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Categories: American (New), Burgers
Neighborhoods: Mid-City West, West Hollywood"Still awesome. Best breakfast in the area. Nice cozy vibe, too. Free WiFi while you'll loitering. Not a bad place to do a spot of work,…" read more »
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When a friend texted me and suggested we go get some "beer floats," I thought she was just too lazy to type 'root' beer floats. Being a lover of anything ice cream, I said, but of course!
And boy was I excited to see a nice chilled glass of Old Rasputin (a 9% ABV Russian Imperial Stout) in my friend's hand when I arrived. I used to hunt this beer down at Bevmo but Golden State has it on tab. On TAP! Genius. Anyway, I was about to have a dark, dark beer float in the early afternoon and I was overjoyed.
I put my total trust in the server and ask him to put whatever scoops of Scoops Gelato (yes, I'm serious) in my pint of Old Rasputin. I can remember what he put in exactly but it was delish. Tasted like a chocolate milkshake with a hint of bitter hops. YUM. -- I just checked the menu and it says Beer + 1 Scoop = $8. My server (I think he was the owner) gave me 2 for the same price!
It didn't stop there. I got a burger and some fries. Yes they were quite good, but didn't completely blow my mind. What did blow my mind though was their CURRY KETCHUP. We kept the bottle on our table and squeezed away like we were in some curry heaven. Any plain old ketchup will just not do it for me anymore. Nada.
I'm surprised that Yelpers aren't talking more about the beer floats here than the food. The beer float is where it's at. MMMM.
If I was just rating the place on the menu, it would get five stars. The burger was delicious. I really thought about having two. Grilled perfectly, good cheese, delicious bun. Great fries on the side. The sweet potato fries are good too. The gellato looked delish too, but I was too full to give it a shot.
I also love the beer and wine selection. Not too pricey either.
Only downside: The order at the counter and hunt down a table system. It's not too annoying. Maybe I should've just taken off half a star.
How crazy is it that, at "only" ten dollars, the burger at The Golden State seems like one of the best deals in the city? Oh well..that's what I get for living in LA, I guess. At least you get an accompanying side of those delicious sweet potato wedges dipped in a satisfactorily HEAVY aioli. As for the burger itself, the ingredients are all extremely tasty. The Rockenwagner bun, Roquefort cheese, good bacon...it all adds up to give you that wonderful hearty feeling that a burger is supposed to deliver.
Is it the most spectacular, life-changing burger I ever ate? No. But, in a city obsessed with top-notch, pricey burgers, The Golden State offers a very good, value-driven option.
I came here on the same day that I walked out of Umami Buger on La Brea.
The burger was AMAZING. Let me tell you, it's all about the burger here-- the meat itself. The bun is streamlined, really just there to keep your fingers from getting greazy. Every single bite was hamburger hot cow meat deliciousness!
The fries were good. Not the best I've had (try Oinkster) but not bad. I stole a sweet potato fry off of a friend's plate and wished I had ordered them instead-- very good.
The beer selection rocks and the owner will be more than happy to chat you up about it. I don't mind ordering at the counter-- everyone was very friendly-- a stark contrast to the assholes at Umami.
I will be going back here many times.
Heard good things about the burger here. I'm here to say this is the best burger the east or west coast has to offer. I thought NYC had it, I really did, I still want to believe it. But Golden State takes it.
Everything from the bun, to the proportions, to the sweet potato fries on the side.. Perfection. Couple that with the handful of craft beers on tap and we have a winner.
Sorry Pauls, Westville, Five Napkin, DuMont, Corner Bistro, and Royale. I love you. Really. I do. But this is one thing the west coast just one upped.
Oh, and the owners are about as cool as they come. Freaking out from behind the counter about the games on TV, hanging out and talking with everyone in the restaurant, good vibe all around.
Here goes my first review... Good place for a decent ten dollar burger. I like this place bc it's no-nonsense (not overhyped like Umami). Their burgers are made w/ quality ingredients complete w/ approriate amounts of bun, arugula, cheddar, ketchup and most importantly, bacon. Seriously, if you're going to eat a good burger, you might as well put bacon in it. Get the sweet potato fries - it's worth at least a 3 mile drive. Btw, this place is perfect if you're shopping melrose or live nearby. Free parking can be found a block away. Can't say this play is worth a 10 mile trip, though. Staff is laid back and friendly.
Negs: they need to accept Amex. I need my points.
Total honesty, the food really is amazing. By far one of the best burgers I have ever had, if not, then the best. I USED to be a regular customer. I told practically everyone I came across to give the state a try. But sadly, because of their pretentious attitude and poor customer value, I just won't go anymore. Their "tude" leaves a bitter taste in my mouth that more then overwhelms their juicy med-rare perfectly cooked burger. I have never been to a place that treats a regular customer so poorly. There is no appreciation for the business that their customers had given them. No matter how good a burger, it still is just a burger... So pipe down, its nothing to get a bloated head about. It like the friend you once had in Jr. High school, that became popular and then acted like they didn't know you in the first place. Totally hurts my feelings. Easy Come Easy go. Be careful Golden state... Your burgers alone may not keep you afloat.. Customer service counts for something too. Ya lost me and all my friends : /
I think I ate here about 5 times in the first month that they opened. It really was that good. You can taste the quality in the meat and their sides are all excellent (my pick = the cucumber salad). I was pumped about trying the beer float thanks to Jonathan Gold's review, but it wasn't really my thing.
That's not to say that I didn't fully enjoy the Scoops on its own, though.
Which I did. Multiple times.
You know, I swore off of fancy burger places after 8 oz., Umami, and Father's Office left me unblown away for the price. But of course I cam to The Golden State today. And of all of these places, GS was the only place I left feeling satisfied. Unlike the other places, here the meat to bun ratio (laugh all you want) was perfect. There was never too much bun. The meat was cooked exactly as I'd ordered it. And the arugula, bacon, and WONDERFUL cheddar were in every bite. There was never any need o open up the burger and move any the ingredients so it would make it into the bite. For that matter, the cheddar was strong enough that it added to the flavor of the burger, but didn't overpower like some blues can. This burger was pretty fucking beautiful. My one complaint was that the Persian cucumber salad wasn't that flavorful. It needed a little bit more acid.
Other than that, the curry ketchup was great (put it on the fries, NOT the burger), and I met one of the owners, who was a lovely guy, super nice, and happy to hear my compliments. Yay! Overall, it was a $10 burger, but I'd definitely come back when in the right mood.
What it lacks in aesthetics, it makes up for in taste and service.
The food was delish! Tried the muffaletta, the fries and the sweet potato wedges and i loved every bite. The person I was with tried the burger and loved it. Said it was better than the Bar Marmont's award-winner burger, but cheaper and less pretentious.
This place has that SF/NY vibe, it's not bourgie. Even their free water has lemon and cucumber in it. I love attention to detail.
Definitely worth a try!
everyone knows how amazing california is (i cried watching the california tourism commercial while vacationing in london), and the golden state definitely lives up to the hype.
i ordered the chicken apple sausage (i'm single, and single girls like sausage, hehe) and topped it with carmelized onions and the garlic aioli (again, i'm single and have no one to offend with garlic and onion breath). i also ordered the fried sweet potato wedges (served with more of that yummy garlic aioli).
the golden state is an order-at-the-register, seat-yourself kinda place. definitely no frills, but the food compensates. my sausage came out piping hot and was good to the very last bite. paired with the sweet potato wedges, it was a moderate-sized meal and i left satisfied.
i love when i'm satisfied with my sausage. even when i have to brush my teeth three times and mouthrinse four times after. um, that's what she said?
parking situation: i came on an off-night and found metered parking right out front on fairfax.
I'm not a big fan of things Middle. Mid-week "hump day" is paperwork purgatory. Not the hellish Monday, but also not the heavenly shot slamming Friday. Middle row seats at the theater. You're welcome for giving you a face full of my ass as I shuffle kick through your knees when I want to use the restroom. Mid-City. An acute myocardial infarction of blocked arterial roads.
I stick to the west and the east. I only came to the Mid because I was fooled by an adorably fun and attractive gal who used the ruse of offering to help me look for furniture all over LA (meaning: I chauffeured her around as she bought herself things). However, she redeemed herself by bringing me to The Golden State. Wait...no...I bought us lunch too.
Exposed brick wall, open kitchen, quietly friendly host/owners, steel fixtures, small space, large windows, view of a high traffic narrow street; all remind me of maybe a Q or U street joint in DC. Which is a good thing. Yes it is another burger and beer joint, however this has a bit of character and soul to it. I love Father's Office, but that place has lost its patron ownership appeal especially the large crowded Culver City local. Here as my failed furniture consultant demonstrated to me is a place where the owner (Jason) will remember your face your name and your order. I like that.
Things I ate:
- Burger (ordered rare on advice): Juicy 6-ounce patty, fantastic Röckenwagner brioche bun, whole strips of bacon! Only complaint was the muted Fiscalini cheddarc. My palette didn't pick it up.
- Fries with aioli (ordered specifically): Fries were cooked up just right. Crispy shell and soft innards. Could have been a bit more seasoned to play more nicely with the aioli.
- Don't have to say anything about Scoops ice cream other than it is fantastic that they carry it. Same thing with the Dogfish Head brew.
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-$33 (minus tip) for 2 burgers, 2 fries, 1 beer, 2 scoops of ice cream.
-The water is spiked with cucumber. Day spa-ingly refreshing.
-Park in the neighborhoods north of Fairfax. Brush up on your parallel parking.
-Opens at 12pm. On the weekends full by 12:40pm.
-Lamb burgers on Thursdays. What the shepard!?
-Don't go furniture shopping with cute architects.
P.S. Hey Sarah L. this place is closed on Monday's =)
This food is simply amazing!!! Believe the hype... everything you will try will taste delicious.
Don't get me started on the burger... its like these guys re-invented the wheel!
I eat here 2ce a week... mandatory!
I came by for dinner after reading about the restaurant in the LA Time's article about best 'cheap' eats. Well parking sucked as usual and there's seats for about 30 people. I ended up snagging one and sharing it with another couple. You order first and then sort of hover around tables hoping they'll leave. (fyi the biggest table can fit 6, 8 if you squish)
The food though.. AAHHH so good! I think this burger is better then the one from Father's Office. First of all, there isn't an overwhelming caramelized onion taste to it. They use arugula here too and a really nice bread for the bun. And unlike Father's Office, there is actually big ol pieces of crispy bacon in the burger. The meat is perfectly cooked and it's not too big or small. Meat to bread proportions are good. Fries are good too, nothing spectacular... sweet potato fries were good too, esp with the garlic aioli.
And they have rooster sauce. YEAH the same one at Roscoe's!!
And they have scoops!!!
ANNNNNDD they have Virgils' root beer on tap, the best root beer ever.
I love this place. please put a parking lot somewhere though and some more tables.
I am not a beer drinker. Yet I go to The Golden State for the beer. Let me correct that. I go to The Golden State for the beer and ice cream... together. It's the most delicious marriage of two food items since rice and beans or peanut butter and jelly or chips and salsa or... you get the point.
A Rasputin beer float w/ Scoops Brown Bread Ice Cream. Yummm. It's what dirves me to eat here at least once a week. Well, that and the AMAZINGLY tasty burger. Did I mention I am also not a burger eater? I am not. Well. I wasn't before this place.
Thank you Golden State for introducing me to beers I actually like and for adding 2 inches to my waist line. Eh, uhm actually, I hate you.
See you tomorrow.
I guess I don't know a good piece of beef in my mouth when I taste it.
Wait, that just doesn't sound right.
What I meant was, with 80 reviews and a 4 star average, you would expect this review to be pretty damn good. So why 3 stars for The Golden State?
The Golden State is known for their burgers, hot dogs, ice cream and the root beer. I only had the buger and it was good, nothing special. I didn't get a hot dog, didn't have any ice cream and didn't try the root beer so maybe next time I go back I'll try a little of everything to get the whole experience.
I mean probably the best thing about being at The Golden State is just being in the Fairfax area. All the different shops, the feeling of being LA and most of all ... hipster girlies.
Don't get me wrong ... the food is good, the sweet potato fries are tasty and the people who work there were cool. I didn't get to try the curry ketchup, maybe I did just didn't remember it, so that should tell me something.
I guess they gotta charge that much for food because of the real estate they occupy. I think they could give bigger portions to justify the price, but that's just me.
Would I suggest you come here?
Yeah ... who knows who you'll run into while you're indulging in hot beef injection in the form of a burger/hot dog or cooling off with something cold in your mouth.
On Friday, I asked the gay boyfriend asking him where he wanted to go to dinner. I didn't hear from him all day. Apparently he was delirious from pain meds and had only eaten cereal and frozen grapes all week. Damn, I knew I should have force fed him something earlier in the week. After some back and forth, he said he wanted to get some meat. He being the healthy type deigns himself to eat red meat on a very rare occasion and usually that's a burger. I've wanted to try the Golden State for a while and off we went.
I ordered a burger, fries and an Arnold Palmer. The gay boyfriend had the same except with sweet potato wedges and an iced tea. I knew something was terribly wrong he ordered an iced tea and not diet coke. I guess they only have Mexican coke here. No diet? The horror (secretly, I was glad as I'm anti-diet soda). In any case, I had looked over the beer selection though I'm not a beer drinker and saw they had a beer I actually like, Stone's Smoked Porter. The Arnold Palmer was okay. Maybe I should have gotten the beer.
The sweet potato wedges was the smallest portion we've ever seen. It came with an aioli. Thank goodness I had a pile of fries for both of us. They were pretty good. I wasn't too keen on the sweet potato wedges though. While I like sweet potato, these were too...sweet potato-y. I wanted fries!
And as for the burger, it was okay. Stacking it up against another California-products burger joint, Rowdy Red, Golden State's burger was way juicier and I liked it. But stacking it up against other burgers I've had recently, it was just okay. I think more mustard would help. The cheese really didn't add any flavor to it. Next time, more mustard, no ketchup, no cheese and more bacon. Yeah!
That is, if I ever come back and have a burger. They have a mufaletta that I was intrigued with. Or maybe a hot dog? I was too full for ice cream though. I tried to describe the "brown bread" flavor to a grimacing gay boyfriend. He was not into it.
It was by far, one of the quickest meals I've ever had. I wasn't even sure if I ate! After we ordered, ate and was out the front door, it was about 30 minutes. I think it may have taken longer to find parking! We saw some guy from The OC show so it made the gay boyfriend all excited. I wonder if the covert pics came out?
Deeelicious!
Parking was a near impossibility on a Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. (We called on all of our parking karma and adjusted our attitudes after looking for nearly half an hour to finally get a spot less than a block away on Fairfax. But it took some doing!)
I must say, it was worth it.
The burger-to-bun ratio as mentioned by other reviewers was exactly right. The best bun I've had in a long time. And the burger as perfectly medium-rare -- pink without being runny. Lovely!
I could go on and on about the burger itself -- when was the last time you ordered a burger exactly as it's listed on the menu and it was perfect? No, hold the whatever. No, add the whatever. It was perfect as they designed and crafted it.
I wanted to get sweet potato fries until I noticed the curry ketchup. Oh, how I love curry ketchup. Theirs is Jim's Curry Ketchup (c) and while Jim and I have to have a chat about how curried a curry ketchup should be (it was a little strongly curry for my taste, I prefer it a bit sweeter), it was so fun to have the option! So I got regular fries. Which were fantastic. Even the last fries (usually cold and soggy and horrible by the time you get to them) were still crunchy and flavorful.
Plus draft root beer! Yay! Plus brown bread SCOOPS gelato! Yay!
And of course enjoyed with good company in a fun little storefront environment.
Hooray! Go there! Eat there! Enjoy!
Burger? It's pretty good but there are many places in LA that are better.
Had the spicy hot dog. For 7 bucks I thought it would be one of them thick kinds....but nope...it was one of them skinny kinds. I could probably eat like 4 of them.
The sweet potato fries were good. They were cut a bit thicker then most places so I could really taste the sweet part of the potato.
The place is small, and we had a group of about 10 or so. People were sitting sporadically at the other tables so we couldn't all sit together, so we ended up at the bench seating next to the window. Nothing wrong with that except it was in the afternoon with the sun beating in. They don't have a screen nor is their A/C very powerful, so it was uncomfortable to say the least.
They had water outside for drinking and that was lukewarm blah.
I don't recall any of their drinks including free refills blah.
I did finally get to try Scoops ice cream! It was good...but it wasn't cool when someone in our party of 10 asked if they could taste a flavor, and instead of politely saying they don't offer samples, they replied with a smart ass remark "haven't you tried it before? it tastes the same as before" ummm whatever dude.
No wonder their prices are so high...they had 8 guys in the back making the burger and what have you.
Even If I was in the area I'd go across the street to Canter's....
This place is like a reverse Monet, as in, looks good from afar, a little less so up close. The burger was actually very good - but I guess I went in thinking it was an all-out burger joint and it isn't.
My friend got a muffaletta (I know, wtf) and a beer float (the brown bread ice cream is excellent, but you really don't want to drink a beer with dairy residue in it).
My other friend was being a woman and got a grilled chicken sandwich with the coleslaw salad, which is super tasty, and a couple of good beers.
I got the burger (obviously) and fries and the sweet potato wedges. And the persian cucumber salad, excellent, fresh and snappy.
I say skip the sweet potato wedges. They aren't twice-cooked, so they're somewhat flabby and soft and oily. Not crisp on the outside.
The guys are perfectly adequate servers - you order your food & drinks at the front and they bring it out to you. The atmosphere is a little bit "eat and get out" not really somewhere you can hang out.
It was $22.00 for a burger, fries, a beer, and sweet potato wedges.
I'll go back if I'm in the area and the wait at Animal is too long, but for $22.00 you can have a beer and a kickass plate of scallops with black-eyed peas at the bar at Animal. And see some handsome tatted up forearms through the little window into the kitchen.
Neatly tucked away on Fairfax, The Golden State brings together what I consider (IMHO) to be the Holy Trinity of local treats that make Southern California the bees knees:
-Craftsman beer on tap
-Scoops ice cream
-Let's Be Frank hot dogs
The cafe has a wonderful little staff that is eager to answer your yummy questions. I happened to be there on a day when they ran out of Craftsman beers and the dude tending bar was nice enough to explain the logistics/background behind it all. A little extraneous? Yes, but it helped me understand the scarcity and I was also able to learn that the Triple White Sage would be available in about three weeks. Can't wait! If that guy wasn't helpful enough, a cute busboy wearing a spiffy Dodger cap changed the channel on the TV and pointed it to the Dodgers/Marlins game. Nice!
I split a muffuletta and spicy hot dog, fries, cucumber salad, several beers, and two scoops of ice cream on my dinner date. The muffuletta, which is not very easy to come by in this city, was a remarkably well built beauty of a sandwich. Thick layers of Italian cold cuts and cheese were snuggly nestled between two layers of muffuletta spread (olives, pickled carrots, pepperoncini, etc). The spread was firm and flavorful enough to stand up to the meat. The spicy (seriously, this thing has some heat on it) dog was grilled so that it snapped when you bit into it. Covered with kraut and grilled peppers, it was a perfect summer evening entree. The cucumber salad with arugula paired well with both the hot dog and sandwich -- citrusy and peppery, it had a nice palate cleansing quality. The fries, too, were delicious with the curry ketchup.
For dessert we had a scoop each of brown bread and honey salt ice cream. While both were rich and creamy, I liked honey salt best -- salty/sweet combinations make my taste buds go nuts. The brown bread didn't really taste like anything more than vanilla with some kind of puffed cereal sprinkled on top.
After the sun sets and the sun's rays are no longer lasering in on your face, try sitting in one of the two little nooks next to the entrance. It's like dining in your own cozy phone booth. Not a bad little place to have a snack and a few beers before catching a flick, either.
Golden State is the bizzness!!!!! Best burger in Los Angeles. A visit is a must every time I'm in the Fairfax Rosewood area. Just found out during my last visit that I can add an egg. I prefer the original much more. This place also serves the best sweet potato fries. Although I could use a few more fries on the serving. Oh and let me not forget about the curry ketchup. That shit is so butter!!!!!!!
Who cares if it's a little pricey. It's damn worth it. Golden State is amazing. Five stars is on point!
When I try to explain beer floats to people, they are usually surprised by the combination. You figure you have 1 shot to convince them of its merits. No problem, take them to The Golden State and they'll be hooked. The burger is also excellent. It's served on a brioche, my bun of choice for the moment. It also has cheddar, but for me, the flavor got lost in everything. No worries, it's still one of this city's best.
The service was helpful and they really know their stuff. The beer selection is small, but all great choices. The only thing I didn't like was the seating. The place is tiny and they don't take names so you need to just hang around and jump at the next available table. Next time I'll just go right when they open.
Beer Floats. I love them. I mean, what's not to love? Stout beer with Ice cream. It's the best combination and as a drunk and a half way decent American, I need to put beer in everything. I even put it in my car to drive. Must be why I have so many car problems. But again, what red blooded American doesn't spend most of their weekends out back under the car draining beer out of the gas can?
The Golden State... With a name like that, you better live up to the hype. I mean, you're representing the good ol' state that we're in. Sure, it's without money, but considering I just dropped about $35 on food here, this place shouldn't be suffering from the budget problems.
The Burger. I have to say it was tasty. Not as tasty as Umami or Father's Office.... But it is an amazingly tasty and juicy burger. The side choices are good as well. Went with the Sweet Potato wedges and another plate of the cucumber salad.
Again, it's Sweet potato WEDGES, don't mistake them for fries and they were pretty damn good. The ends seem to be close to perfectly burnt but deliciously good with the dipping sauce.
The impressive thing here is the drinks. I mean, you have virgil's on draft.. ROOT BEER ON DRAFT!! LOCALLY MADE ROOT BEER ON DRAFT!!! Yes, just about everything here is produced or picked locally. I mean, the only real exception seemed to be the Mexican cooke (HECHO EN MEXICO!)
But you have a lot of locally brewed brews and beef that's just grown a bit up on the 5. Yup, on your way up to SF, you past some cows that are used for your burger. That's mooo tastic fresh right there.
The various versions of the root beer or just flat out beer floats are amazing and worth the trip in itself.
great burger! fat patty with thick aioli sauce. the curry ketchup is amazing with the fries! a little pricy at $10 bucks, but Yum!!! i'm hungry again!
I totally loved this placed! The service was friendly and the food was delish!
I split the golden state burger (side of jalapeno slaw) and their fish and chip special...
The burger- meat was juicy, cheddar pungent, bacon crispy but not burnt, arugula fresh, just enough aioli and ketchup and the bun was fantastic! It could have been bigger is all...jalapeno slaw was good but nothing mind blowing
The fish and chips- batter was great and the fish fresh. Definitely some of the better F&C's I've had!
The freaking curry ketchup was so good I wanted to put it on EVERYTHING!
I had never had Scoop's so I was so excited they had it! But honestly I thought it sucked. Rite-Aid ice cream is better then that crap. I need to go review that next...what's up with the Scoop hype?
The beer selection is awesome too. Golden State rocks! Parking of course can suck but whatever! I can't wait to go try something else on their menu! Hopefully, I will go with someone who likes to share again because I think the burger and something else is the way to go!
This is my kind of place. Not pretentious or douchey...just really good beer and sandwiches. The BLTA was superb, really fresh veggies and quality bacon. Unfortunately there was a 20 minute wait for the sweet potato fries but the regular fries are quite tasty too. We had to share a beer float with Rasputin Imperial Stout and chocolate/orange ice cream. WOW...so ridiculously decadent. If you can finish a whole one by yourself...well, you probably shouldn't
Good burgers, and love that they have beers on tap. The gelato is yummy! They have pretty interesting choices, and I enjoyed it, its a nice way to finish a savory burger. The sweet potato fries seem like they are on their way to being perfected, still has a new kinks to fix...they were too soggy for my taste. I like the vibe here, very simple. I wish they would make some seating arrangements for outside on the street because it gets packed very quickly. Its a small joint, so its ideal for a quick bite. Please, no hogging tables forever with dumb conversation, save that for the coffee bean.
:)
One of the best burgers I've had my entire life. If you're looking for the typical cheeseburger, In-n-Out style, that's not the place. But if you're looking for great ingredients, meat and produce, for a gourmet style burger, then you should go. The cheese in the burger was delicious. The fries, sweet potato fries and cole slaw were yum, too. They also have great gelato and fancy beers. Definitely a place I'll go back to to satisfy my burger craving.
Enjoying a hamburger has inherent sexual connotations. The anticipatory build up of carnal desire, the obvious promise of buns and meat, the eventual regret of not having two when you thought only one would suffice. The plentitude of burgermeisters in Los Angeles now is comparable to that of positions in the kama sutra, and half the fun is in the joy of experiencing the wide variety of what really comes down to just meat, condiment and buns. But where now many seek a tantric realization of that most favourite of simple delights, it's really the simplicity of the classic burger that draws the most passionate response from this burger lover.
While I'm very well acquainted and appreciate a quick and easy session with the slutty mess of a typical drive-thru burger and or even the occasional night on the town with something more sophisticated under the guise of a burger (*cough* Father's Office *cough*), in reality what I've always been seeking is more akin to a first date kiss with the girl you want to marry. The Golden State burger, a local girl of Harris Ranch and Fiscalini Farms stock, comes radiantly presented and perfectly arranged, balanced in a way most of us never see in our lifetimes beyond the pages of print or on television. It's a burger with the romantic arc of a summertime romance: promises of unbounded joy upon first bite, with the realization "this is the one" halfway through, and concluding with the dread of the imminent finish as you savor those last few bites (it's why I get two now).
My first Golden State burger experience began with a studied modest bite which immediately turned into something less thoughtful and much more hurried. It was like getting to 1st base with the girl of your dreams and hearing her whisper she was ready. And I was certainly ready. Back to those buns: they're described as brioche, baked daily from from the Röckenwagner Bakery. They are simply perfect, plush and supportive, complementing the freshly ground beef whose pedigree is evident upon first juicy, beefy bite. Where other popularized burgers go all Mariah Carey acapella on your mouth, the Golden State burger harmonizes tastes in Brian Wilson fashion. Meat, cheese, bacon, aoili, ketchup and even the slightly unexpected gussied up appearance of that Obama-demographic green of choice, arugula, all work together without stepping on each others' toes. Its simplicity is its charm and the honesty of the burger's taste is what makes me come back for more. That and the most satisfying taste of Virgil's Root Beer on tap (an epiphany unmatched by the bottled version). And it certainly doesn't hurt that all the ingredients are sourced from California, as the establishment's name advertises.
You'll no doubt be greeted or questioned by co-owner Jason Bernstein about your meal at either the onset or conclusion of your meal. Or in my case, during my second visit, passionately convinced to order one of their specials like a fresh mint infused lamb burger (fantastic) or the beer battered fish and chips offered last night. Bernstein has an obvious passion and concern about everyone's experience at Golden State Cafe, going as far to correct an incorrectly ordered veggie burger for my vegetarian girlfriend (it was supposed to be a veggie sandwich due to her mushroom allergy) with a new sandwich without charge. The mistake was mine, but in correcting it, he cemented our loyalty to his establishment and opinion that the restaurant serves to please.
As noted above, I'd recommend ordering the burger with something on the side (aka: food philandering), if not a Golden State salad, another burger or one of their Let's Be Frank hot dogs. For these burgers are modest affairs, and one could easily devour two or perhaps even three if your age falls under twenty-five or are just a glutton like myself. But don't be a size/portion queen...because as often extolled, it's not the size of the meat that matters, it's how it's used, and The Golden State certainly knows how to make the most of what it offers with a skill I can't recommend more highly.
Thumbs Up!
I vouch for "The Burger" with fries and curry ketchup. I don't think I've ever eaten at a place that more perfectly epitomizes the 4 out of 5 star rating.
Oh, Golden State, I think I looooove you. Let me count the ways, or whatever.
1) That burger is majorly fucking delicious. It is an absolute classic. For serious, ohmigod, etc, YUM. Cheddar, applewood bacon, aioli, arugula, ketchup. Delicious, tender beef. Some kind of perfection-incarnate bun, perfectly soft but never soggy. And at $10 including a side, the greatest gourmet burger value in LA. Mega-joy.
2) The beer. No, the list is not exhaustive but it is well curated, and that is most important. Plus, the staff know their beers and will enthusiastically talk them up to anyone who expresses even the slightest interest. Except for a few pints of Allagash, everything is from California. It's a theme restaurant, yo.
3) The ice cream. Hello, it's Scoops and they'll drop one in a pint of Old Rasputin. And it's awesome. Or for those less adventuresome, they've got 8 or so flavors to choose from at $2 a scoop.
4) The staff. Skinny beer nerds at the genre's finest, offering up beer and ice cream samples, rhapsodizing about the menu, and looking goofy. Girls, head on over for some Woody Allen-esque eye candy.
Now, I'm sure the rest of the menu is good-- I saw someone at the table next to ours with the veggie sandwich and it admittedly looked mighty fine-- but it will be mighty hard to pass up that burger.
My one complaint is the order at the counter, fight for a table format, which just doesn't fly when your food is that awesome and you can barely seat 30. Expand, offer table service, whatever. Just please, please let me linger (and have another pint or four), which a nice girl such as myself can't really do with a bunch of table vultures staring me down.
I liked this place. Good basic food, well prepared. Good selection of beer. Parking is not great, but doable if you go off-peak. Nice casual atmosphere. Not a fancy place, but nice. My mom, who is picky, was not initially impressed with the decor, but the food turned her around!
Got the BLTA and a Craftsman beer. Other people in my group got a tuna sandwich, fish & chips, and the muffaletta. Everyone was happy with their food.
Golden State has great potential, but currently falls short of expectations...
First off, I want to say that the atmosphere and the staff are great. The staff are very patient, affable, and friendly...and I very much enjoyed chit chatting with them when ordering. My only suggestion is that they obtain some sort of sun shade for the windows, because around dinner time the sun drenches the seating area and made half our party sweat as if we were in a sauna.
Regarding the food, I tried the burger, the BLT, the potato salad and the sweet potato wedges. The burger was definitely above average, but as another member of my party credibly suggested, needed to be of the thicker variety. I was wholly unimpressed with the BLT with avocado... it's advertised as featuring apple wood smoked bacon. When I hear apple wood smoked bacon I envision the thick cut variety that has some meatiness to it. Unfortunately, the bacon used was the paper thin variety, and there wasn't very much in the sandwich. This was a disappointment because the bacon wasn't substantial enough to balance the heaviness of the avocado. If they switched up the bacon to thick cut, this would easily be amongst the best BLTs ever.
The sweet potato wedges were really great... excellent texture and perfect amount of crispiness. The potato salad was good and had many diverse vegetable ingredients...but could have been a bit more savory.
Beer floats.
After a ride to the beach and back with some good friends, one of them, an undercover cop, suggested we hit The Golden State on the way back to our jump off spot. So we trekked back East and stopped off in the Fairfax District for a taste of "The Burger." It's what The Golden State is known for...in addition to their root beer and beer floats.
TGS is literally right next door to the Turntable Lab, so it's pretty easy to find. And since we showed up on bikes, I'm not sure how good or bad parking is but if going to The Dime or Keep is any indication, street parking is hit or miss but there is a lot around the corner.
The Golden State is a small sized burger cafe that serves a small selection of sandwiches, sausages, a variety of interesting sides and to top it all off, Scoops gelato. On the beer and wine front, they have a smattering of local micro-brews and California wineries.
On this visit, I tried "The Burger" with a side of jalapeno cabbage slaw. Not sure if others will agree, but for the price of 10 bucks, the burger was perfect. Meaning, the portion was perfect (I didn't feel like I needed to purge myself after eating it.) It was, as well as the slaw, tasty beyond belief. Great fucking burger. I'd definitely order it again and maybe this time get one of those beer floats.
As far as the atmosphere goes, it was clean and comfortable. The way every cafe should be. Seating is adequate for small or semi-large groups of 6 or so. Service was friendly, personable and funny at times. A good eating experience to say the least...I'm sure you'll dig it.
Oh, Golden State, I love love lofffff youu!
Exposed brick, gourmet gelato, delish veggie sammies, curry ketchup, savory yam fries, and beer floats?!!?? This place is almost too good to be true.
Yes, It's tiny, but that just means you get to share the curry ketchup bottle with your neighbors! By the end of the meal, you'll be swapping beers and snagging fries off of each other's plates like old friends.
Screw In-N-Out, go to Golden State!!!
They serve the best burger in LA that I've had since tail of the pup closed down years ago.
The burger comes with bacon and I don't eat pork so I just take the bacon off, and it tastes amazing.
Make sure to get a root beer float made with your choice of homemade ice-cream!
Also with your fries you should try the curry ketchup!
I just wish they would make a t-shirt that wasn't made with gold ink and I would rock it!
Wow!!! Unexpectedly really good. I had the BLTA with sweet potato fries. They were both very delicious. Good place for lunch.
Good burgers, hot dogs (got the special Kobe beef dog), & fries w/ unique house made curry ketchup.
They have a good selection of draft beers(a great beer makes any meal much better). Had their special Stone IPA (not sure of the exact name since it was a special that was subject to change) and it had a subtle flavor of both raspberries and cocoa, delicious!
Having "Scoops" gelato's at the restaurant was definitely a big plus. (Had the thai tea + coconut combo and the yuzu + raspberry combo and it was definitely superb).
Would definitely recommend this place to burger/beer/scoops aficionados!
I love the grittiness and edginess of Fairfax Village, and Golden State is a perfect fit with its casual, open vibe, modernly spare decor and affordable, accessible menu.
This is the only place I know of where you can enjoy two of LA's most delectable culinary offerings under one (nicely air-conditioned) roof -- Let's Be Frank hot dogs (loved the Spicy Beef with sauerkraut and relish in a carefully toasted bun) and Scoops gelato (Brown Bread, anyone??).
Golden State also puts their delicious stamp on signature items such as the Curry Mustard (snag a bottle for your table before it disappears), Sweet Potato Fries and Persian Cucumber Salad (a refreshing side). Top it all off with a fun little beer float!
I'll most definitely be back!
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