FOTB- True North Tavern

Choosing what I wanted in my burger became too tough to do (the endless possibilities), so I needed to check out a simple place. True North Tavern in North Park was that! Just 2 burgers to choose from (veggie burgers are not burgers!) off the menu.

The Food: 3.5/5 Stars
There aren't too many options for burgers at True North, so I decided to check out their BBQ Burger (at $9.50, it's not the cheapest). The burger was good, yet not outstanding. The meat had some flavor, but the taste was lost in the amount of BBQ sauce doused on it. But why stop with just hiding the flavor in one sauce, when you can add a heaping scoop of mayonnaise to the mix. Which was too bad, because the buns at True North were awesome. The bread had nice flavor and they were perfectly toasted. They held up well, even to the generous amount of sauce dripping on it. True North adds a fresh touch to their sides- they serve up some mean tater tots. Normally I need fries or onion rings with my burger, but this was a nice change, especially because the tots were so tasty.

The Drinks: 4/5 Stars
True North offers a wide selection of beers to choose from. Almost all the beverages are microbrews, so you can't really go too wrong with your choice. In addition, they have a full bar, so if you can't drink down the nectar of the gods (ambrosia is Greek for good beer- source, me) there are still plenty of options to choose from. While the beers aren't cheap (around $4-5), the happy hour price knocks off a buck, and if you aren't starving, wait until 7. After 7, almost all the microdrafts are only $3, not too expensive to keep you from having a second round.

The Atmosphere: 4/5 Stars
True North has a neat atmosphere about the place. It's slightly trendy looking, definitely appealing to the scenesters/hipsters dressed in their "unique" American Apparel outfits that frequent North Park. It attracts a slightly younger crowd, with people on dates as well as a group of friends huddled around the pool table. There is plenty of room and never feels too crowded. The waitress wasn't spectacular, but the bartender was really friendly.

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Gimme some tots! True North is a neat spot with some good vibe to the place. While the burgers aren't special, the burger flavor is smothered by the accompanying sauces, they are worth enjoying with a good beer and some tots. And the people watching is enjoyable as well.

FOTB- Tioli's Crazy Burger

And now for...

Tioli's Crazy Burger is a small restaurant specializing in burgers. Located at 4201 30th Street in North Park, it keeps the name Tioli in memory of the small Italian restaurant that formerly held this spot. Parking isn't too tough to come by, with a couple of street spots and a parking lot across the street.

The Food: 4/5 Stars
With one look at the menu, you realize just how many burger options there are here, with each one looking more and more appealing. With so many delectable choices, we all got a different burger, and it's a good thing we did. It seems as if you can't go wrong with any of the choices. The regular cheeseburger was just above average. It doesn't set itself apart, but then again it doesn't need to. If you come here, you order one of the special burgers. They are what give the rating 4 stars. The venison burger is slightly gamy, but it's topped with pears and bacon and a fruit jelly and DAMN, is it good. Or go for a slightly spicier taste. Order the Cajun burger and DAMN, that great taste is back. There is no reason to settle for a regular cheeseburger here, because it's not worth it. Get one of the crafted burgers, and you promise yourself you will be back to try them all.


The Drinks: 3/5 Stars
There is nothing too notable about the drink selection here. It's purely beer and wine, and not even a large selection at that. They do pride themselves on having a higher selection of beer available. You can stoop for a bottle of Bud, Miller Light, or Tecate, but don't do yourself the injustice. They have a nice selection of draft beers to choose from, mainly German beers mixed with a few local San Diego breweries.

The Atmosphere: 3/5 Stars
Clearly the owners haven't changed much since taking over the location. The feel is entirely of a family-style Italian restaurant. That's not a negative, it's just that it's kind of boring. It's a small, comfy atmosphere, with their tables taken up by dates and friends enjoying the tasty burgers (I noticed that most of our fellow patrons were smart-- nobody had a plain burger, but opted for the far superior special burgers). There is art on the wall for sale, but other than that, nothing about the place stands out.

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Tioli's Crazy Burger is right on target with their name. Don't settle for their plain burger, as you won't be blown away. Get one of their "Crazy" burgers, and you'll wish that you had room for another one of their specialty burgers. Place your order at the register, order a German draught, and grab a seat. You will quickly blend into the restaurant, but once your food comes, you'll sit up and devour your burger. The taste is too good to not finish your burger, and your only regret is that you didn't come here for lunch to try another burger.