Brentwood is known for many things. The burger is not one of them. Sadly, Brentwood frequently takes a back seat to its dainty neighbor, Santa Monica, in that department. Santa Monica’s burger scene—Father’s Office, Umami, The Counter—is praised the country and the world over. And rightfully so.
But, in reality, Brentwood actually could throw a pretty competitive meat patty pageant itself. You just need to know where to go. Thus, you better start jogging around the country club a few times because you’ve got five solid burgers to sample all within blocks of one another on San Vicente Boulevard. Did somebody say Burger Crawl?
1. Barney’s Gourmet Hamburgers—Barney’s is the homecoming queen of the Brentwood burger scene. Which is sort of tough to swallow because the mini-chain originated in Northern California. However, it’s quite difficult to find something on the menu you will not love. It offers a whopping 27 burgers, including the popular Popeye (sautéed spinach, fresh garlic and feta cheese) and the North Beach (cheddar cheese topped with sautéed mushrooms and marinated artichoke hearts). Also you can substitute any burger for chicken breast. Note: The spicy curly fries are a must.
Barney’s (barneyshamburgers.com)—11660 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-447-6000
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2. Daily Grill—The Daily Grill offers its signature Cheeseburger Classic on the dinner menu, but I strongly advise that you stop by for lunch so you can enjoy the wonders of the Pepper Bacon Burger. A beautiful half-pound certified Angus beef patty ground in-house, topped with two thick cheddar slices, Thousand Island dressing and generous slabs of peppered bacon.
Daily Grill (dailygrill.com)—11677 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-442-0044
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3. Tavern—Like at the Daily Grill, the afternoon is the optimal time to make your way to Tavern to enjoy its delicious burgers. It offers three: a Niman Ranch beef with fontina, an all-pork affair with manchego cheese and romesco sauce, and the house organic turkey burger with tomato confit. It may seem tough to squander a meal at Tavern on “just burgers,” but, trust me, these aren’t just burgers. They are all incredibly tasty and all worth the hefty price tag. Note: Burgers are also available at the connecting Larder and at the bar.
Tavern (tavernla.com)—11648 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-806-6464
4. The Cheesecake Factory—The problem with The Cheesecake Factory is that the menu is too big. It is almost impossible to decide what to eat. I say go burger. It offers a dozen “Glamburgers” daily, but the star is the surprisingly delicious Double Cheese Crunch Burger—American and cheddar cheese, grilled onion, tomato, pickles, special sauce and freaking potato crisps on a brioche bun. Make sure you order a side of ranch for the fries. Cheesecake Factory ranch may as well be illegal because you will want to bathe in it.
The Cheesecake Factory (thecheesecakefactory.com)—11647 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-826-7111
5. Coral Tree Café—OK, Coral Tree doesn’t even serve a “normal” burger, yet its signature (its words, not mine) Veggie Burger ain’t no slouch. Filling, but not heavy, the veggie patty (topped with a tasty remoulade sauce) is a perfect substitute for the real thing. And then you won't feel guilty when you inevitably order one of Coral Tree’s enchanting desserts.
Coral Tree Café (coraltreecafe.com)—11645 San Vicente Blvd.; 310-979-8733
