Burger Lounge

Burger Lounge is the current hip place to get an expensive meal so when the opportunity arose to dine there, it was high time to review this La Jolla hotspot. I was a little wary of going to a La Jolla burger joint so I went on their website to check their prices. At $6.95 for a basic Lounge Burger, it seemed like it would be a pretty decent price for a gourmet sandwich. However, when I arrived, I found that the website did not actually reflect the prices at this location. While the site may or may not be accurate for their other locations, burgers in La Jolla started at $7.95 instead of the $6.95 price point. Their onion rings were also more expensive at $3.95 instead of $2.95.

I ordered the Grilled Lounge Burger with cheddar cheese and half and half of fries and onion rings. While the burger itself was pretty juicy and the produce was certainly fresh, the burger was a bit lacking in the flavor, texture, and wow department. Considering that their very basic burger $8 without the fries, it's a high price to pay for something that lacks the personality of a really great burger. I think it might be slightly more justified if it had that little extra kick of avocado or something to bring out the savory flavors of the meat. The fries and onion rings were lackluster, and were cut so thinly that were basically fried potato scraps by the time we received them.

All in all, the food was just so-so. Paying the astronomical prices for what would essentially be considered street food is somewhat ridiculous, especially since there are next to no options on how a person might want to customize their Burger Lounge experience. It really did feel like the people who opened this place were just being lazy when they put this concept together. Slapping a burger on a fancy square plate and charging $8 for it doesn't make it gourmet. There's next to no seating inside but at least it's located in La Jolla so there's always somewhere nice to sit outside. Their tables are dog friendly so if you do drop by, don't forget your pooch. Before deciding to drop in, beware of the bait and switch. It may have been an honest mistake, but the onus is on them to quickly fix it.

Food: 6/10

Service: 7/10

Price: $$

Atmosphere: 6/10

I heard a lot of great things about this place and all my friends raved about their amazing burgers, so finally one day I decided to come here for what I thought would be a nice dinner out. I expected to find a restaurant and was very unpleasantly surprised at this corner hole in the wall. The restaurant suffocatingly tiny, with just enough space for you to order and then squeeze your way out again. It was also insanely busy, which says something about their burgers. Yes, they knew how to make a hamburger (or turkey burger) and the food was delicious, but not any better than other places.

A great thing about this restaurant is that they do believe in sustainable foods. They are eco-friendly and use all recycled, biodegradable materials. They use local farmers and reuse everything that they can.

Another plus is that while indoor seating is nearly impossible. They do offer a few tables in an outside patio for you and your pooch. Even if you don't want to sit there to enjoy your burger, you could take your dog for a walk in sunny La Jolla and enjoy the scenery.

Food: 8/10

Atmosphere: 4/10

Price: $$