Description:

Applewood Bacon, Sharp Vermont Cheddar, Fried Vidalia Onion Rings With Chipotle BBQ Sauce

Review:

The Smokehouse is not a bad burger, but once again, it’s not the best ever.  You have to understand, I am a bacon cheeseburger with barbecue sauce connoisseur.  I’ve got a friend who expects me to order that burger in virtually any restaurant we visit.  In fact, I haven’t seen her in a year, and I bet that if you called Jenny and asked what my favorite burger is, she would still know.  That said, I think the bacon cheeseburger with BBQ is better suited to a pub/diner style burger (larger patty, heartier bun) than to a burger-joint burger.  Again, this wasn’t a bad burger, but you’re better off with Spike’s 5 Napkin or the burger I review next.  (Is the suspense killing you yet?)

Story:

It was a glorious Saturday afternoon.  The sun was shining, and the temperature, while a tad too warm, was wonderful for August.  Dan and I headed down to Good Stuff for burgers and fries.  Dan had a drink that I believe he referred to as a “suicide.”  He mixed equal parts of every type of soda (and lemonade) in the fountain.  I tried a bit, not my favorite but not as bad as I thought it would be.  (Admittedly, I used to make similar drinks at Burger King when I was much younger.)

The surprise of the afternoon came when a couple from my alma mater, Wheaton College (IL), sat down across from us.   There are a freakish number of Wheaton people in DC.  I’ve met them walking around the Hill, at church, in restaurants, and even in the Safeway.  I think there are probably more Wheaton alums per capita in DC than any other place outside of Chicago.

Description:
Dairy Fresh Cheese, Applewood Bacon, A Farm Fresh Fried Egg On A Brioche Bun With Good Stuff Sauce - 6.89

Review:
Spike’s 5 Napkin is a little slice of heaven.  It is a substantial burger with a full, rich taste.  It’s the kind of thing that you don’t want to eat too fast.  Chew slowly and savor the flavors.

The richness comes from the fried egg that is on the burger.  The yolk tends to break by the time you actually eat the burger, flavoring the entire thing.  Bacon adds extra flavor to almost any dish, but it blends especially well with the egg.  (Can you tell that the egg is really the key to this burger?)

Spike’s 5 Napkin is essentially a breakfast sandwich (egg, bacon, and cheese) with a burger thrown in for good measure.

I did not specify how I wanted the burger cooked , and it came out medium (maybe leaning towards medium rare).  This is a bit undercooked for my tastes.  (I prefer my burgers at least medium-well).  However, you may feel differently.

Story:
This was my first trip to Good Stuff Eatery.  I had heard good reviews from a few people and decided to check it out with a co-worker.  I was a bit surprised at the line when we got there.  It probably took around 30 minutes from the time we got in line to the time we got our food, but it was worth the wait.  The food and conversation, which traversed career plans, politics, and foreign policy, were both excellent.  My suggestion: when visiting Good Stuff, just relax, take your time, and enjoy yourself.  It’s not a good place to go if you’re in a hurry (unless you happen to notice that there’s no one in line), but it’s a great place to eat.  Oh, and I ordered the Black & White Shake and Spike’s Village Fries, which complimented the burger very well (reviews coming soon).