posted on the wall, something I have not seen at any other burger joints. It sits there between the big screen TV playing sports and the Giants pennants.
I ordered the 1/2 lb Bacon Burger ($9.99). It comes with fries or you can upgrade to onion rings for a buck. In no time at all my server had brought the impressive looking plate.
The burger is presented open faced with the patty, smothered in cheese and covered with grilled onions. The top of the bun is toasted inside and out.
Also are piles of fresh fixings including pickle chips, green leaf lettuce, red onion and tomato slices. The bacon was crisp salty and excellent. (I always try a piece apart form the burger.)
I assembled the whole thing and put on a little of the sauce that had come with my wife’s 1/4 pound cheeseburger ($7.50 with fries.) The sauce is a little spicier version of a thousand island sauce minus the relish in it. Very good. But it didn’t come with my burger.
The first bite crunched pleasantly. All the flavors blended nicely. The bun enveloped the whole thing, firm but soft. THe Niman Ranch beef (no hormones, no antibiotics, vegetarian feed, humanely raised) was cooked close to well-done, despite me asking for medium. This was a little disappointment in an otherwise delightful burger.
Fires were thin and hot. Crunchy but unremarkable. Onion rings were more interesting, light, thin, crunchy and flavorful. The chocalte shake ($4.95) was delightfully smooth, creamy and just chocolatey enough.
My favorite touch was the salt and pepper shakers stacked and made to look like a hamburger. It is a shame this place is not busier. It has been pretty sparse both times I have been in.
Bay Burger Gourmet Hamburgers
764 Woodside Road
Redwood City, CA 94061
650-701-0992
Fax 650-701-0952 (For carry out)
www.bayburgergourmet.com
Tally’s Cafe in Tulsa
November 30, 2010 by Scott R Kline
Tally’s Café in Tulsa, Oklahoma was shown on our Route 66 map as we motored across the U.S. It sounded good so we stopped in for a burger. Nestled on a corner in the old section of Tulsa, it is a bustling place.
It seats at least 100 people in its red booths and stools. The place looks like it probably has for forty years. Not a re-creation of a 50’s diner, but the real deal. The waitresses have probably been there for years.
They have plenty of attitude, but are sweet at the same time.
I ordered Double Meat Cheeseburger ($6.95) with Bacon ($1). I upgraded from fries to Onion rings for another dollar. An order of the Tally-Os goes for $4.95 by itself. My daughter had fries with here Texas Toast Grilled Cheese, so I got to have those as well.
The burger was great. The sesame bun was perfectly toasted. The two 1/3 pound patties were juicy and just smoky enough after being charbroiled. The bacon was crisp and flavorful. Fresh lettuce, tomato and onion sat under the burger. American cheese was melted on top. I also selected mayo, when asked “mayo or mustard” by the server. I think this is the best burger I have had in a long time.
The onion rings were just as good. Crisp and lightly battered, juicy and sweet on the inside, I cannot say I have had better. The fries were medium cut and coated, not my cup of tea, but hot and tasty none-the-less.
I found Tally’s the perfect mix of atmosphere, authenticity and good food. Check it out when you are cruising Route 66.
Burger 5 spatulas out of 5
Fries 2.5 spatulas
Onion Rings 5 spatulas
Tally’s Café
1102 South Yale Ave.
Tulsa, OK 74112-5343
918-835-8038
www.tallyscafe.com
Austin’s Snackbar
November 25, 2010 by Scott R Kline
Snack Bar in Austin, Texas, sits right in the middle of my favorite part of Austin, the South Congress area. I had visited earlier in the week and enjoyed their pulled pork sliders, but had noticed the Brie Burger on the menu.
Drea the charming hostess, waitress, artist that works there, assured me it was quote good. Anyone sporting a “Where the Wild Things Are” monster tattoo on her arm has credibility with me. So I ordered it the second time I ate there.
The Brie Burger ($10) is made with “Beef raised right”, caramalized onions, brie cheese, of course and the usual lettuce, tomato, etc. The bun is nicely toasted and fits the large patty well.
The onions are so sweet, they could have been apples. The beef is prepared to order, medium for me, and was cooked right and tasted very good.
As good as the burger is the ambience of Snackbar. There is outdoor dining and indoor. Indoor they have a dining area and bar area. They play movies on the wall. This night, Kung Fu Hustle, was playing on the wall with subtitles below.
A steady stream of Autsin’s energetic young crowd came in and out keeping the place lively on this “First Thursday“, a night once a month that South Congress stores stay open and the street is packed.
Drea recommended I try the burger at Jackalope next. A fine idea next time I am in Austin.
Burger 4 spatulas out of 5
Snackbar
1224 South Congress Avenue
Austin, TX 78704
512-445-2626
www.snackbaraustin.com
Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner in Kingman, AZ
September 13, 2010 by Scott R Kline
Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner in Kingman, Arizona is a nice stop on your visit to the old route 66. We set out to take the old Route 66 that breaks off from Interstate 40 from Kingman to Seligman. We kicked it off at Mr. D’s.
The restaurant is a clean and attractive diner with pink and turquoise chairs and booths. I ordered a Cheeseburger ($6.95.) The patty is one half pound. The burger has shredded lettuce, tomato, onions and a pickle spear. It comes with fries.
It is a big burger, moist and cooked nicely, but obviously from a frozen patty. Bun was soft and toasted. The veggies fresh. Fries standard issue medium cut, but hot.
The service was cheerful and the place had a nice charm. You could do a lot worse.
Burger 3 spatulas out of 5
Fries 3 spatulas
Mr. D’s Route 66 Diner,
Old Route 66 & 1st St
105 E. Divine Ave
Kingman, AZ 86401
928-718-0066
www,mrdzrtdiner.com
Finding a Bison Burger Like No Other at Burger Me! in Truckee, CA
July 26, 2010 by Scott R Kline
Burger Me! In Truckee, CA was another recommendation from my cardiologist. He took his family there when he was in Tahoe at North Star and texted me some photos. I decided to swing by on my way back to Cali from my three week road trip across the U.S. It was a nice ending to my trip.
The proprietor happened to be taking orders at the counter and recommended the BBQ Bison Burger ($9.95) a 1/3 pound patty of fresh Durham Ranch Bison with bacon, cheddar, jalapeños and BBQ sauce. I also ordered up hand cut fries ($2.50), and hand cut onion rings ($3). The even had housemade tea. I gave my name and took a seat at the concrete topped table. In fact everything in the place was either concrete or corrugated metal. This fit in well with the building, which appeared to be a former fire station or car repair garage. It was all opened to the beautiful alpine day. People also sat outside at picnic tables.
The burger came nicely wrapped in red and white-checkered paper. It towered, having shredded lettuce, tomato and pickle slices mixed in with all the ingredients mentioned above. The bun was firm and toasted, a little heavier than most, but to good effect. The burger was cooked well, which with bison, one would think would be a bit dry due to the lower fat content, but it was still fairly juicy. I would like to try it a little more medium next time. The mix of ingredients was interesting. Not as much BBQ sauce as one gets on most BBQ burgers. This left room to taste the crisp and yummy bacon, the pickle and jalapeños. I removed the jalapeños while I ate the second half of the burger and really enjoyed the flavor.
The innovative onion rings wrapped themselves in a thick batter featuring paprika, onion and garlic powders. The onion was thick and sweet. This was a very different o-ring than I have experienced and I quite enjoyed them.
Fries were medium cut with the skins on. Soft and tasty on the inside, they were crisp and salty on the outside.
Great food and a very pleasant atmosphere on a sunny Sierra day, made this a great burger experience.
Burger 4.5 spatulas out of 5
Onion Rings 5 spatulas
Fries 4 spatulas
Burger Me!
10418 Donner Pass Road, Suite A
Truckee, CA 96161
339-587-8852
burgermetruckee.com
