Why go: To be reminded what a burger should be. Owner Mark Bucher minds the details—soft, buttered brioche bun, ripe tomatoes, naturally raised and dry-aged prime beef hand-ground daily and grilled.
What to get: Cheddar-bacon burger, simple and sublime; lobster burger (seasonal); lamb burger topped with feta and cucumber; thick-cut, beer-battered onion rings; sweet-potato fries.
Best for: A fun, inexpensive night out. Parents can groove to the ’80s soundtrack and memorabilia while providing a meal the whole family can agree on.
Insider tip: Bucher has fun with political scandals, so you’re likely to see such specials as the Eliot Spitzer, a patty with braised short ribs tucked inside and topped with horseradish sauce, and the Blagojevich Burger, capped with roast beef and horseradish.
Open daily for lunch and dinner.
>> See all 2009 Cheap Eats restaurants here
Ann Limpert joined Washingtonian in late 2003. She was previously an editorial assistant at Entertainment Weekly and a cook in New York restaurant kitchens, and she is a graduate of the Institute of Culinary Education. She lives in Petworth.
