Dupont Circle Burger Wars
Soon there will be a:
Five Guys (opened a few years ago)
BGR (opened late 2009)
Rogue States (opening early 2010)
BLT Burger (opening Spring 2010)
BLT Burger is really, really good (at least the one in Las Vegas is). It is way better than BGR -- much better shakes and better burgers. BGR does have some really neat stuff on its menu (tuna, lobster) that could help it stand out. Five Guys serves its niche, and will be much cheaper than BGR or BLT. Rogue States won't last long if the burgers aren't dynamite.
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So, hubby and I went looking for a top notch burger yesterday and so I checked out this thread and a few others and I'm confused. Apparently we never got this BLT Burger? And it looks like Rogue States isn't open either? What happened here?
In the meantime, we went to BGR. Not that impressed. Except the soda-machine-of-the-future did have some novelty value. All I want is a nice, loose-packed burger - done by hand to order - like the bar back in my hometown used to dish up. Guess I didn't appreciate the value of that when I had it. I doubt I'll make a special trip back.
I appreciate the availability of gourmet options and all that, but first I'm just going to start with a basic burger and if it's not great I won't be moving on to the other parts of the menu.
ETA: Oops, missed the article about the nuisance lawsuit. Hopefully they fix the exhaust vent problem - must've been miserable for the employees that brought the suit where it was venting before. Cuba Libre appears to vent from their kitchen directly into the face of anyone walking down the sidewalk on H St and it's pretty unpleasant for the mere few seconds it takes to walk through there.
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re: Raids
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re: beauxgoris
The latest I've heard is Summer 2011 via this: http://www.welovedc.com/2011/01/21/al...
I super excited to get a Shake Shack here!
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re: spinachandchocolate
beauxgoris
Oct 20, 2010 11:57 PM
Just want to throw my 2 cents in. My husband and I eat at BGR and found a way to make it pretty affordable. I order a kids meal: two sliders, fries and drink - and he gets a regular burger or regular sliders (4 to an order) and we split everything. I sometimes just get the kids meal myself for dinner (I'm a normal sized person with a good appetite) - Also their daily lunch special (from 11 - 2) is only 8.99 and includes a full sized burger, fries and a drink. For the quality (and I find it much higher than zburger or 5 guys) that price can't be beat - I mean it's not much more than a McDonald's big mac meal combo!
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re: beauxgoris
That's actually a really good idea. 2 sliders are probably actually more than enough for me. As long as you can get cheese on the sliders and get them cooked to order, sounds like an affordable plan...especially for lunch.
I personally don't feel that BGR is that outrageously priced though. I highly doubt you will be saving money when Shake Shack or the other burger competitors come to town.
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glad this threat came back - we went to BGR the other night. two burgers, one fry, one onion ring, two drinks. $32. WHAT?
Never going back. It wasn't even good. Should have gone with my gut and had sweetgreen instead.
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re: Jeserf
Yep. My first and only visit their was with my mom and we each had burgers and drinks and one order of fries and it was nearly what you paid. Never again. Tastee Diner in Bethesda isn't a premium burger joint but doesn't serve a bad greasy burger if that's what you like and I do.
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Tastee Diner
118 Washington Blvd S, Laurel, MD 20707 -
re: Jeserf
DanielK
Oct 7, 2010 12:23 PM
What on earth did you order?
Weekday lunch, burger, fries and a soda is $9.
At other times, basic burger is $7, fries $3, onion rings $4, and $2 for a soda. So I count $25, not $32. Did you order shakes? Put a lot of extra toppings on the burger?
FWIW, this is the same price at places like Cheeburger, TGIFridays, etc., so not sure why this is considered expensive.
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re: Jeserf
DanielK
Oct 7, 2010 02:55 PM
Still doesn't add up for me, unless one of those drinks was a shake. $27 + tax is just shy of $30, not $32.
Just for price comparison's sake, I went to the Silver Diner website. Now, nobody is comparing the quality of burgers here, and SD patties are much smaller than BGR, but with tax, pretending for a moment that SD was in DC (so using the same tax rate), 2 cheeseburgers with fries, add a side of onion rings, and two sodas, $28.
So it's $2/person more to get BGR instead of Silver Diner, or $1/person using my math. I'm sure the other chains are comparable in price.
[before someone points out that adding a side at SD is 3 sides, not 2, I will point out that sides at SD are single-portion sized, and a side of fries at BGR can feed 2-3 people.]
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re: DanielK
ok, but our bill was $32 and that is what we got. So you can do as much math as you want, but that's what is on our receipt. Maybe iced tea costs more, but the card was swiped for $32.
I'm not comparing the price to other places. For $32, the food should have been good. As I said, it was bland, crowded, the tables weren't clean, etc. I think Good Stuff TASTES better for the cost. If i'm spending $30-$35 for BURGERS and fries, I'd want them to be flavorful.
And I've never been to a silver diner.
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re: Jeserf
DanielK
Oct 8, 2010 12:09 PM
But that's not what you keep arguing. You only elucidated 3 or 4 posts in that you didn't like BGR - what you keep complaining about is the price, which (if you compare the online menus) is EXACTLY THE SAME as Good Stuff.
If you don't like BGR, that's fine, and certainly your right. But the claim that they are somehow more expensive than comparable burger places is simply wrong.
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re: DanielK
I went to BGR and had a greek lamb burger, a regular cheese burger, 2 beers served in plastic cups and sweet potatoes fries and it ran almost $45 with tax. I think they are vastly over priced/ I think they get the bun right, but I find the meat greasy and the toppings pedestrian at best.
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re: DanielK
So $25 is cheap for a burger that was greasy, pedestrian toppings and a lamb burger with unplesanat feta and boring tzatziki plus soggy sweet potato fried that have not inspired my partner and I to a return visit? And when you charge $6 for a beer, it shouldn't come in plastic cups but a bottle or real glass. Quality is worth paying more money for. But I don't ahve the quality image that you do for BGR's product you have.
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re: fudizgud
Sounds like you got a bad meal. Why didn't you send it back, tell them your problems, and either go somewhere else to eat or get a replacement?
There's no point in complaining about price when it's the food that you didn't like. Would you have cheerfully eaten it if it was $10 instead of $25?
Frankly, I think a lamb burger with feta and tzatziki is an abomination. If that's what you wanted, you should have gone to a kabob place, not a burger place.
There's no excuse for soggy fries, though. Even if you didn't have the heart to take the burgers back, you certainly should have returned the fries and asked for a batch fresh out of the fryer. But to be fair, sweep potato fries are usually a bit softer than regular potato fries. I've occasionally had soggy or lukewarm fries at Five Guys and they've cheerfully replaced them. The replacement has always been as good as they can make them, which is pretty darn good.
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re: fudizgud
I so much enjoy hearing someone complain about a simple lunch costing more than $20 per person. I finally bit the bullet this year and set $6 (up from $5) as my benchmark for lunch and I still have a hard time making my goal. Baja Fresh, with their "return visit" discount used to work consistently, but now it's down to $1 off on an $8 ticket. Now and then I'll bust my budget and go for the BGR "Lunch box" special ($10 plus Arlington tax) or Ray's Hell Burger which is a little cheaper since I don't get fries.
The burgers aren't such a bad deal by themselves, but the adding toppings, sides, and drinks can quickly double the cost. If you want a burger, eat a burger. If you can't enjoy it without the sweet potato fries and onion rings, fancy toppings, and $5.50 beer or shake, then be prepared for a $20 lunch and consider it a special occasion, just as you would a $75 dinner.
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re: fudizgud
Personally I'm willing to pay a little more at BGR because the burger and fries are awesome in my opinion. They are certainly the best burger place (so far) in Dupont Circle. I think their meat is very good and you usually get a nice crust on it, juicy etc. I usually get a cheese burger. I got the turkey burger once and really didn't like it (I thought it was way too thick) so I've just stuck to the basic cheese burger and fries. Haven't tried any of the other specialty burgers yet. Anyone have a favorite?
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re: bcarter3
Haven't been to Rogue States and may not get the chance. They are in a big law suit and the judge just ordered them to stop operations at least temporily.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/...
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I'm glad that DC's crazy for burgers and that Dupont's getting even more burger joints packed inside its small circle, but let's face it: None of those burgers really compares to Ray's. I've eaten and review every burger there is in DC, and the only one that keeps me coming back consistently for more is Ray's because it just cuts out all the gimmicks with its monstrous patty and countless toppings.
What's your take here? Do you guys think anything in Dupont can really be called "best burger" in DC?
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re: The Food Buster
woodleyparkhound
Sep 27, 2010 06:42 AM
I'm with you, FB. No, I don't think anything in Dupont can be called "best burger in DC". Though others will disagree, that title belongs to Ray's, IMHO.
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re: The Food Buster
Eh, I sorta agree. Ray's is better than BGR, Shake Shack, Rogue States (by a mile), Five Guys. But let me say this, would I rather have a Ray's or Shake Shack? I'd go Shake Shack -- overall it is better. Very slightly worse burger, better bun and then a million other options, including awesome shakes. And compared to BLT Burger -- it's not even close. BLT Burger is unbelievable. Appetizers, tons of burger options, amazing, amazing shakes and desserts. I mean the Vegas BLT Burger is the best burger restaurant in the country I think. But are the actual hamburgers a tiny notch below Ray's... yes. And I realize we are getting a Go Burger, not a BLT, so TBD on how good it is or what they offer from the menu.
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re: masonuc
Apparently, Smash Burger is highly thought of by foodies and bloggers. Not sure where they are located but their style, as I understand it, is similar to Shake Shack and Five Guys in that they sort of smash the meat down on the griddle hence the name. I understand Penn Quarter and Dupont are hot spot locales in the area, but why don't some of these places come to Bethesda or Rockville or other burbs? I'm in Mont. Co. and I am certainly not going downtown with parking issues and all the rest for a burger. Bethesda has Five Guys now, but that's really low on the list now as these other spots have cropped up. BGR is in Bethesda too but I think it's a little pricey. Ray's has them beat on quality and price.
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re: The Food Buster
I finally made it to Rays Too. The service was lacking and my onion rings finally came at the end of the meal but DAMN it was the best fracking burger I have ever had. I had the soulful burger. I would compare it to BGFs wellington burger. BGR Wellington was so smothered and salty, I could not taste the meat. Ray's was a perfect balance. With that being said, BGR wins on onion rings and OMG their sweet potato fries...
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Bobby Flay will also be opening a burger place at 2121 K St NW. Probably some time next year. I think the area is becoming oversaturated with burger places, why can't we get some good BBQ instead?
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re: masonuc
woodleyparkhound
Aug 11, 2010 07:58 PM
Shake Shack? That's exciting!! Where and when?
Desperadoes Burgers and Fries just opened at 1342 U St.
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re: beauxgoris
woodleyparkhound
Aug 12, 2010 04:04 AM
I've been wanting to go to Shake Shack for years on trips to NYC. For one reason or another I've never made it. I'm really excited about this news!
I see from the article below that it will be located at 1216 18th St., and will be opening something during the first half of 2011.
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re: woodleyparkhound
Yep. Shake Shack is on the way. I was just there in NYC and it is awfully good, much better than 5 Guys that's for sure. I like their juicy, greazy burger served poking out of a soft paper pouch.
See my post titled "NYC Shake Shack to DC". The Wash Post article is there.
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5 Guys
6210 Quander Rd, Alexandria, VA 22307
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I tried out BGR about a week ago, a Friday night. I had the tuna burger and sweet potato fries, and my boyfriend had the Southwestern burger.
My tuna burger was a giant slab of tuna, nicely rare as ordered, with pickled ginger and some kind of mayonaisey sauce. The problem was that it was served warm/borderline lukewarm. This may have been because they wanted to serve it together with my dining partner's burger, and the timing got off, but I was a little peeved. For $13 (for just the tuna burger, I remind you), I would expect a properly served dish. I thought the sweet potato fries were good. A very large serving, not greasy, pleasantly sweet potato flavored. My boyfriend's burger was covered in chili, which was not my cup of tea, but he was pretty happy with it.
I would say this place is worth it for the lunch special (burger, fries, soda for $9 IIRC), but otherwise it's kinda pricey for what you get. I also thought the decor was pretty hideous, but to each his own...
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re: hamster
DanielK
Mar 22, 2010 07:17 PM
Yeah, there's something of a conflict when ordering medium-rare tuna. When you order a medium rare burger, that's warm, red center. But for tuna to stay red, it really can't be much past lukewarm in the center, or it would turn pink super fast. So they have to sear it on really hot flame, and serve immediately. The interior would still be lukewarm at best, but at least the outside could be pretty hot.
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re: DanielK
beauxgoris
Mar 23, 2010 11:12 PM
I still think BGR is the best in it's group. The burgers have a great flavor and fries and other sides are top notch. I will try BLT though to compare when it opens.
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re: beauxgoris
Alas.....another burger wars......I'm sorry to say I have overall been disappointed by BGR.....granted its convenient to dupont but Its far from the best burger in the area. But alot of flash for not so great a burger.
I have to say BIG BUNS GOURMET GRILL, RAY'S HELLBURGER, and the even RUGBY are better. I do miss the way FIVE GUYS used to be before they franchised.....which is why I stop by the original joint in VA on 7.
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I went to Rogue States a few days ago and was pretty disappointed with the burger. The entire thing fell apart with in second of trying to bite into it. A well balanced, built burger is very important and this just turned in to a mess.
So far my favorite is BGR, although I still appreciate Five Guys for a truly fast food experience. Can't wait to try BLT Burger.
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Just walked by Rogue States, and it's open for business. It's on Connecticut south of Dupont. Very short menu, hopefully they execute well.
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What about that other Top Chef guy, Richard Blais? Wasn't there a rumor he was planning to open a gourmet burger place in Gallery Place, a Flip Burger Boutique? That menu (for the Atlanta location) looked awesome.
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BLT Burger doesn't look so promising from the website. Kind of artificially upscale/overdone for this area (despite the grating, hypocritical copy). Not to mention that the badly photographed burger & fries themselves look unappetizing.
BGR is fantastic, in presentation and product, and the Dupont Circle one seems even better than the Bethesda branch. That or they upgraded the offerings for both with the new DC opening.
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re: drsnacks
I have no idea if the Dupont BLT will be as good as the Vegas one, but the Vegas BLT Burger is much better than BGR. I'd give a slight edge to BLT Burger's actual burgers -- they are maybe only marginally better than BGR. And BGR has the tuna burgers, lobster and better specialty items. BLT has better sides. But BLT wins the grand prize on shakes. No comparison. BLT shakes are amazing and they have great, innovative flavors. BGR shakes are terrible, worst shakes I ever had.
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re: chicken kabob
woodleyparkhound
Jan 20, 2010 09:35 AM
I had a Maker's Mark milkshake at the BLT Burger in Las Vegas just two nights ago. LOVED it! If they are going to put one at Dupont Circle, I hope they do this flavor!
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