❤️🍔❤️
A few weeks ago, my friend Harry joined me to talk about burgers and beers at Anchored Inn. If this was December, I would’ve joked that I wanted to Hold Space for the burger review in its own newsletter. Anyway, this is that.
This burger had been on my list to try for a bit, especially after having their hot dog the last time I was there which is wrapped in bacon and topped with pickled papaya slaw, banana ketchup, and sriracha mayo.
When I was looking for a burger to snag with Harry, I knew it needed to be a lunch time spot with BOTTLED Miller High Lifes - and Anchored Inn checked all those boxes. Not only that, but if you get a burger and draft beer between 12pm-5pm, you’re only out $15. Harry got the draft and I got my beautiful effervescent MHL.
The Anchored Inn burger is a double smash patty on a lightly toasted brioche bun with romaine lettuce, griddled onions, tomato and charred scallion aioli and comes with fries, all for $17 - on the low end of the burgers I’ve had.
The patties had a subtle crisp but I was missing the lacing. The texture was almost blown away by how crunchy the lettuce was - I really appreciated that they didn’t go the shredduce route here which I feel is the standard now for a smash burger.
The griddled onions gave a nice sweetness and my tomato slices were on the small side which I feel worked with the size of this burger. It’s a polite little bite, with not much mess left behind. I really wish I had gotten more of the sauce - there was just a schmear on the top bun which was a bummer as it was probably the aspect of the burger I was most excited about. The little bit I got was DELICIOUS though!
Overall, the flavor was balanced, just salty enough and served as a great bar bite. Lunch time or last call, it’ll satiate without being too heavy. I’m placing the Anchored Inn burger at number 18 - below the Pop burger at Strange Flavor and above Dram Shop. All three burgers are incredibly similar “all-American” double smashes with each eking out just above the last.