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25 Degrees is still my favorite upscale burger joint, though I frequent Umami more often because it's in my neighborhood.

Damon, which would you rate higher, the burger at 25 Degrees or The Golden State? I appreciate the variety at 25D but can't find a combo I like better than the bacon cheeseburger at TGS.

I grew up in Brooklyn so we knew all about pizza, but my mom actually made something similar with Pillsbury dough crust, ground beef, onions, tomato paste and mozzarella cheese. It was really good!

Next time, definitely order a second slice of cheese. You'll be glad you did.

I have to admit that I haven't been to Bonnie's in a few years. When I'm next in Brooklyn I'll try to sample them again to see if they've dropped off in quality as much as everyone seems to think.

Bob's Big Boy is definitely worth a trip, especially to the Burbank one that still has the classic look and feel. I find their burgers to be a bit greasy, but in a way that tastes really good while I'm eating it (if I try hard not to think about my arteries closing up).

Father's Office is a must-try. The new one in Culver CIty seems to be a bit easier to manage than the original in Santa Monica. It's an eccentric take a on a burger that I find tasty but, to me, doesn't really match the flavor profile I associate with "burger."

If I'm in the mood for a sweet-and-salty caramelized onion/blue cheese/ground beef sandwich on a french roll with a great draft beer, Father's Office is the place. But if I'm looking for pickles, ketchup or any other kind of cheese - which is more often the case - I head elsewhere.

Great post on a vital topic! All those photos above have my stomach growling with the memories of four years spent at the legendary Hoagie Haven in Princeton:

http://www.hoagiehaven.com/

I must have eaten at least 2 sandwiches a week from them. My meal of choice was the "pizza cheesesteak" - cheesesteak cooked flat, provolone cheese and tomato sauce. To that, I would add grilled onions, shredded iceberg lettuce and a little bit of ketchup for sweetness.

I wonder if my digestive track could still handle one of these?

It's important to distinguish between the best pizza and the best slice. Mozza is by far the best pizza (second in my heart only to Franny's in Brooklyn), but it's not a place to grab a quick on-the-go slice. Vito's offers the best slice in LA, though clearly not all toppings are created equally.

The two times I've been to Joe's I've been hugely disappointed.

The slices at Village Pizza are not recommend. Unlike a NY slice which is fully cooked yet gains something on second heating, the slice at Village is actually undercooked originally so that they can finish cooking it when you order it. The result is that you wait 10 minutes for a slice that's scalding hot yet insufficiently charred. Not good.

I had a surprisingly good slice at Garage Pizza in Silverlake. Good solid slice, about average for a NY slice but way above for LA. The owner really knows what he's doing and seems eager to experiment with interesting toppings based on customer feedback.

I had my first Pie 'N Burger last Friday and completely agree - the Apple Pan has a great history and nostalgia value, but it can't compete with PNB on taste. My cheeseburger with grilled onions was sublime. Next time, though, I'm going to have to try those fries!

Chalk me up as another naysayer on the In-n-Out fries. Like salted cardboard.

@Lance: I can't say I've tasted as far and as wide as you have, but I too have been on a quest for a great LA pizza. Mozza and Vito's are definitely high on my list.

Joe's in Santa Monica isn't bad but it's a bit too far for me to drive to on a whim. And it's nowhere near as good as the actual Joe's of Bleecker (or Joe's in Park Slope, or the original Joe's when they were on the corner of Bleecker & Carmine, which is the best of all possible Joe's!)

Definitely check out the pizzas at Bloom (go2bloom.com). I like the "lamb sausage & sweet peppers" and the "rosemary comte cheese and potato." Or if you want something more traditional, start with the plain (sauce/mozz/basil) and build from there.

For those times I don't want to wait for a spot at the bar at Mozza but want something similar, my fallbacks are Terroni on Beverly, Cube on La Brea (their whole menu is spectacular, but they're a little generous with the salt) and Little Dom's on Hillhurst.

I have yet to try Casa Bianca. Thanks for reminding me about it!

Oh - and if you do make it to Otto (and you really should) be sure to order the Sardinian Iced Tea and the Olive Oil Gelato. Both are worth going out of your way for.

How to push that envelope? Serve it between two pancakes with a bit pat of maple butter.

I realize I may be going out on a limb on this one, but I've enjoyed a "cheeseburger club" sandwich at a diner near Rockefeller Center. Three slices of toast, melted cheese, typical burger patty, bacon, lettuce and tomato. Somehow, the toast brings something to the party that the usual diner bun doesn't.

I wouldn't eat ALL or even MOST of my burgers this way, but it's a nice change of pace and definitely still a burger in my book.