Burger Lounge, they say, is just a neighborhood burger joint. Nothing more, nothing less. They do, however, have an ethos.
“We take common recipes to new heights by crafting them with familiar ingredients sourced specifically for taste,” they say. “The best part is, these ingredients are often better for you, and the environment too. Burgers with grass-fed beef and free-range turkey, salads featuring organic spinach and mizuna, a cod sandwich that’s sustainably-sourced…the list goes on and on.”
Burger Lounge has nine locations in the Los Angeles Area, plus more in San Diego, Orange County and up in Northern California. They’ve made themselves popular with local burger overs by keeping things simple.
“An uncomplicated, tastefully-sourced approach is what we’re all about,” they say. “If it doesn’t taste better, we’re not into it. Call us stubborn, but we think keeping things pure and simple is the best way to serve great food. It’s not always easy, but easy isn’t what we’re here for. We’re here to do a common thing uncommonly well. We’re here to be better.”
The restaurant has a tempting range of burgers, from the simple Lounge Burger and the Husky (one has American cheese, one cheddar), to the Truffle Mushroom-Swiss and the hearty BL Western Burger (with onion rings and BBQ sauce), all are tantalizing.
That said, we opted for the Wild Alaskan Cod Sandwich (longline caught, pan-fried cod filet, lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce).
The fish, while breaded and crisped to perfection, is so tender on the inside that one suspects a good veterinarian could get it swimming inside of an hour. The cod hasn’t had the flavor cooked out of it, it’s juicy and seasoned perfectly. The breading is thin and unobtrusive, allowing the natural flavor of the fish to hold fort.
The lettuce, piled high, was fresh and vibrant, and the tomato was sweet and tart, cutting through any grease. The tartar sauce was the magic ingredient X; it’s a classic fish condiment and it works beautifully here. The bread, meanwhile, is bouncy and fresh, and not without flavor itself.
We chose to have a half order of fries and a half order of onion rings on the side, and both were great. Like the fish in the sandwich, the breading on the onion rings handled delicately, allowing the onion to carry the show. It’s caramelized, crispy and brimming with natural flavor. The fries are cooked perfectly too.
Is there nothing they can’t do?
Burger Lounge is located at 9901 Washington Blvd., Culver City 90232. Contact 310-842-8800 or visit burgerlounge.com.