Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Thanks to everyone for commenting. Of course, "best of's" or "favorite" lists are bound to spark some controversy, but we've all fallen victim to those search terms when seeking out a a meal.

@jimmyjojo - you are welcome. I too don't find Father's Office a revelation as many others have, but more than that I find my colleague Nick summed it up best in his review of the place. It doesn't really qualify as a burger for this kind of a list.

@ChefJeffSD - Certainly Apple Pan is a classic eatery, but it's just not the kind of quality to warrant a mention here in the top five.

@Paula Maack - So glad that you enjoyed the list. Comme Ça is certainly a treat. Make sure your visit is a lunchtime one. Last I checked there's no burger available at dinner.

@simonmarkley - I understand your sentiment, but see above for my take on it.

@WikiAdam - You did recant, but you shouldn't have. I'd certainly hold these five up to FO and Applepan any day. No need to apologize for being passionate about burgers. I certainly am.

@Nebagakid - You are not alone in your love of Umami. I'm not on the bandwagon with it being the definitive new Los Angeles burger, but it's certainly part of the conversation about the best.

@sinosoul - Well, first off. So sorry to have lost you. A few quick things about your comment:

Comme Ça uses iceberg on its burger and while I don't find that it enhances it (I prefer mine sans lettuce) certainly that isn't a limp weed. Also - I think you put some stock in Jonathan Gold, his opinion, and a mention he made of you... I think he might agree with me on this one.

Umami is certainly full of schtick, but the grind is superior and I simply disagree about the meat to bun ratio.

As for my taste for Pie N Burger and what it has to say of my travels and where I get "grilled" burgers... Two things about that: First off, Pie N Burger is griddled so it would never be classified as a "real grilled burger."

Secondly, I have indeed made it south of 105... I reviewed a burger in Redondo Beach just a couple of weeks ago. It was really good, and like Mom's in Compton, is south of the 105. Another thing a burger in Redondo has in common with burger Compton? Neither is actually in Los Angeles so they wouldn't qualify for this list.

As for the other three you mentioned. All are good, but, would occupy the bottom half of my top ten. Again, sorry to have lost you.

@iheartcheese - Thanks for having my back. I appreciate it to be sure. That said, I know I am tapped to have an opinion and that means folks are gonna get riled up when they disagree. I guess I would say: I see my role here as not simply some arbiter, but rather, someone with a practiced and thought through method for forming his opinion and (hopefully) the skills to communicate it in a way that entertains and helps folks determine if they'd like to try a particular burger.

@mangabanga - Thanks so much for the support. I know not everyone will agree with me, but I did labor over my determinations.

@iheartcheese: You're absolutely right, iheartcheese. I am totally guilty of skipping past the word "favorite," and instead inserted "best" in its place, believing this to be a definitive list of L.A.'s best burgers instead of just Damon Gambuto's personal picks. Forgive my rash response!

So, for the record, I have never met or corresponded with Damon Gambuto (but, I would love to!). Also, for the record, I had Baby Blues delivered a few weeks ago, and had an extra-ordinary experience - story to follow.

To all the folks who are upset that Damon did not review the BBQ at Baby Blues, from what I can tell Damon Gambuto is a Los Angeles based burger correspondent, and he is great at what he does. Sometimes BBQ joints can offer up a good burger. In fact, Damon recently reviewed three burgers at Zeke's Smokehouse, which is directly across the street from Baby Blues. It is a great write up, and you can search for it on this site.

I went to Zeke's Smokehouse last night based on Damon's review and I loved it, and commented earlier today on that piece - thanking him, because the burger was so tasty. Damon gave baby Blues the same shot, and didn't love the burger. Oh, well. Get over it. At least he was brave enough to give that combination of flavors a fair shake.

BTW - I once had a a grilled veal chop topped with melted brie and lingonberries that was exquisite. Perhaps the burger would shine if the blue cheese and bacon stood out more and the sauce had whole berries rather than being more of a pureed sauce. It would probably require arugula to balance the sweet, salty and pungent with some peppery goodness. But, as a purist, I would still prefer a good, quality burger without all the hoopla and dressy fanfare. That's just how I roll.

I am assuming Lincolnberry is an Ebonics-esque play on lingonberry. If you are truly curious, give Baby Blues a call.

My experience at Baby Blues? My husband and I wanted beef ribs, and when I asked the gal on the phone how many came with the order she replied, "one - it's like a big steak." We decided to give it a shot, and each ordered one, which came with a choice of two sides. I opted for collards and mashed potatoes, hubby had corn and cole slaw. The sides were delish, but one of the ribs was burnt and less than half the size of the other rib.

I let my honey have the good rib and insisted he eat it while I called, because I am sweet like that (and we had just moved into our new place and he had been doing hard physical labor and desperately needed the fortification). The hostess got the manager who apologized profusely and asked if I wanted another rib. I did. Forty minutes later, the manager showed up at the door and told my hubz he cooked it himself. Maybe it was my sultry phone-sex voice, but I'd like to think it was solid dedication. Anyways, it was nice. A chuck blade, essentially. It didn't rock my socks off, but it was a good chuck rib weighing in at 16 ounces or more, and it was properly (lovingly?) cooked. The sauce was not my favorite, as it was a bit sweet and overly tart with vinegar for a tomato based sauce, and the XXX sauce was a bit salsa-like for my taste. The service, on the other hand, made a strong, favorable impression.

Thanks for the well-written review, Damon. As I left Zeke's last night, I glanced across the street and wondered if Baby Blues had a decent burger. Now I know what to expect.

Maack out.

I've often overlooked the burger choices at high quality BBQ joints simply because the traditional pork BBQ or brisket there is so good. But it stands to reason that such an outfit has considerable meat knowledge that will be put to good use when grilling a burger.

Diagnosis? Delicious! I'm headed there this weekend thanks to your review. Wow that looks amazing. I miss my KC bar-b-que so I can "compromise" and eat the burger at the LA bar-b-que joint.

I love the stuffed baked potatoes and the garlic bread

Blue Cheese - no thanks you!

just lovely. look forward to trying it one day...

@maxcriden - Thanks for the compliment. Even though I like the original better than the Smothered the photo of the latter gets me every time.

@williamwest - Thanks so much for the kind words.

@juliebugsmama - Ha! I think the Smothered burger is on the edge of NSFW.

@FamishedFem - Definitely a must try. Rustic Canyon is a restaurant I've really come like for many reasons. One caveat: it can get noisy when busy.

@redfish - No need to wait for heaven!

@AmazonGoddess - Thanks! Though I don't think my mother will approve at my budding "porn" career.

@alosha7777 - Thank you for the compliment!

@hookrilla - Hmm, SF? I'll be doing some burger recon there soon so I will hold off on opining. In the meantime, here is Jen Meiser's recommendation:
http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2008/09/spruce-the-best-burger-in-san-francisco-california.html

@wunami - Almost too good.

@Burger365 - I will find out for you and report back with respect to the exact preparation. As for how it ends up - the final frying crisps the bacon.

@SinoSoul - I guess my short answer is I don't think of toppings categorically, but rather assess them on a case to case basis as to how they enhance or detract from the overall enjoyment of the burger. To your specific question - Tavern vs. Rustic - it's not really apples to apples. First off I loved the quality of Tavern's toppings... I wrote in the review:

"The toppings alongside look as pristine and delectable as a high-end house salad. I sample them on their own. The pickles are perhaps the tastiest iteration I’ve come across."

What didn't work for me was how they interacted with the rest of the burger. Again, in the review I wrote:

"The burger's juiciness and fat seem out of step with the added texture (and water) of the toppings."

As for Rustic Canyon, the mass of toppings married with the burger beautifully. Above I wrote:

"The first bite is first kiss headiness: The flavor of the beef, salty and juicy, is awash in a complex of fat and sweetness that is nearly pitch perfect. Even the arugula —a lettuce choice that usually steams into mushy submission—vanquishes me. Its peppery bite, along with the pickle, cuts the sweet of the onions. The rémoulade blends into the flavor experience adding yet another layer fat and desire. The meat manages to hold its own against all these flavors; salty and wonderfully griddled, it has an intense crust that crumbles into each mouthful."

Phew... I guess that's the long answer. While I think the question you posed is answered in the reviews, the underlying question is a great one. What makes for great toppings on a burger? For me, there isn't a singular answer. I try to assess each burger on its merits while not forgetting to acknowledge my prejudices so as to give the best information.

I hope that clears up your confusion!

@carlita - Rustic is about 15 minutes from LAX... just try not to get distracted by the In-N-Out on your way.

@SAKc - Thanks so much. Glad you enjoyed the review!

@iheartcheese - Evan is so interesting. One little tidbit I didn't mention is that his father is an Academy Award winning cinematographer.

@dzhughes - Glad you liked the read, but in the end the real thing is where it's at. This one is definitely worth a try.

@Lvn4life - Nothing cynical about classic potato buns!

Wow... is all I can say. Oh and "Um... Yum..." too. Rustic Canyon is officially on my list thanks to your description which was so gastronomic I felt as though I was eating the burger right along with you. For a second I thought you went to the golf course in Moorpark to review their burger!

Don't know what the comment from SinoSoul is all about. Uh, have you had the burger at Tavern? If not, then just look at the pics of the burger from that review and compare them to the pics of this review. Now do you see? Tavern takes "run it through the garden" to a whole new level.

@SinoSoul - Alas, the burger deal at Rustic of which you speak is no more. Labor Day marked its end. The RC burger is back to its $16 dollar ways. Is it worth $16? I've had a chance to sample it a few times and talk burger technique with Chef Evan Funke so I'll have an answer to that question and more in next week's review.

do i notice a slightly diminished depth of field in your photos???

thank you for risking life and limb to open our eyes to the wonders of westside burgers....