Wow this place must be popping when the zoo is really lively! It was the tail end of ZooLights, and it was busy, but my friend and I were able to grab bar seats. A friend invited me to go on a little Duke's tour with her, and this was our first stop. They were decked out in panda decor and had a charming menu. I was mainly there for their drinks, but I decided to try their quinoa salad too. What a hefty, satisfying salad! The butternut squash, goat cheese, and pumpkin seeds were the highlights. Based on this initial experience, I'd be back for sure. Good happy hour too. Now, this location may be a little out of my way, but thankfully there are closer Duke's. read more

Stopped in at Duke's before heading in to the zoo. I was really excited after reading a lot of good things about their burger. It was an overall ok experience. The service when we went left a lot to be desired. It was busy for sure being a weekend but not overwhelming. There were empty tables inside. Even still, it took forever to get acknowledged at times just to take our order. If we hadn't asked someone walking by for the bill, we still may be there. We had an app of fries and then my main was the burger with fries. The fries were great. They are those style of pub fries that are crispy and delicious. The garlic aioli dip was a great pairing for them. The burger was fine. It wasn't anything out of this world but it was still good. All the toppings blended well with the burger. I felt it could have used some more flavor. Duke's is in an unbeatable spot being right across from the entrance to the zoo. If you are looking for a bite right there, it's a good option. read more

My family and I quite enjoyed their aubergine sandwich at one location until we confirmed it was not vegan at another location. I hope they will do something about this as it is advertised to be the veggie option and many staff assume it is vegan. Staff are nice and try to be helpful. No frills casual kind of vibe. read more

Not kids friendly. They asked us to leave the stroller outside while our baby was sleeping in it and there was plenty of room outdoors. Also the reception lady who arranged tables made a mess assigning same tables to different group. read more

The food was good and the service was ok! Ordered the proper burger which was a bit smaller than shown in the pics. It didn't come with any sides. But you can add fries for additional charge, which I didn't like since the burger was almost $20. Fish chips were good, but again one two small strips . It did come with fries. The fried chicken sandwich and wings were mehhh. Really expensive but figured that was going to be the case seeing the location! read more

Unfortunately Phil's very unpleasant attitude at the bar prompted us to leave with just a round of drinks. We sat waiting at the bar for close to 10 minutes before we had to ask if we could order drinks. I love the burgers here and usually have a good time. I didn't catch the lady's name at the host stand, but she was also not in a great mood. We came on 3/22/26 around 4pm. It'll be a while before I go back. Also, I hear the elote appetizer is coming off the menu and wasn't available when we were there, what a bummer!! read more

This was the next stop on my holiday pop-up tour, bamboo land which is in a series of several holiday pop-ups at different duke's grocery locations throughout the area, with each one having a different theme (they even give you a passport card so you can check off each location you visit). It's a spacious location and decked out from top to bottom with Santa hat wearing pandas and all the bamboo decor you can dream of. There was a decent sized crowd at that time of the evening but the servers were timely and pleasant in greeting the customers and taking orders. Their holiday inspired cocktail options included a here comes panda claus, gin-gle bells, and gingerbread hot chocolate. I decided to try the gingerbread hot chocolate, which was so excellent I had to get two. Definitely a fun space and one of the better holiday inspired cocktails I've tried during the season. read more

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Duke's Counter was the perfect place to stop for lunch after a trip to the Zoo! It's welcoming and colorful appearance and basic yet accommodating menu made it an appealing choice for our family with two kids. They seem to be a cherished small local restaurant with a few locations throughout the D.C. area. We all enjoyed what we'd ordered, and the service was friendly. We would return if in the area! read more

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Nice burger joint good food right across from the Smithsonian Zoo. We had reservations for 5pm and stressed YOU MUST BE OUT IN ONE HOUR don't expect to dawdle in this joint! read more

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Duke's delivered in menu options and flavor, but definitely could have amped up the portions given the price. Even though the elote was delicious, it wasn't worth $15 for likely canned corn and I appreciate when my burger already has fries included. As many have already stated, the burgers here are flavorful and need no substitutions as each bite is better than the next. Service was slow during lunch on a Saturday - lots of traffic from the zoo. Expect all the dishes to come at once, even starters. The decor is a little gimmicky but fun for kids and families looking for a quick lunch. read more

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After a long, hot afternoon at the zoo, we were looking for somewhere to sit down and have a delicious meal. A quick Yelp search led us to Duke's, which is directly across the street from the main entrance of the zoo. My husband knew them right away, and that they were known for their burgers. Their menu even states they were voted DC's best burger. My husband would know, because when he goes to the Foggy Bottom location, he always orders the pho they have on their menu. So we grabbed an outdoor seat, and got ready to dive in. If the weather is cooperating, sitting outside for people watching is the way to go. We started off with appetizers of elote, and the pickle pots. The elote was wonderful, consisting of a big portion of fresh corn, crema, cojita cheese, and a drizzle of red pepper sauce, and a couple of lime wedges. The pickle pots consisted of three ramekins of dill pickles, pickled beets, and pickled daikon. Perfect way to replenish all of the salt we had lost, walking the zoo the previous five hours. Now it was time to give that best burger claim a run for its money. I went with the Proper Burger. A massive burger with two Angus patties, Gouda cheese, pickles, red onions, chili sauce, and aïoli on a brioche bun. Before it even arrived, we knew it was the right move just by watching them get delivered to other tables. One bite was all it took to know that their claim was legit. Delicious, tender burger that was juicy throughout and packed with flavor. And having the panda bear branded onto the bun was a fun touch. Husband went with an interesting sandwich call the Cubano Torte Milanesa. A breaded chicken schnitzel cutlet, Jarlesberg cheese, capicola ham, tomato, avocado, as well as red onions and garlic aïoli. He left off the pickled jalapeños, because he is not as cool as he used to be when we first started dating. The sandwich was great. Was like a tour of Cuba, Germany, and Italy, all mixed into one. And it might have had more heft to it than the burger. Only real miss were the fries. Fries are always good next to a burger, but these were a bit pedestrian. They do the trick as an add-on, but just didn't stand out. Would also note that the iced tea is Thai inspired, with a little vanilla taste and that ubiquitous orange coloring. Definitely not the version you're going to get a Cracker Barrel. But you'll never get a burger like this at Cracker Barrel. Keep it up Duke's; looking forward to trying your other locations that all have one or two unique dishes, specific to them. read more

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Brandon was absolutely amazing! He made sure we had the best experience ever. I apologize we didn't take pics of food...but it was magnificent !! I had the BLTA and my husband had the Wagyu Burger....and the drinks were even better! . Glad we're taking the train.! read more

MY 500th REVIEW! Duke's Counter, which is part of the local DC Duke's Grocery chain, known for their awesome burgers! I learned from Washingtonian magazine they are opening their first local in MD, out in Potomac. Multiple reasons I felt this should be the 500th review: 1. Wanted a 5-star sit-down non-national chain restaurant as the 500th 2. Also, wanted something in the DC area 3. Duke's is similar to my last name 4. My parents came to visit DC to view cherry blossoms amongst other stuff. We went to the Zoo right across the street from Duke's on Friday, March 28, which just so happened to be Peak Bloom for the cherry blossoms at the Tidal Basin So, everything came together on this for this 500th review. My girlfriend & I met up with my parents at the Zoo and walked around for about 4 hours. Also, it was the 2nd time my g/f met my parents, which went a lot better; not that the first time was bad, but this was a great meeting. We were starving after the Zoo, and my mom had mentioned Duke's for a late lunch prior to me taking Friday, 3/28 off work. We walked in and was decorated for in various panda decor in honor of the ones across the street. They have some outdoor seating, a bar area in the front labeled as the Bamboo Bar with mules, panda-rita, and seating behind there. All 4 of us got the Proper Burger, which is double burger with gouda cheese, rocket which is lettuce, and more. I made a couple of adjustments, like I don't like onions. My dad & I got fries and we shared some with my mom & girlfriend. The server was very attentive, answering our questions like my question of what the heck is rocket. He asked me medium rare or well done. My g/f & I like medium rare, so it was perfect. My dad took issue because he said medium well, and the server said it's only medium rare or well done. There was a bit of back & forth between my dad & the server. My dad said he doesn't want the burger burnt, but he doesn't want it too pink. The server assured my dad almost everyone gets the medium rare and that is very well done. I don't remember what my dad ended up getting, but he told the server if he doesn't like it, he's sending it back. On a positive the server was polite the entire time in this exchange & overall. Also, thankfully, my dad enjoyed his burger and did NOT send it back! This was the single BEST burger I've had in 2025 to date! Better than Shake Shack, which is great, but this is even better. Better than Red Robin, where I got my free birthday burger in February. Better than any other place I'm not thinking of. Fries were great too. Also, the server was on top of getting refills on our waters, which is important to me as well. My dad complained to us about the high price here. And yeah technically my dad isn't wrong prices are high in general. It was $72 for 4-meals, 2 with fries, 2 without...$79 after tax. But I said this is pretty on par with other burger prices in DC especially for this quality. My dad paid with credit card but had me pay the tip. I just had a $20, so he just had $18 he had to give me back. So, I also chipped in for $2 of the meal itself. Thankfully, no credit card fee, which was a negative for my favorite BBQ place in MD we went to on 3/26. My dad slammed them with a 2-star Yelp review. I will admit the service there was not too good, and my dad had another issue there. But I'm going to give them a 4-star review when I get to it (would've been 5-stars for the outstanding BBQ, but some service issues there). Back to Duke's, like on typical bills, they break down the tip amounts like 20% is $14.40, etc. My dad had handed me a $10, $5, and 3 $1. I threw down $15, and my dad exclaimed that's more than 20%. I said this server was excellent, I only had $13, and I could round down, but even if I had $14, I'd still would've given him $15. Then, my dad made a snide comment like you have tons of money to throw around. However, in spite of some negatives with my dad, the conversation with both my parents & g/f was great! The burger was outstanding as was the service. If ever over here in Woodley Park area or by another location, I'd try to come back. read more

Duke's Counter - Incredible Proper burger & fries! - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I don't know where to begin. I guess I'll begin with the fact that my son and I were sat at a two seat table next to the bathrooms. This means that guests made their way by us coming and going the entire time we were at the restaurant. This was concerning because non African America patrons were seated at four seat tables with only two people. We dealt with the not so ideal seating situation and proceeded to order. My son ordered a spicy chicken tender sandwich. It was processed chicken at its finest. No joke it was a breaded chicken filet drenched in buffalo sauce. Let's just say my son was very disappointed and he typically eats everything (that's what teenagers do). I ordered what they call the wagyu burger. I've enjoyed all cuts of meat. My no good biological father is a butcher so I know meat. This was a frozen patty of ground chuck. This was NOT wagyu. This was vending machine quality at best. The kind of "burger" you get from a hospital vending machine back in the day. The bun was fresh. The toppings (lettuce tomatoes, onions) were fresh. I ordered two panda-Ritas. Their play on margaritas. All ice, minimal liquor in a porcelain panda cup with a cardboard bamboo straw. This was a cool cup and straw but should NOT be considered an alcoholic beverage. I was highly disappointed. I didn't make a scene. I just expected so much more from this place. I really want a refund of my $78 bucks $66 food and 20% gratuity)! I'm not sure that Dukes can even make things right. read more

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Really amazing stop. Right in front of the DC Zoo. I loved coming here for lunch. Great service and food. I had the avocado toast and kids had a burger and noodles. Really nice. Totally recommend when in DC. read more

Overall very good burgers, the wings were solid and savory (not your traditional buffalo) too. the mac n cheese was delicious! A few hiccups, orange crush was meh. I thought the entire cost of the meal was on the high side for what you get. Plus the Burgers don't come with fries read more

Jeeeeeeeezus... how did we not plan this better? So a couple of friends and I spent the day doing the full tourist thing at the Smithsonian National Zoo - walking miles, chasing pandas, melting in the sun - and by the end of it we were DONE. Hungry, tired, slightly delirious. We just needed somewhere close to sit, eat, and recover like normal humans again. Literally crossed the street and landed at Duke's Counter... and wow, what a save. First off, the vibe hits immediately. It's got that lively, slightly chaotic energy (in a good way), like everyone there just escaped the zoo too and is ready to refuel. We grabbed a table outside for people-watching, and honestly, that alone was part of the experience. Food?? Let me just say this: if you're even thinking about getting the burger... stop thinking and just do it. I got the Proper Burger and it was one of those meals where you go quiet after the first bite because your brain is trying to process what just happened. Juicy, messy, flavorful in every bite--no notes. You can tell they take that "best burger in DC" claim very seriously. We also ordered the elote to start, which was exactly what we needed after sweating all day--salty, creamy, a little tangy, just hitting all the right spots. One of my friends got a sandwich (I think it was the Cubano situation) and it was HUGE. Like, borderline "should we have shared this?" huge. Only minor thing--the fries were fine. Not bad, just not on the same level as everything else. But honestly, when the burger is that good, I'm not losing sleep over fries. Service was friendly, even with how packed it got. You can tell they deal with zoo crowds all the time, so they keep things moving without making you feel rushed. Random side note: after we got back and were still in "treat yourself" mode, we ended up ordering from Pressure Deliveries--clutch move to keep the chill vibes going after a long day out. Highly recommend pairing the two experiences if you're making a full day of it. Overall, this place felt like exactly what we needed without even planning it. Great food, fun energy, perfect location if you're doing the zoo or just exploring the city. Would I come back? 100%. Would I walk another 5 miles at the zoo just to justify eating that burger again? ...also yes read more

After ZooLights, Dillon and I went to Duke's Counter to check out their Destination Dreamland's The Bamboo Bar. Honestly, I wasn't a huge fan of the Bamboo Mule, which consisted of vodka, ginger-chili syrup, lime, and lemon with a ginger ale float. I snacked on Pickle Pots, which consisted of garlic dill pickles, daikon, and pickled beets. I wish that I could get just three pots of pickled beets. The Wagyu Beef Burger, which consisted of wagyu beef patty, cheddar, duke's bacon jam, romaine lettuce, and garlic aioli on a toasted brioche bun, was one of the best burgers I've had in a while. It was served with fries and ketchup. read more

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Me and friends went here for brunch before seeing the pandas at the zoo. They had special panda drinks that were adorable. It helps to make a reservation as it is a small place. read more

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Located directly across from National Zoo, and while there are no bargains on the menu, the sandwiches and beer are excellent. Especially the Cubano sandwich recommended by ... Our server was Liz(?) and she rocks. The hostess; not so much. More of a back-of-the-house personality that could not decide where she did (not?) want us to sit. Inspite of the dining room being essentially empty, she moved us three times. Will I return? Yabbut; I live 500 miles away ... so that ain't happening. The ambiance of the dining room is a "dive bar" vibe. The outside/sidewalk seating was full and we did not choose to wait. read more

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Suggested by a friend, didn't disappoint - great service and one of the boat burgers I've had. read more

Duke's Counter - The Proper Burger .... It was otherworldly - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

My girlfriend and I saw that this establishment had really good reviews, and we were looking for somewhere close after a zoo excursion. Glad we chose this place! We were able to get bar seats, and while getting our drink orders and the check was a bit slow, we were given water and our food orders fairly quickly. My GF got one of Duke's Burger Bracket Final Four burgers, the Mozz Maniac, which consisted of roasted chicken breast, parmesan, mozzarella sticks, marinara, pesto, rocket arugula, and chili flakes. Garnered a very positive review! I had the wagyu beef burger, and while I thought it was a bit small, it was very satisfying and the bacon jam gives it a great flavor. Fries don't come with either sandwich, but don't skip on them. They were cooked perfectly with a nice crispness. The decor is definitely zoo themed, in particular with pandas, but also DC sports pictures/memorabilia. Don't pass this place up if you need refueling after a zoo trip! read more

Make a reservation! Limited indoor and bar seating but the bar is first come first serve. The burgers are cooked well and have good flavor- although could be smashed more. The panda cocktails are very sweet and not very boozy, so I'd order a floater to balance out the drink read more

Duke's Counter - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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From Duke's Grocery is a small restaurant/bar across from the Smithsonian Zoo. There's a bar and several tables for locals and tourists alike. They are famous for their burger, but don't sleep on the cocktails. They sometimes do fun pop ups with very creative cocktails. For example, they have a panda-themed popup indefinitely in honor of the Zoo's Great Panda exhibit opening. read more

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If you're going to the zoo, you NEED to come here for lunch. It vibes like a mom and pop joint but with bigger flavors and great deals. The owners/servers are so kind and have great suggestions for whatever you need. Our table shared a pitcher of beer (deal 1), had many burgers of the day with fries (deal 2), and had a constant flow of water. I would argue the only downfall were the bathrooms because they weren't the nicest. Back to the food... the burgers are smash burgers which normally my kid complains pushes all the "good stuff" out but not here. According to my family the burgers were moist and perfectly seasoned. The buns held up to the burgers for everyone except the kiddo. The avocado BLT with cucumber was so fresh and so good I had no regrets not getting a burger. This place is worth the hype and I'm glad it wasn't busy while we were there because I could see how it could get full quite fast any other time! read more

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Somehow I would rather eat at the zoo than at Duke's. Location: it's very difficult to park nearby because of its proximity to the zoo, I would expect that most patrons are those visiting the zoo. First impression: the hostess was rude when I was checking in for our reservation. She gave us an attitude for absolutely no reason. The decor was tacky (it was literally some 144p Temu print outs of bamboo thumb tacked to the walls). Food: my "wagyu" burger had no meat flavor and was practically raw in the middle, probably because it was cooked from frozen so the patty was gray outside. Fries were decent. The food reminded me of my middle school cafeteria. I would not recommend or revisit. read more

This is a really convenient stop before or after a trip to the Zoo as it sits just across the street from the main entrance. Friends who live in DC recommended Duke's as they enjoy the Dupont location. We stopped in right around 11:30 on a Saturday. The outdoor seating was full, but there seemed to be plenty of open tables inside. We sat inside the front window, close to the bar. The service throughout our visit was unpleasant. Even though we were promptly sat, we didn't receive menus. When we were finally greeted by the gentleman who served us 15 mins later, we had to ask for menus. He seemed like he'd rather be anywhere else and treated us as if our presence was an annoyance. Questions were met with a huff and quick response. We ordered a good variety of items. I had the quinoa bowl, which was ok. It had barely any squash and too much goat cheese. The dressing was tasty. Little one had mac and cheese, which she didn't like. It was very heavy on the cheese and very light on the seasoning. Hubby had the Proper Burger, which he liked but was slightly overdone for his taste. It was disappointing to be told that they only offer medium rare and well done as options for cooking temps. Our friends had a Proper Burger + egg, Avocado Toast and fries. Burgers also don't come with fries. I would say that it you're charging upwards of $17 for a burger, fries should be included. But no.. it'll cost you $4 for fries. Other add-on prices are also insane - $3 for an egg, $4 for avocado. Between the poor service and the ridiculous prices, it is very unlikely, with all of the great options in this area of DC, that I will return. read more

I really wish I had looked into this place before stopping by. After a fun trip to the zoo, we were hoping to enjoy a great burger and a memorable meal--but unfortunately, it didn't live up to expectations. The burger was just okay, nothing special, and we paid extra for the garlic oil on the fries, which turned out to be a disappointment--it tasted like burnt oil and wasn't worth the added cost. The location is definitely convenient if you're visiting the zoo, but honestly, we walked past several smaller spots that probably would've offered a better experience. In the end, we spent nearly $100 for two people and walked away feeling like it wasn't worth the time, money, or calories. read more

I understand why they have been ranked #1 burger in DC 8 yrs straight. Excellent burgers. Hand cut fries. Great stop after a morning at the zoo! read more

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Went for the Bamboo Bar pop-up! The bar was decorated in a cute panda theme and they had a special menu of 5 drinks. The "Bao-zy Hot Chocolate" was v good and came in a cup that revealed a panda face as it was exposed to the hot drink! I was pleasantly surprised by the "Don't Forget the Red Panda" drink as I'm not a Red Bull fan by the lychee & raspberry liquor made the drink super fruity but not in a sweet way! I also thought the cup was cute as well! The truffle mac & cheese was good (as always) & loved the crunchy cheese topping. The proper burger & fired up chicken sandwich were both very good and loved the cute panda brand on the bun! Service was fast and the staff checked up on us often. read more

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Stopped by to grab a proper burger after all the buzz. Not bad, but nothing to write home about.

Cute little place! The proper burger was delicious! Had mine medium rare, which is not how I eat my burgers, and I was pleasantly surprised! Great crispy fries, and a nice Margherita! The customer service was great! read more

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Overall a good experience. They have a pretty early happy hour and the drinks are LARGE. Had two mixed drinks and was feeling myself. I got the Taken with Liberty to soak up all my spirits. It didn't not disappoint, it was like a sophisticated Chopped Cheese. Really good, not exactly what I anticipated but good nonetheless. Highly recommend stopping by here for food or drinks. read more

Duke's Counter - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Good environment, small and homey. Food is overrated, like they tried to incorporate fancy ingredients that kinda ruin the meal. got mac and cheese and a burger with fries, the fries were the highlight and fries are kinda hard to mess up. the mac and cheese had some fancy cheese that barely had a taste to it, and the burger seemed frozen despite being called a "wagyu smash burger" which sounds promising. self-serve beverages which is just a bottle of water on the table to refill your glass. was recommended to me by a local but i was severely disappointed. read more

I got there right at the morning rush, but they got me a seat at the bar right away. The first bloody Mary was pretty good, the second and third were awesome. It took a little while to get my breakfast out, but that was ok. The setting is good, the bar keep responsive and the time was an opportunity to relax and take it all in. I ordered the full English breakfast. It was on par to the many I've had in Ireland. Overall, this place is a win. Come in, relax, have a nice long meal, chat with your neighbor tables and enjoy the whole experience. I will be returning during my time in DC. read more

We loved the proper burger and the Cuban sandwich. Cocktails were fun. The truffle Mac and cheese and fries were amazing. We were pleasantly surprised by this place. read more

Love the menu but particularly the burger! Went for brunch with first timers and everyone loved their food.

Finally made it around to trying the famed "Proper Burger". Man was I pleasantly surprised...this was an awesome burger and the service was great! Next visit will be for brunch...can't wait! read more

Duke's Counter - Proper Burger - Burgers Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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I was in the neighborhood of the zoo picking up a bottle of cheer for a friend's birthday. This place is a little difficult to find, I think i walked past 3 times before I saw the sign. Then it was like right there. I was cold too so finding it was a blessing. I went inside and asked about a table for one. I get seated toward the back of the restaurant near what I'm thinking is the entrance to the kitchen. The place is like one long closet, not a cut just an observation. I could smell food being cooked the entire time I was at my table. The lighting is interesting to say the least. I was glad to be out of the wind. The menu has a variety, something for everyone. I cheated and looked ahead of time plus I have been to Duke's Grocery near GW hospital. The proper burger with fries (they're extra with the burger) and a Yuengling to wash it all down. The restaurant is as busy as I would expect for a Saturday night. I finish off my first beer and the waitress is bringing me food so I order another. Decent size burger, and a generous portion of the fries. The first bite and you know you found one of the best burgers in the city. Definitely a place to try if you have never been. The fries are pretty good, still hot from the fryer. Definitely a repeat for me now that I know where it is. Convenient to the zoo and a neighborhood with other restaurants and things to see and do. The kicker is I left my phone in the car. Doh! I will have to visit again for pictures. read more

Five Stars for the food, which is really quite tasty. The proper burger really hit the spot and the onions, cheese sauce, and all the fixings were done to perfection. My wife loved the corn dish and the arugula salad with radishes and tomato Also hit the mark. So why only four stars? For some folks, it may not matter, but the ambience and set up is a bit down market. Tables were pretty sticky, kegs of beer were stacked up at the front entrance, and the music was probably more for the staff than the customers. Service was adequate, but nothing to write home about, and the person at the front door looked bored out of her mind, staring into an iPad video for most of the evening. My guess is that this is a great lunch spot after a visit to the zoo, but I probably wouldn't come back for dinner. Then again, the burger was really pretty darn good. read more

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