WEIGHING IN: 8 OZ. BURGER BAR

SoCal culinary star, Govind Armstrong, is known for his spin on California Cuisine. He's also had his hand in television as a judge on Bravo's Top Chef, as well as a contestant on the very iconic Iron Chef America on the Food Network. He traces his beginnings to Beverly Hill's Spago (when he was thirteen), and furthered his training during his college years in San Francisco at another Wolfgang Puck mainstay, Postrio.

Armstrong has certainly come a long way since his humble beginnings at Spago. He has since traveled Western Europe, landing gigs at famous establishments as Excelsior at Hotel de l'Europe, and Arzak. He has been mentored by legends like Pedro Subijana (Restaurant Akelare) and Juan Mari Arzak.

It wasn't long before Chef Armstrong found his way back to Los Angeles. He eventually worked several gigs, including setting up shop at Pinot Hollywood. Eventually, the talented chef would find himself at the helm of his own restaurant: Table 8. The restaurant first opened in Los Angeles, and quickly became a favorite of the Hollywood set. Soon after, the restaurant went bi-coastal, and set-up shop in trendy Miami. And now NYC is looking to host the restaurant this year in NoHo's Cooper Square Hotel.

Last year, Armstrong decided to move Table 8 on Melrose. No word on whether or not the move has taken place, but 8 Oz. Burger Bar has already made its home in its former spot near Fairfax. 8 Oz. Burger Bar is still, obviously, Armstrong's doing. Since it's opening, it has become a strong contender against the likes of other L.A. area gourmet burger spots like Santa Monica's Father's Office, or West L.A.'s Apple Pan, and it looks like it's here to stay a while.

The signature 8 oz. burger is made of a house blend of sirloin, tri-tip, short rib and chuck cured in the restaurant's Himalayan salt-tiled locker. The burger is cooked medium rare to medium, and is served with standard iceberg lettuce, pickle, tomato, white onion, and the 8 oz. "special sauce." Also on it's menu of burgers: the Melrose (house blend, wild baby arugula, garlic roasted tomatoes, and red onion marmalade) and the Estancia Grass Fed Beef (heirloom tomato ketchup, garlic aioli, sliced tomato, onion, pickle, charred escarole, and roasted mushrooms). Other items to note: the Short Rib Grilled Cheese (served with onion marmalade and bel paese cheese), a number of salads, Mini Kobe Corndogs, and Fried Wisconsin Cheese Curds. For the non-red-meat-friendly: Grilled Chicken Sandwich (ranch dressing, iceberg lettuce, tomato, red onion, and grated carrot), Fillet of Fish, and Veggie Burger are for the taking.

An array of beers, as well as shakes, malts and floats, are available to accompany each meal. And for happy endings, there are delectable treats such as Banana Rum Bread Pudding, Banana Split, and cupcakes (chocolate or carrot).

The space itself is pretty casual, with a hip gastro-pub feel. On busy nights, the restaurant boasts music playing background to the sounds of conversations of all types. Tables are full, and even the small bar area plays home to local hipsters and Hollywood-ers. Despite this, 8 Oz. Burger Bar gives off no air of pretention, and will surely have you craving more.
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8 Oz. Burger Bar, 7661 Melrose Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90046, 323.852.0008

(Photo courtesy of EaterLA.com)

ENTER: FIVE GUYS

Back in May, my roommate and I drove down to Carson to scoop up our other roomie - who was out there dropping her car off to be shipped back to the East Coast (she has since went back home to the MD/DC/VA area; sniff). When we were circling around the parking lot of the mall that she was waiting at, we spotted something that made us both gasp; a sheer sigh of shock and elation: Five Guys - Coming Soon! There is was, in all it's simple red n' white glory. As the old mall (by IKEA) strips-off it's facade for a more updated look, it seems that even some of the old tenants are giving way to newer ones. We would've never assumed that Five Guys would've been one of those businesses!

FG first opened in Northern Virginia (just outside of Washington, DC), back in '86. For a long while, the burger place was known to have very few outposts around the immediate area. I can only remember a store in Old Town Alexandria, and another along Route 1 near Woodbridge. As I kid, I never really made my way to one. In fact, it probably wasn't until late high school/early college that I finally got some people together to check things out in nearby Old Town. What we experienced was nothing short of interesting: just a shack-of-a-place, with picnic-ish tables inside, and barrels of peanuts left for you to gnaw on as you wait for your order. (Yes, we were a little taken back by the fact that you could shuck the shells onto the floor as if you were at your grandmother's farm.) I vaguely remember the menu, but I know that there was a list of toppings that you could choose for your burger. And to add to the minimalist menu: fries. Yummy, greasy ol' fries. I remember being handed a brown bag soaking up the grease that was profusely dripping from the burger. I had to rush the bag to my table, grab a shit-load of napkins, and try to figure things out. Before that, though, I headed over to a condiments station and grabbed some ketchup, and brought over a bottle of malt vinegar (for my fries). A little bit of this here, and a little bit of that there, then voila - fun and yum times were born. I remember leaving FG with a mixed-feeling of grossness and contentment. Although the meal was surely yum, it was one I knew I could never have on the regular. It would've been years before my next trip to FG in Old Town, although I even worked around the corner from it right out of college.

It wasn't until a couple of years before I left the DC area that FG started to expand. I remember the old Au Pied du Cochon space in Georgetown (which I loved, btw) had finally closed it's doors. Months later, FG opened in its place. Again - mixed emtions: happy that the local chain decided to expand around the area, yet sad that historic G-town decided to add that to it's once pretty eclectic food choices. Whatever, though. I went in anyway, and had it for the third time in my life. Like old times, I came away with the gross/content feeling. Gotta love 'em! When I visited home for Christmas that first year I moved to L.A., we made a pit-stop at Tysons Corner after being scooped up at Dulles. I got to check out the newly developed wing of the mall, and in the new food court was --- FG. I smirked as I had come to realize that the local burger chain was finally coming into its own. (I didn't it eat, though. AHAHA.)

Fast-forward to now. So FG has made its entrance into the SoCal market via Carson. Kind of a weird place to make its start, but at the same time - it's a perfect, "home town" environment for it to be introduced; just like from where it came. Plans to open another store in Cerritos are in the works, and the owner of the Marie Callender's chain has the rights to open a slew of shops all over SoCal in the coming years.

How has it measured up?! Well, so far so good. It's easily being compared to In 'N Out (logically), and die-hard SoCalians are sticking to their guns that INO is the superior choice. East Coast transplants, who are familiar with the Guys' burger and fries, beg to differ. But even some of the locals see the allure of FG. Nancy Luna, from the OC Register's food blog, finds it more comparable to The Counter (Santa Monica/Irvine); not so much in terms of upscale service and style (of the restaurant itself), but more so because of the choices of burger toppings. INO, as you know, serves it up as simple as possible. Luna did, however, have to give it up to FG for their superior ---drum-roll please-- FRIES! FG's Idaho potato fries are cooked in peanut oil, and are a whole lot tastier, especially when dipped in malt vinegar.

That being said, I have to admit -- and I'm ready to take the back-lash here, folks -- that I have never seen the allure of INO. It's not that I don't think it's good, because I enjoy myself an INO burger. But I do not get how people see it as God's gift to burger-dom. Even one of my roommates, who is also from "home," is a staunch INO follower. When she flies in from visiting the DC area, she would (but doesn't always!) make a stop at the INO outside LAX if she could (and if the line was ever short enough). But for me, I'd rather drive thru Carl's Jr. I know, call me a hater... call me a sadist... call me whatever it is that you want to call me. But I mean no disrespect! I don't hate INO, but at the same time I don't feel like I'm missing out on anything special by skipping out on it. In the same token, I wouldn't say that I'm in love with FG either, but I think it definitely is a worthy opponent. And if I had to choose one, I'd choose FG on any given day -- not only because it's a home-grown choice, but it's just an all-around tastier burger AND fries. And I'm proud that it is being welcomed to SoCal with open arms (and mouths).

The photos are from Flickr, courtesy of jslander. Thank you!

(CUSTOM) BUILD THEM, AND THEY WILL COME

If there is anything food-related that Santa Monica can be proud of, it would be the custom-built burger diner called The Counter. Originally opened in 2003-2004, this SaMo burger palace is tucked away from the hustle and bustle of Main Street and/or The Third Street Promenade. Instead, it is nestled in a tiny neighborhood retail complex along Ocean Park Boulevard. It's the perfect place to go when you're feeling a burger that other places just can't quite seem to perfect.

When you enter you are given a "menu" clipboard which is accompanied by pencils and made-to-order forms. You basically choose your meat (beef, turkey, veggie), choice of bun (including English muffin; if you want the lo-carb choice then go with a bun-less burger "bowl"), and then choice of cheese, toppings, and sauce(s). What comes to your table is a platter full of happiness and joy, and it's made exactly how you want. There are no burger nazis here (unlike at Father's Office), and you will definitely get more than you bargained for (unlike if you were to drive-through Carls Jr. or Jack in the Box).

And to make matters even more fun, you can order yum milk shakes, fountain sodas, beer and even wine. In an area where burgers are legendary (a la Father's Office, The Apple Pan, 25 Degrees), The Counter easily places itself among the best of the best.

Its laid-back style adds to the comfortable experience: the place looks like an old garage that has been converted into restaurant space. Hip and cool "skater"-esque art prints are placed on the walls, and you are seated at simple formica tables. It's almost like The Peach Pit minus the kitschy feel of a Johnny Rockets. The original owner sold the spot in 2006, and the new owner maintained the over-all appearance and idea of the make-your-own burger joint.

I went again today, but decided that this time around I would order my burger in a bowl. It was the least I could do to go "lo carb" with my meal. I got a regular 1/3 lb turkey burger over a bed of mixed greens. Gruyere cheese, roasted peppers and chilies, grilled onions, and freshly cut tomatos added some texture, color and flavor. And to top it off, I chose a peppercorn steak sauce to drench all over my burger bowl --making everything blissful. To add to the meal we ordered a side of chili/cheese fries, and a mix of sweet potato fries and fried onion strings; a perfect accompaniment to the different burger concoctions that dotted the table.

Per the new owner, more outposts have already popped up in/around Southern California (with nearby Marina Del Rey to join the brood), in Phoenix, and even across the country in Georgia. For my homies back in DC, The Counter comes to Reston this Fall, with plans to open in Arlington, VA and Washington, DC as well. Soon 312,120 possible burger combinations will be within your grasp. Wait for it...!

(Photos courtesy of http://www.thecounterburger.com/)