FOTB- Crest Cafe

While Hillcrest has a variety of good restaurants, we are only interested in places that can serve up a good burger, so we made straight to Crest Cafe (http://crestcafe.net). While you may be tempted by all the other eateries and bars, make no mistake, Crest Cafe serves up a good burger.

The Food: 4/5 Stars
My first bite into the Butter Burger and my taste buds found Heaven. For $10.25, you get a half pound "stuffed with a Butter," "topped with a little more of the butter," then it's "topped with cheese," and finally that cheese is again topped. As you can see (once you wipe that drool off the screen), the Butter Burger is just an eruption of flavor. The burger comes out dripping and unfortunately, the buns can't hold the juices and everything begins to turn into a greasy mess; I hope you like the smell of the Butter Burger, because you can't wash it off your hands for a day or two. The burger was delicious, but the taste of the beef was lost in among all the spices and herbs that are in the butter. However, I have to duly note that the burger was too rich and heavy. While it tasted amazing, at the end of my burger I just sat in a comatose state. It wasn't from the size of the burger, but jsut the richness of the butter on the burger. It also affected my stomach the next day, quelling any desire for food (I hadn't thought about it, but that may be a plus-- not being able to eat so much the day after such a treat).

Multiple generations enjoying the onslaught of burgers.

The Drinks: 3.5/5 Stars
Crest Cafe offers a nice selection of beverages to choose from. Besides Budweiser, Stella Artois, and Bass, they offer a small selection of tasty beers that I have rarely seen elsewhere: Flying Dog "Old Scratch" and a Red Seal Ale. They also have a good wine selection and on Tuesdays, bottles are 50% off, so that's not too bad of an option.

The Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Stars
Crest Cafe is a cozy little diner. Which was bad, because they couldn't hold our entire party (hey, we tried to warn them...) and forced us to split into two groups. Other than that, it's comfortable, with slightly different paint (think pink and light blue tones) with for-sale photographs of nature. Really charming little spot, it makes you feel like you are at a local family run place.

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
Crest Cafe is a nice place to take a date. It's small and comfortable, with a nice clientele, so she won't get weirded out. You can share a bottle of wine and split a Butter Burger and something else. You'll "wine and dine" her, impressing her with your find of a place, but best of all, you'll get to enjoy a burger in case she wants to eat something else.

FOTB- Hodads

We head down to Ocean Beach, “one of the last classic surfing towns in Southern California” for a review of Hodads. Drive down Newport Ave. and you’ll find yourself checking out headshops and mom-and-pop shops until you see Hodads.

The Food: 5/5 Stars
Hodads Double Bacon Cheeseburger hits it all! For $9.50, you get a monstrous burger that has great taste. The thick beef patties are cooked just right, the cheese perfectly melted, and mixed with thick slices of bacon, the flavors just meld together for a delicious explosion of taste. My mouth is watering just thinking about how good it was... You can get it loaded up with everything, and they don’t skip on the condiments, so the burger is brought out and looks as if it’s going to burst apart. It doesn’t burst, but the buns can’t withstand the punishment of so much food. The burger starts to fall apart as the buns soak in everything and begin to disintegrate, so you find yourself shoveling in the food before everything falls apart. The onion rings also merit description.


<--What we saw



The Drinks: 4/5 Stars
People who have eaten at Hodads recommend their delicious shakes. But our decision was made by our waiter; we asked what the better choice was and without hesitation, he responded, “The shakes are good, but not as good as a beer.” Hodads has a large selection of over 20 beers to choose from. Unfortunately, what it makes up in quantity, it lacks in quality—most of the options are standard fare. They do serve draft beers in mason jars- very cool!

What she saw-->


The Atmosphere: 5/5 Stars
Hodads is a small burger shop located in OB, a funky place with a lot of character. So it’s no surprise to find Hodads doesn’t lack in the character department either. Inside you’ll find that the walls are entirely covered in vanity license plates (who doesn’t love “I♥FTCHX”), keeping you entertained for your entire meal. Or if vanity plates aren’t your style, you can grab a seat that faces outside- the people who walk through OB are often as eclectic as the mix of vanity plates. Or maybe you want to eat your burger in a former VW bus, the options are all there. The staff is all really friendly and talented; I don’t think I’ve ever seen someone carry a dozen burgers at the same time before.
Overall: 4.5/5 Stars
Hodads is a “must go!” If you like awesome burgers, you need to go. Even if you are far away, but crave a delicious burger, Hodads should be on the shortlist of destinations. One warning: Hodads has been nationally recognized on Food Network and CNN.com, so don’t be shocked if you find yourself waiting in a long line (I’m all in favor of locals getting to cut ahead of foreigners, so let’s hope that we can make it happen).

FOTB- Nicky Rottens

What you've all been waiting for, help me introduce... Nicky Rottens! Nicky Rottens (http://www.nickyrottens.com/) is in downtown San Diego on 5th and Market. Being the case with everything in Downtown, good luck finding parking, you'll need it.

[Insert your own juvenile sex joke]

The Food: 5/5 Stars
Nicky Rottens burgers are awesome! Not only are they tasty, but they are big. Which confuses me... Everyone at the table kept praising these burgers, saying they were on the shortlist of best burgers, but I looked around and saw some unfinished burgers at the table. Tasty AND huge?! Yes and yes. They have some great choices for burgers, but I chose the Famous Rottens Burger, and it didn't disappoint. I heard great things about some of the other style burgers ordered, from the Stinky Burger and the Breakfast Burger. And to really test them, one buddy ordered his burger rare; apparently he says most places won't cook a burger rare, but will go medium rare-- he gave them a two thumbs up for that. Oh, and their fries are really good as well, but good luck getting to them after such a large burger.



Burger, fries, and beer! Oh my!





The Drinks: 5/5 Stars
Great selection of beers. Full Bar. Wine. Granted, I only need about 3 good beers to choose from to consider it pretty good, I totally back a place that has 3 styles of Stone on tap along with some other good offerings. I stayed away from the macrobreweries, but they're available, and cider is available for puffs out there (editor's note: London, England bartenders claim that cider is a puff's drink. They are correct). A full bar allows for shots and cocktails and wine is available. But I'd still stick to Stone, can't be beat.

The Atmosphere: 5/5 Stars
Really cool decor. The brick walls and wood floor make for a unique look that is stylish, yet not over-pretentious. Multiple levels which was a huge plus. Most burger places wouldn't be able to have seaten 20+ people, but we got an entire floor to ourselves. Really approachable and helpful staff. And yes, they are very easy on the eyes. The owner's wife, April, even called earlier in the day to make sure that I would have her number in case I needed anything.
Overall: 4.9/5 Stars
I can't score any place perfect. That is the only reason that they didn't have a flawless score. Throw in a free burger and topless waitresses and they would've gotten it (I had to come up with some negative, no matter how unrealistic). I could go on and on about all sorts of things, but I want to sum it up in one sentence. You NEED to go to Nicky Rottens. No, not tomorrow or the weekend. Right now.

FOTB- O'Brien's Pub

O'Brien's Pub (http://www.obrienspub.net/) is located on Convoy in Kearny Mesa. It's in a small shopping center with Asian eateries, so you feel quite manly eating burgers as you watch people head to their cars with Boba tea in hand. The parking lot is tiny small and people make up their own spots, so it's not the most convenient place to find parking.

The Food: 3.5/5 Stars
O'Brien's Pub serves a mean hamburger. I originally ordered the Beer Cheese Burger only to be disappointed that the waitress returned to the table and told me they were all out. Blessing in disguise! I asked what she recommended and her quick response, "Get the Southwest Bacon Burger. It's the best f*ckin' burger in San Diego." While I can't say that it was the best burger in San Diego, I can say it was a f*ckin' good burger. Reasonable size and tasty beef. It was topped with an onion ring and chipotle sauce for a little bit of spicy flavor. Mmmmm, yummy.

The Drinks: 4/5 Stars
Unbelievable beer selection! They only offer outstanding beers, ales, and Belgian style draughts. You can't go wrong unless you order Alaskan Ale (in which case, the bar patrons will give you grief about, calling it "whale piss"), but seriously, one of the best lineup of beers. A chalkboard menu, they replace choices throughout the year, but even if they didn't, they really do have a great offering of beers.

The Atmosphere: 3.5/5 Stars
O'Brien's looks like a pub. It stands out in stark contrast from all the Asian stores around it, and transports you to a completely different world. The place is a little dingy, but the low lights helped hide the dinged up wood floor and nicks all over the furniture. The tables are smaller, best suited for 2, with the outside patio being the best place to hold large groups-- which of course means they are full from the time you get there until you leave with groups of friends drinking the evening away. The waitstaff wasn't cold, but they were not friendly. One did turn up the game's volume (editor's note: if a playoff game is on, the volume should already be up for it, and not need someone to bring attention to it). The empty kegs were visible in the back next to the dart board.

Overall: 3.5/5 Stars
O'Brien's Pub's best feature was their amazing selection of beer. The burger was good and is definitely worth ordering, but this place stands apart due to it's drink menu.