SF Bay Area burgers & more...

Is it a bar with food, or a restaurant with standout cocktails? Any which way, they serve a great burger. The Sekoya Smash Burger has two patties, smoked gouda, caramelized red onions, a special sauce all on a house made sesame bun. You can add bacon jam for an additional cost. I would definitely not skip the bacon jam. The combination of smokey, savory and slight sweetness, from the jam, makes for a well-rounded burger with delicious flavors just melding together. Paired with a bourbon based cocktail, such as the Bear Divide, you have an outstanding meal before you.

This restaurant has a selection of beers and a limited selection of wine. But enough choices to get a good pairing for your burger. The classic burgers are either a single or double 1/3 lb patty or a ½ lb patty burger. You can select cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickles or onions. Their specialty burgers have delicious combinations of toppings, I go for the Smokehouse which comes with bacon, cheddar, crispy onions and bbq sauce. If you want something more exotic, try the pineapple burger with grilled pineapple, bacon, pepperjack cheese and crispy onions. The Bacon & Blue sounds good, too, complete with bacon, blue cheese, Cajun spice and crispy onions. The high-quality ingredients keep me coming back and I love that I can pair with a cold beer.

I love this restaurant. It has outdoor seating, firepits and even has performers allowing you to enjoy the summer nights. They have a solid burger on their menu, which comes with cheddar on a brioche bun. You can add bacon, which I always do, and /or avocado, which I don’t. They have a full bar with many beers and cocktails. We pair with the classic Old Fashioned. Actually we stay for a while enjoying many well prepared cocktails and finishing up with smore’s at the fire pits.

At a restaurant with high quality steaks and a selection of Wagyu including Kobe beef, you’ll of course find a standout burger or sliders. On occasion, there will be Kobe sliders on the menu. Little gorgeous morsels with small pillowy buns, mini Kobe patties and a gherkin as décor. Just yum! There is also a Wagyu Burger made with Wagyu beef, topped with pepperoncini and gruyere cheese. There is a full bar and a wonderful wine list. The food at Alexanders always shines. Everything there is great, including the sliders and burger.

At a place known for their pastrami, you’ll find a selection of pastrami sandwiches, Philly cheesesteaks, fresh ground chuck burgers…and so much more. The Hubby and I always get the pastrami burger combing two delicious meats. The burger has tender, sliced pastrami, melted Swiss cheese, sauerkraut, Russian dressing on a burger bun. It’s basically a Rueben sandwich and burger, all in one. The combination of a patty and melt in your mouth, flavorful, pastrami, is just divine. Their selection of beers and ciders require a full page on the menu, with a smaller list of wines available. I haven’t had a bad beer there. And have only been surprised with the selection and quality. This is the place for beer and burgers!

Okay, so this is outside the Palo Alto area and even beyond the Peninsula. But hey, for a 30-minute drive you can go to a restaurant that serves you great steaks, Italian food and yes, a standout burger. They have a full bar, and the old school vibe is a nice change of pace. There are five burgers to select from on their menu, but I keep coming for the Original Joe’s Famous Hamburger. This is a rather large, ¾ lb ground chuck burger which comes with cheese (default swiss), but you can choose cheddar, like I do. The patty can be either grilled or broiled, I choose broiled as that is their specialty. The burger comes with lettuce, tomato, red onions and mayo on the side (if you ask) and thick cut fries or a salad as a side. You can pay extra for bacon or a fried egg. I go for the bacon! The flavors are just classic. Oh yeah, did I mention the full bar? So yes, get a beer or a cocktail to pair!

Now if you're looking for a place to have a burger surrounded by beautiful chandeliers, olive trees, glass walls and basically a stunning backdrop for a meal, this is your place. The burger was pretty good. It came with minced red onion, American cheese (I subbed cheddar) and an aioli. You can add bacon or avocado for a charge. Fries are a la carte. You can get plain or truffle. There are a few cocktails, limited beers, and ample choices for wine.