100 Dishes to Eat in Atlanta Before You Die: Bocado (Burger and Fries)

When the first two words out of your mouth as you bite into a burger (or anything really) are "holy cow", you know you've found something special.  Last week, I found the cheeseburger (and fries) at Bocado.
Nestled on the Westside, I would anticipate people sometimes forget that Bocado even exists when naming places for lunch.  However, those in the know certainly don't forget about Bocado when naming the best burgers in Atlanta. The sous chef at Alma Cocina, a partner (and resident foodie) at my law firm, and a respected newsweekly (Creative Loafing...that's why I'm blogging, remember?) all pointed me to Bocado's burger as a must-have. And holy cow, they were right.

Speaking of cow (see what I did there?), Bocado grinds their beef twice a day, once before the morning shift and once before the evening shift.  They combine short rib, brisket and chuck to create one of the most flavorful and juicy burgers I have ever had. On busy days, they sometimes are forced to grind to order and have even run out on rare occasions.

[Useful cooking tip: Try grinding your own burgers at home. Buy some chuck and some sirloin.  Cut into cubes.  Throw it in a food processor. Pulse about ten times.  Lightly salt.  Form patties.  Grill.  Enjoy.  You won't regret it.]

Now back to our regularly scheduled review:

The burger itself thrives on its simplicity. Two juicy three ounce patties, nestled between a toasted Holeman & Finch bun, topped only with a slice of cheese and house-made bread and butter pickles (the sweet ones).  That's it.  And that's all it needs.  No ketchup.  No mustard (gross).  No nothing (doesn't that just mean something...?) No something.  As my lunch mate for this adventure and a self proclaimed condiment junkie said, "You know a burger is good when all you need is cheese and pickles."  I don't think that slogan is going to make any bumper stickers, but it definitely rings true when talking about the burger at Bocado.

As for the french fried potatoes, Bocado features both plain and garlic herbed.  Since I now live a life of decadence as a food blogger, I obviously opted for the garlic fries with a side of ranch (the default condiment for the garlic fries; ketchup for the plain ones).  Fortunately for me, I wasn't planning on kissing anyone that night.  Actually, it's quite unfortunate, but at least I was ready if any vampires tried to make out with me.  The fries had a nice crunch to them, while the garlic provided a strong kick, although some might consider it overwhelming.  Dipping them in the ranch was a pleasant cool-down to the spiciness of the garlic.  However, there is no need to splurge on the fries if it results in you leaving behind even a single sesame seed from the burger.

Speaking of splurging, the Burger Stack (as it's officially called at Bocado) will run you $8.75 for lunch, with the garlic fries costing an extra $2.50.  If you go for dinner, it's $12 total for what I can only imagine is the same amount of burger and fries.  My suggestion: Go on Tuesdays. Not only is it a perfect way to break up Monday and Wednesday nights, but you can get a Burger Stack and a beer for $12.  With that said, while $8.75 might be steep for a burger (I could have got 8 McDoubles from McDonalds!), it is well worth it.  Bocado's burger rivals those of the traditional "burger joints" and certainly is deserving of its lofty status and price (if it costs more, that means it tastes better, right?).  And trust me, you'll feel a lot better than if you had ate those 8 McDonald's burgers.

Until next post...Stay hungry!

Michael