The burger run-down

The burger; an iconic American food stuff. Most are adequate nourishment for not much dough. The good ones are dreamt of and sometimes realized. Here's my idea of the perfect burger: Medium rare to medium, juicy, some char on the outside or at least a hint of grill flavor, a bit of seasoning, but mostly good beefy taste. I like loading it up with toppings. Bun quality is also a make or break element. Too substantial and it weighs the burger down, too light and your burger's structural integrity is compromised leading to a big mess in your plate. So, here's the run-down on burgers in my neighborhood--Arlington, VA.
Basically, you can get a good sampling of burgers driving down Wilson Blvd.
Five Guys: Most people now know this place as it is a pretty rapidly expanding chain. Yes, the burgers are good. Not outstanding, but good. What makes them appealing is the size and toppings. I usually get the "Little" hamburger, load it up with toppings, add some fries and I have a meal I can almost never finish. The beef is good and fresh. It is fried, so no grill flavor or any seasonings and the bun is a bit doughy. The toppings are plentiful and fairly fresh and flavorful, so they really make the sandwich. I have to say a word about Five Guys' fries. When I first tried them I didn't like them at all. They are a boardwalk style cooked in peanut oil, available regular or cajun style. Then I got them at the Five Guys on Wilson Blvd. Much better! I don't know if they change the oil more often or what, but they taste fresh and light, not soggy and greasy like some of the other locations.

Ray's Hellburger: Owned and operated by the same people as Ray's the Steaks, you know this is likely to be a serious burger...and it is. The meat is exceptional, the toppings are gourmet and the price is great considering the quality of what you are getting. I would actually suggest steering away from the fancy toppings as they compete with the burger rather than adding to it. The simple burger is the way to go. This place is new and still inventing itself. I hope they keep looking for the perfect bun to complement their beautiful burgers. The current one is too heavy.

Whitlow's on Wilson: Went here on half-price burger night which is every Monday. It's a giant place that fills with young people, old people and families coming for the half-price burgers. They are pretty basic, average, remarkable only for being half-price on Monday nights.

Ri-Ra Irish Pub: They have half-price burgers on Wednesday nights. This too is an average hamburger, so half-price is the way to get it! This is a beautiful place which is good for drinking and entertainment with live bands and comedy.

Spider Kelly's: Just tried this place tonight and I can still smell the pork fat on me! The Spider Kelly Burger is made with fresh ground beef and pork fat. It's a combo that sounded good, but didn't work for me. Yes, it was juicy. It also fell apart. It had creative topping choices. I went with balsamic/honey onion marmalade thinking it would be similar to the wonderfulness that comes on the Eat Bar baby burger (see below). It was fine, but not wonderful. All burgers come with a spicy, garlicky "Fridge Sauce" and spicy pickled vegetables. These were interesting and unique items, but not things I left craving. We went for their half-price burger night (Tuesdays) and it is totally worth that, but I will try something else if I go there again on another night.

Eleventh Street Lounge: This is just off of Wilson at 11th St and Highland. The first time I had their One-One Burger, I thought it was the best in town. It has tempura onions, arugula and pickle aioli which gave a great flavor and texture combination. It's a big juicy burger with great beefy flavor. They have half-price burger nights on Wednesdays and on those nights they add other burgers to the menu--some outrageously loaded down with indulgent toppings. One sinfully decadent special burger is the Bratwurst Burger. Yes, it is a brat and a burger together and it is a great idea! When I had the One-One Burger on half-price burger night, I thought it was not as good. There was probably a lot more burger crud on the grill, so it didn't taste as fresh. They also have mini burgers which are totally tasteless. Skip 'em. Oh yeah, this is also a good place to drink!

Rock Bottom Brewery: In the Ballston Mall. This is a chain, and it is not totally consistent, but when it's good, it is among the best burgers. Dripping with juices and full of flavor. A nice big broad burger and bun with plenty of surface space to place toppings.

Off the Wilson corridor
Astor Mediterrenean: Pershing Drive and Rt. 50. There are a lot of appetizing things here and the kabobs probably draw most people in, but the burger is worth checking out. It is the best value on the menu at $4.50. It is spiced nicely with a mediterrenean flavor and topped with lettuce, tomato, feta and tzatsiki.

Elevation Burger: Lee Hwy in Falls Church. This place sells organic, free-range, grass-fed beef patty burgers. The burgers are fairly simple and straight forward. It is an alternative to fast food places offering the same sort of fare, but at a much higher quality--and higher prices. Nothing spectacular, but you feel a little better about yourself. It is also nice to get some good milk shakes to go with your burgers!

Eat Bar: Washington Blvd at Danville St. The Eat Bar Burger is a biggun! Lots of great toppings and butter! While the Eat Bar Burger is good, the baby burgers are the stuff of dreams! A tiny, perfectly cooked little chunk of beef on a shiny, buttery bun topped with black truffle butter and red onion marmalade. These are not the cheapest burgers, but I believe they are the best. Baby Burgers run $3.50 each, so to fill up on them will take you over 10 bucks in no time. I've had them several times now and they are consistently delicious. They keep me coming back.