My favorite Bay Area burgers: Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers

I've always been a burger fan. There was even a time when in every restaurant I'd go to, be it hole-in-the-wall or fancy, I'd hone in on the burger selection upon seeing the menu. I've become an expert in burger hierarchy, I guess, and though I can vary my order choices more often these days...there's nothing like relying on the ol' faithful when indecision arises.

 


For the past decade or so, I've been hitting up Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers off College Avenue in the Rockridge area for a good burger fix. It's only a stone throw's away from the Rockridge BART station, and en route to Barney's one could easily be detoured by the constant crowd of Zachary's Chicago Pizza. But don't be swayed too much, keep walking a couple stores down and follow my lead. 

Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers was established in 1978 and has been thriving ever since with ten locations in Berkeley, Oakland, San Francisco, San Rafael, Santa Monica, Sherman Oaks, and Brentwood. The ambiance of the College Avenue location is very laid-back, and one could describe it as a kind of neo-diner. The place is frequented by Cal students, local residents, and tourists alike. You may find yourself waiting in line for a table during lunch hours and nights on the weekend. But turnover isn't so bad, and it's well worth the wait. The back patio is lovely when the weather is nice and its intimate space makes you feel as if you're in your own backyard.

So what do I order? Every time I go, I always want to try something new. But just as it's easy for me to be won over by burgers at restaurants, there lies a challenge in deviating from my usual burger at Barney's. I actually have two "usual favorites." Barney's has a wide variety of burger toppings, ranging from the burger standards to more adventurous kinds such as the Milano Burger (jack cheese, sun-dried tomato-pesto sauce, grilled zucchini and eggplant) and the Maui Waui Burger (grilled pineapple, Canadian bacon, and teriyaki glaze). 

Western Burger

I order this when I really want to stuff myself to death. I make the justification that it can't be too terrible to have sautéed onions, hickory barbeque sauce, and crisp, thick slices of bacon if I choose to accompany it with a turkey burger. Yes, you have options in terms of what burger you'd like: beef, turkey, chicken, or salmon. The first bite into this burger is a delilghtfully messy melange of sweet and savory, and you realize how perfectly grilled the patty is, as well as the bun. ($8.50)

North Beach Burger

 

I started ordering this last month, when I decided to break my own mold. It has a wealthy, overflowing amount of marinated artichokes and sautéed mushrooms, as well as cheddar cheese. The slight bitterness of the artichokes pairs well wth the savory mushrooms, so that every bite has varying juicy textures. ($8.50)

 

  Spicy Curly Fries

Along with their other fries selections, this is served as a "starter." This could be dangerous, because it's hard to resist eating them all before your burger comes. Accompanied perfectly with a home-style ranch sauce, the tangy coils are crisp to perfection and melts in your mouth. Pictured above is the full order, as you can also order fries in single- or half-orders. (Full order: $4.95)

 

 Sweet Potato Fries

This is the latest addition to their fries menu, and if you have a bit of a sweet/salty tooth, this fits the bill. The perfectly crisp skin gives way to the sweet potato's characteristic mushyness, complimenting any burger of your choice. Pictured above is a single order. (Single order: $2.95)

Locations: 

• 4162 Piedmont Ave, Oakland 510-655-7180
• 5819 College Ave, Oakland 510-601-0444 (My usual location)
  
• 3344 Steiner St, San Francisco 415-563-0307
• 4138 24th St, San Francisco 415-282-7770
• 1600 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley 510-849-2827
• 1591 Solano Ave, Berkeley 510-526-8185
• 1020 Court St, San Rafael 415-454-4594
• 225 26th St, Santa Monica 310-899-0133
• 11660 San Vicente Blvd, Brentwood 310-447-6000
• 14006 Riverside Dr. 24 A, Sherman Oaks 818-808-0680