Jack's Santa Cruz, California

Jack's ( no website just the location) with a long tradition of being Santa Cruz classic, and something the locals have counted on for numerous years in different locations. Currently just sitting on 202 Lincoln St. Santa Cruz downtown. With a small interior and a nice outside sitting area. Jack's  has the looks of a fast food eatery with the take out option, and order window both on the outside and inside. The menu has a nice variety of options, not only burgers but also an excellent selection of sandwiches and sides. With such a local strong tradition, I was excited to try the burger out and see what makes locals all so excited about this place, and why they keep coming back year after year. The key word is simple, to the point, very unpretentious and a friendly and efficient wait staff, that take care of you at the counter only.

Jacks is all about burgers, no frills, and a place people come to have a burger, eat, and not hang too long. The burger is made fresh on order, from pre made beef patty, served with fries and a couple options of cheese burger, and some variations. Every thing served in a paper glove like dish.

The burger patty is always hot, and feel freshly cooked, it is no frills but has a fresh beef taste with some juice and a little flavor of oil or butter giving a little extra to the meat taste. The bun hugs the meat patty nicely making it a pocket, and the lettuce and onions and tomato even though put on as it is made feel very fresh and crisp. The fries are good, nothing out of this world but decent and tasty and a nice portion.

The burger I had which was a cheese burger was tasty, loved the combination of the melted cheese fresh on the meat patty and then the crispy crunch of the lettuce and tomato. The price is excellent, the service no frills quick and to the point. They have been doing this for years, and with the always busy crowd, you know they produce a burger that people love coming back to. It is important to understand the place is about feeding loyal customers year after year, being simple to the point, and very consistent which they have been doing for years, ad local eatery that has a strong fan base, nothing nice that the simple philosophy of making a good down home burger with no agenda  Restless burger rating of 8.5

Grand Lux Aventura Miami Florida

It has been actually a couple years since writing on the Restless Hamburger, life keeps you busy, and somehow just did not get to writing any reviews. I have not been avoiding burgers at all, and have found a few great new places, and returned to many old favorites. It was recently during a work visit to Miami that I got inspired again, and share this new entry . Motivated, and also excited about some new discoveries that always make the meal a treat.

Aventura Mall might not seem the place to get a burger, but as with many shopping malls in the United States tied to the shops are often a rich selection of places to eat, food courts and stands. Every year when I go and teach at the Principal Training Center, we do an evening with participants and go to the http://www.grandluxcafe.com/menu/burgers-and-sandwiches which has a huge selection of foods, bar type for all budgets and tastes. In many ways the cater the classic dinner like dishes, and provide a lot of mix options, blending Tex-Mex, Italian, and classic American dishes.

They have a good selection of burgers and sandwiches, and I opted for the DeLux Drive-In Burger which comes with a chargrilled beef, with Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Pickles and Mayonnaise.

The burger is a decent size and comes with a classic soft burger bun, and a side of lettuce, tomato and pickle, and the option of adding extra condiments: cheese, avocado, bacon, etc... the portions are large and actually I took the regular size and it felt big. Note the picture is not mine which I usually take, a stock photo as I forgot to take a picture, I did not have onions rings on the burger.
The beef patty was well cooked, and a lot of flavor, and also moist and the grilled  taste that gave it a freshness. I added bacon and cheese, and avoided the mayonnaise sauce or the house special. I liked having the side of lettuce and tomato on the side, giving me the option to added it. I like having it fresh and crisp and always appreciate when it is available and set on the side of the order. The buns was a classic soft bun, nothing special actually a little bland and not much flavor or taste, very plain. With this came a side of French Fries. The fries where large, and somewhat bland in flavor definitely frozen. The really felt like filler and nothing much to get excited about.

The bun quickly got soggy and start falling apart as I was eating the burger, and as folks know, one of my big complaints about burgers is a crumbling bun. They should not disintegrate as you are eating them. I had cut the burger in half to manage this. The chargrilled taste of the patty was not to overwhelming, and added that grilled taste. As I was eating the burger it got messier and messier, and made the whole experience very napkin centric, this to me I find annoying. I feel eating a burger should not be a messy experience, and the taste and flavor should be the focus.

I give the burger a Restless burger rating of 6.5, not because of the meat, but just the general messiness of the eating experience, the bland bun and fries created a mundane experience.

The atmosphere of the place is quite busy, feels like a chain, somewhat impersonal, but great service, and a lot of options if you are not a burger eater. Would I go back, yes, but might try something non burger like.