The Quest for the Best Burger in Portland – Part 1
For a week now Michael has been trying to convince me to go to a restaurant he calls “Hans Gruber” — Gruner in downtown Portland. I wasn’t craving burgers until Tuesday after a great workout. I suggested we give it a try and continue our quest for the best burger in Portland.
We went downtown and met up with one of Michael’s friends, Traver, for dinner. Michael got a glass of the Upright Engelberg Pilsener (OR) beer.
And I got a glass of the Grüner Veltliner (Stadt Krems, Kamptal, AT 2009) –white wine. It was a crisp, tangy wine that wasn’t too sweet and went perfectly with the hot summer weather. We were sitting outside in the sun and it was a gorgeous Portland day–80+ degrees!
The three of us split an appetizer: fried smashed yellow finn potatoes, special sauce (um, Ranch dressing, not really “Special Sauce” but still good in my book!).
They were salty and good, and there weren’t enough for three people! I ate two. The burgers arrived. We all ordered the same thing: hambürger with smoky bacon on a potato bun with fontina cheese, b&b pickles, pickled red onions, aïoli, arugula & house-made ketchup:
The burger was good. NOT the best burger in Portland but tasty. The bun was the best part of the burger, hands down. The burger didn’t need the bacon, it got kind of lost in the other flavors. The cheese was mild, the homemade ketchup had the consistency of tomato paste and I tasted curry.
The burger itself was good–meaty tasting–but not incredibly flavorful otherwise (spice wise). It was good but very greasy and messy to eat.
It was so nice being able to sit outside and enjoy dinner in the sun! They brought our bill in a book completely in German, which I thought was a cool touch.
After dinner we decided to go for a walk through the Pearl District and find some dessert. It was a really nice stroll after a heavy dinner. It was the perfect night for a walk.
We ended up at Cupcake Jones. I was tempted by all the amazing looking cupcakes! I was good though.
We each got one mini cupcake. Michael got the chocolate, Traver got a white chocolate with cranberry and I got the Pumpkin Spice.
It was so good! The mini cupcake was the perfect amount. I particularly liked the tiny sugar cookie on top of my cupcake too. 😉
We continued walking deeper into the Pearl District and ended up at Jamison Park. I’d never seen the fountains there in the park, so it was a nice treat!
There were tons of kids playing in the fountain. It would be a nice place to relax and read in the summertime!
Bottom line on The Quest: Still have not discovered the BEST burger in Portland. So far I think the ranking is as follows: 1) Slow Bar, 2) Foster Burger, 3) Gruner, 4) Five Guys.
QUESTION: Do you ever walk around your city like a tourist?
Carbzilla
I love reading your review because I read another one in the PDX press that just RAVED about this burger, but I’d much rather hear about it from a real person.
Slow Bar’s pretty close to us so we should definitely check it out.
I’m glad I had a burger for lunch today or I’d be tortured right now.
Lisa Eirene
We read the same review of the Gruner burger and went in there with high expectations as a result. I still feel like Slow Bar was a much better burger. Gruner deserves a chance though, you and Chris should check it out.
Kristina @ spabettie
I love the Jamison Park area of the Pearl… I used to live up there and I ran a spa right across from the fountains… (not there anymore, and UGH not worth the mention!). I used to walk around there on breaks and after work – we loved it.
I have some suggestions as you two eat all the burgers in Portland !! 😀
-Le Pigeon. only one burger choice… SO good.
-Toro Bravo for their Pancetta + Manchego burger. *Gorham’s Tasty n Sons burger is excellent also.
-Metrovino for their cheeseburger. Mmm…
-Gilt Club (if you want to try one with foie gras!!) Gilt Club is where they filmed Portlandia’s Colin The Chicken scene. 😉
-Violetta – so SO good.
-Food Cart Mention: Garden State – VERY flavorful burger!
Lisa Eirene
I was HOPING you’d have suggestions!! I am making a list.
That’s funny that a French restaurant has an amazing burger. Good to know because I’d probably order something else if I didn’t know to try it there.
Kristina @ spabettie
MY very favorite deserves it’s own comment…
the burger from Laurelhurst Market!! the menu changes, they usually have one burger on the menu at all times, but the best one comes with PIMENTO CHEESE.
sorry – didn’t mean to yell. 😉 it’s that good.
you should go there anyway – EVERYTHING is good there!! 😀
Lisa Eirene
I recently had pimento cheese for the first time ever. SO good! Laurelhurst Market is high on our “to go to” list! It just moved to the top as far as I’m concerned!
Kristina @ spabettie
I cannot be more serious about this 😉
after our first time there? we went back two days later. and again. and again… everything is amazing.
Lisa Eirene
Oooh that sounds dangerous! But I felt the same way about that burger at Slow Bar! I totally could have gone back the next day for another burger!
SlimKatie @ Runs for Cookies
Mmmm, those cupcakes look AMAZING. I’m a frosting addict. The fountains look like fun!
Lisa Eirene
The cupcakes were good–a tad on the dry side but good. I’m less about frosting and more about the cake–or a creamy center!
steena
Well, you didn’t find the best burger, but you probably found the best cupcakes! whoa!
I’m pretty picky about a burger, I don’t like the bun to be larger than my mouth can open, plus the size of the beef patty. It’s tricky to find the best sized burger for a girl!
Lisa Eirene
You make an excellent point–I don’t like when the burger is too big to eat. I prefer smaller too.