Barney's : A Gentrified Burger
Written: Jan 25 '01 (Updated Feb 04 '03)
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Pros: Giant variety of burgers.
Cons: Inattentive service.
The Bottom Line: Want a different burger? Barney's is worth a try.
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| megugrrrl's Full Review: Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers |
If you don’t mind patronizing a yuppified burger chain, then Barney's Gourmet Burgers is a place you need to pay a visit to. They have a gargantuan burger selection, with several vegetarian options as well as giant salads, plus you can even opt for their one hot dog offering. I’ve been to Barney’s maybe a dozen times, and each time I spend at least five solid minutes flipping through the laminated pages of the thick menu. In the beef burger section alone there are over twenty varieties of burgers, many of them deliciously odd-sounding ones, like the Russian Burger (sautéed mushrooms, sour cream, and scallions on rye), the Pesto Burger, or the Blackened Burger (yup, blackened with Cajun spices!) Barney’s also offers more traditional burgers like the Barney Burger (which comes with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and pickles).
Well-priced between $4 - $6 a piece, I would recommend experimenting with a more unique burger – like the Western Burger -- flame-broiled and topped with sautéed onions, cheddar cheese, a zesty barbecue sauce and tons of thick bacon. Mmmm. Unless distinctly specified in the menu, the burgers all come on sesame seed buns and you can have it cooked to order – although their menu states they don’t serve rare. My burger recommendations are the North-Beach Burger which comes with aged cheddar cheese and is buried under sautéed mushrooms and artichoke hearts and the aforementioned Western Burger.
If hamburgers aren’t your thing, no worries, Barney’s also has chicken burgers – boneless breasts of chicken, dolled up just like the burgers, and also served on a sesame bun. In addition to chicken breasts, you can also get turkey burgers (ground lean turkey patties), Garden Burgers, organic tofu patties, or (my favorite alternative) a portabello mushroom burger. You can get the chicken, turkey, tofu, and garden burger dressed the same as a regular burger, but for some reason, there are only 4 varieties of portabello burgers… my favorite is the Milano Portabello which features roasted zucchini and eggplant, with Jack Cheese and pesto. Yum.
When all else fails, you can always just order the Barney Burger and customize it with the ”gourmet extras” they have (sautéed onions, mushrooms, bacon, salsa, pesto, etc.) or use one of the four types of mustards they have at each table. Incidentally, each table is also outfitted with a small bottle of malt vinegar should you want to eat chips instead of fries.
Still want something different? Barney’s has giant salads ($5 - $7) – my favorite being the Falafel Salad which had crumbled feta cheese, artichoke hearts, and in-house falafel all combined by a zesty vinaigrette. In second place comes the Blackened Chicken Salad; where the chicken is laden with Louisiana spices, served on top of crispy lettuce, zucchini, and olives.
While pretty significant in size, the burgers (whether beef, chicken breast, Garden burger, tofu burger or portabello mushroom) so not come with fries. You have to order a basket separately. Order the spicy curly fries ($3.50), served with little paper cups of Ranch dressing – they’re super tasty, crispy, and good for your arteries. They also offer steak fries, thick onion rings, mushrooms, and zucchini. Fried stuff comes out piping hot, dusted with Parmesan cheese, and of course, oily.
If for some odd reason you still want more, you can also get a giant shake – again with traditional flavors like chocolate or vanilla, and the not-so-traditional like Turkish coffee or Blackberry. The only time I’ve been able to have a shake is when I’ve only ordered a salad. There’s just too much burger to be able to have a shake with your burger, but then again, I’m sure there are thousands of people who are capable of accomplishing that feat.
While lacking in the service department, Barney's is not the typical fast-food enterprise. For starters, it’s a sit-down restaurant, but don’t expect regular sit-down service. Once you enter, you pick up a menu and have to find your own table. This is hard to do if you have a larger group, as Barney’s is usually crowded. The wait staff is efficient, but inattentive yet no one really seems to mind. No one really seems to mind the noise level either, which is pretty hearty, coupled with the noise from outside.
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations Barney's doesn't take reservations so be prepared to wait if there's a crowd.
Best Suited For: Friends
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