Purple Cafe and Wine Bar

(catch up) We dined at Purple in Kirkland with the Fogles on May 15, 2009. Tried their "burger" with sweet potato fries ($13). Remember it being ok.

Randy's Diner

August 5, 2009. This is the second time we've lunched at Randy's Diner. It's on East Marginal Way, near the Musuem of Flight. The place is classic diner: crammed with aviation memorabilia. Don't delay to visit, it could be razed any minute to make room for another Paul Allen hanger. And the burgers aren't bad either. Check out the British Burger (aka bacon cheeseburger) for $6.85.

Saltoro

June 19, 2009. We visited a local North Seattle bistro, Saltoro. Very pleasant staff and delicious food. The lamb burger (roasted red pepper, tart tomator-onion chop, harissa aioli, fries, $11.99) served with truffle fries was outstanding. Cathy's bacon, sauteed mushroom, carmelized onion, four-cheese pizzetta ($10.99) was very yummy as well.

Spring Hill

(catch up) Dined at Spring Hill last fall. Tried the burger and was disappointed. Bun too thin, ended up eating with a fork. Patty chard with chemical taste.

Zippy's Giant Burgers

June 9, 2009. We've been wanting to try Zippy's for several months, especially after the Seattle Metropolitan magazine claim that they have the best burgers in Seattle. The place is small 'though, with no inside sitting (actually, the outside seating consists of two picnic tables crowded behind the dumpster). We scored on Monday Lunch with Nate, Mela, Connor, Sofi, and Rick. Agreement all around that the burgers are awesome.

Sunni's

April 4, 2009. Suni's in Shoreline is an off-the-beaten-track delight. The service is friendly and prompt. The venue is an old drive-in restaurant. The food mixes greek, pizza, and burgers superbly and all is outstanding. We keep going back to "Our Famous Suni Burger" ($6.45): as good as you'll find in Seattle.

Smarty Pants

March 3, 2009. OK, Smarty Pants doesn't do burgers, but take a break from the grind and try any one of the sandwiches. Motorcycle theme in Georgetown. All the excitment of an I-5 overpass, a Burlington train track, and a northern approach to King County Airport (Boeing Field).

Alexsa's Garden Cafe at Swanson's Nursery

February 14, 2009. OK, you aren't going to drive all the way to "Far North of Ballard" for the food; you are going for the plants at Swanson's Nursery. But when you get there, you gotta check out Alexa's Garden Cafe. Friendly service, very tasty food with large portions. Cathy and Dick had a late lunch on Valentine's Day. Dick felt obliged to order the "Old Fashioned Burger" ($8.50) and Cathy had the egg and veggie scramble.

The burger was alright: organic all beef patty, well-done on the dry side, but tasty; whole-wheat bun. But if it weren't for the burger search, the other sandwich options looked a lot better. And on weekends, there is an all-day breakfast menu.

Cathy's eggs were outstanding.

Go for the plants, eat a meal, leave the burger for another place.

Loretta's

January 26, 2009. Cathy, Dick, and Cathy's work colleague Rick lunch at Loretta's. Dick had the Bacon Cheeseburger ($8). We were very impressed with the burger's balance: a very high "B" or low "A."

• Bun: Not toasted.
• Patty: Beef; thick and juicy, seasoned just right
• Sauce: Looked like 1000 Island, mayo on the side.
• Other: Bacon, cheese, onion, tomato, lettuce and pickles.
• Ambiance: Pacific NW logging.
  

Wedgwood Broiler

January 25, 2009. Nancy, DB, Tad, Cathy, and Dick visit the Wedgwood Broiler on the rumor they serve great burgers. DB, Cathy, and Dick each ordered the Bacon Cheeseburger ($9). A good burger we agreed, but not a great one. Nancy was unimpressed with her Texas Burger as was Tad with his guacamole chicken burger.

Bacon Cheeseburger:

• Bun: Toasted, a bit dry and charred.
• Patty: Beef. Nice and thick, juicy with pink center for the medium-rare. They say they grind their own beef. Seasoning a bit too salty.
• Sauce: Mayo on the side, made for a dry burger.
• Other: Bacon (charred), tomato, lettuce, onions (too many for Cathy).
• Ambiance: 1950s. Crowd Sunday at 6:30 pm with lots of seniors.

XXX Drive-in, Issaquah

January 17, 2009. Cathy and Dick checked out the XXX Drive-in in Issaquah. We both order the 49 Woody (1/4 lb. burger, cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, mayo, XXX dressing & fries....$8.49). I mean, what else could we do?

Everything considered, the meal was good and rates a "B."

• Fries: Crisp and warm, just right.
• Bun: Fresh.
• Bacon: Got lost in the bun.
• Patty: Too thin and tasteless.
  
• Ambiance: Quirky.