Friday, November 16, 2012

Thunder Burger & Bar Food Review

8 oz. Thunder Burger with fries

Thunderous Applause for DC's Best Burger

Judging burgers can be a dicey proposition. After all, there are various levels involved... Fast food (Burger King, McDonald's) Burger joints (Bobby's Burger Palace) and upscale establishments (Bourbon Steak, Palena.) Georgetown's Thunder Burger & Bar is better than a joint, but not quite upscale; yet delivers half-pound for pound, the best burger in town.

Before you get too excited, keep in mind this was my first trip to Thunder. It takes more than one great meal to be officially labeled the best. That said, I can't wait to go back. From the moment you step inside, it's hard not to feel special. My server couldn't have been nicer, and sat me right by the window. Before I had a chance to examine the menu, I was given a glass of water and generous plate of some of the tastiest pickles (see below) I've ever had (and I normally hate pickles.) At least for lunch, Thunder gave off a nice pub-like atmosphere with 70's rock at a comfortable decibel.

Complimentary pickles

I ordered the entry level 8 ounce Thunder Burger with fries for $12 (trust me, it's worth it.) Not long after, I received one of the most attractively plated burgers (see top) I've ever seen. If you weren't hungry before, you'll be ravenous after looking this over for a second or two. My burger was cooked perfectly (medium) with a great crust, and served on a grilled bun with fresh toppings. The free-range patty is 80/20 and packed with flavor. The fries are killer and just the right amount. Ditto for the tangy remoulade sauce I used for dipping (also works great on the burger.) In a word... delicious.

Thunder offers tons of choices to adorn your burger... from beef chili to fried egg to Seared Hudson Valley Foie Gras. I imagine they're well worth the extra dollar or two. Impeccable service, great food and comfortable surroundings make paying $18 (including tip) for a burger and fries a small price to pay... and one I'd gladly pony up again.

Atmosphere: A-
Burger: A+ (Thunder-rific!)
Fries: A- (Remoulade sauce makes good even better.)
Price: B- (Nobody's perfect, but that said... it's worth every penny.)
Service: B+ (Not sure what else they could have done to make me feel welcome.)
Overall: A (Terrific service allows Thunder to slip by underrated Fuddruckers as Best Burger of the moment.)