Here we GO!
This burger joint is the real deal. Perhaps the realest deal. With the menu written on the wall, (notice the obvious painted over price adjustments,) the long counter of available seating, the one cook and one waitress on duty, this place LIVES UP TO ITS NAME. They got sandwiches and side dishes, but that's for another day. They sell burgers, man, and they sell pies. But you don't have to eat them in that order if you don't want. This in mind we went pure and simple. Two cheese burgers please, and of course for the caramelized onions. $6.50. Show me what you got. Knowing pie would be our true entree this evening, we even decided against the fries, only about $3 extra. We chatted with our sassy server and before we knew it, two burgers were before us.
As we looked at our burgers wrapped in old fashioned paper, I noticed that there were a good deal of juices beginning to form on my small plate. The waitress dropped by with some napkins and said, "You're going to need these." This seer knew, man, she knew. And then I had a first in a life time experience.
I took one bite. My cheeseburger seemed to wring out like a sponge. I had a plate full of burger juice, like when a coffee cup spills onto its saucer. It would have been disgusting if the burger hadn't been
SO FREAKING GOOD.
It took me about 7 bites and I was done. Now let me say I might not precisely remember the texture of the bun, and did I have had a thought about adding a tomato? I don't know cause that sucker was gone before I could think to add a touch of mustard. Gone before the waitress came back! She seemed pretty settled into the place, I mean she's seen people eat these things and she said to me, "Whoa, its not usually the girl who's finishing first." I took it as a supreme compliment, as should they.
When Dan finished we said this:
"Should we split another one?"
But with pie in the air we thankfully moved on. And did we make the waitress name off from memory all the 20 or so pies they had that day? Yes we did.
Apple
Mince Meat
Coconut
Lemon Meringue
Peanut Butter
Banana
Rhubarb
Boysenberry
Blueberry
OH PLEASE STOP!!!
I got Banana Meringue, which although I have learned to spell, I haven't really learned to like. But the pie, rock on. I'm picky with banana flavored things and this one was good. Dan got boysenberry, which we learned was like a tart blueberry. Divine. And the old fashioned dinner coffee tasty enough to actually remark upon.
Walking into the cool Pasadena evening belly full of All American Delights, I think I can say we felt transported. And not in a cheesy over commercialized way. This was the real deal, where you worry about the dark lighting and if there is 25 year old grease somewhere. But you shake it off and say, "Nah, man. This is America. This is home." The name says it all, and isn't that a reassuring once in a while. Not to mention the change left in our pocket.
2 Cheeseburgers
2 Slices of Pie
2 Coffees
Damage: Less that $25 including tip.
Thank you oh yummy ones!
Coming soon:
2. Stefano's New York Pizza, Third Street Promenade, Santa Monica
3. Anisette Brasserie, Santa Monica
