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A cheeseburger from Shake Shack.

Wow. Someone certainly got a nice tip!

The patty melt has always been my thing and growing up in Los Angeles I've ingested quite a few from delis, diners, hamburger stands, and restaurants.

While I don't have a "go-to" per say for my perfect melt, I can share the best two I've had in recent memory.

Best standard came from an old school diner attached to the Linbrook Bowling Center in Anaheim, CA. It was under $5, came with fries, and was greasily perfect. I came here pulling off the freeway in search for lunch, saw the bowling alley, and vaguely remember Huell Howser on PBS going there for pizza. Thank you Huell!

On the complete opposite price spectrum I had my first, and probably only, $20 patty melt. Prior to walking into the "Boneyard Bistro" in Sherman Oaks, CA, I had no idea such a thing existed.

It was called the “Southwest Patty Melt” and came with gruyere and cheddar cheese, sautéed onions, anaheim chilies, and bacon. It sounds crazy to pay $20 for a patty melt, but after one bite I practically fell out of my chair in a pool of smiles.

As someone from CA who visited NY a few months ago, fell in love with this burger, and sadly had to return home to only have dreams about eating eating the Shack Burger again you've saved me.

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You! Did I say thank you?

I don't really have a favorite...per say... but a scoop of canned pumpkin in my morning oatmeal topped with cinnamon, brown sugar, and a little butter is certainly tummy pleasing.

California's eponymous "California Roll."

Pretzel + Chocolate = : )

The day I successfully made meringue after many failed attempts was akin to me finally learning to tie my shoes. Amazing.

Thanks for this particular review. I've driven past it for the last few years and have often wondered about it, and now you've given me a reason to finally stop my car and walk in.

On a different note, last night I had one of the best and most expensive ($20!) patty melts at Boneyard Bistro in Sherman Oaks. If this was any indication of what a choice from their burger menu would be like you may consider making this a place to try in the future.
www.boneyardbistro.com

I'm curious how you go about these reviews. Do you do your anatomy breakdown and photographs from a set of two, buy two more, and immediately taste? Or do your diagnosis only on a pair and use the same one for tasting?

Sounds like a burger to try, and after perusing their on-line menu, I'm particularly peaked by the sound of The Rodeo Burger. If their onion rings were standout then I imagine on a burger with bacon would only help the matter.

A question: Do you recommend getting American added to The Fix Burger for the $1 extra to add that bit of needed fat, orr is the way to go really the 1/4 baby Fix Burger with cheese?

I hate the need to kneed bread which his "no kneeding bread" tip solved.