Raging Taste Buds

Santa Monica

“Fathers Office has the BEST ….”  Stop right there you’re already over exaggerating. Fathers Office holds the record for the most people that are on a burger bandwagon for loving to say “Dude, Fathers Office has the best burger ever!” I have a gut feeling that people like to go to Fathers Office solely to tell their friends who haven’t been there that they know where to find the best burger ever. And they most likely want to do that  because it was fun and intriguing to hear when they first heard it. So if you are one of those people BOOOO. And, how many people do you think go into Father’s Office without ever having heard some hoopla about the burger?… ZERO. With that being said, 99% of Fathers Office newbies (which was me on this occasion), walk into this bar with very high expectations.

The Burger Bandwagon special

The $12 Office Burger comes on a toasted roll (or half bun half roll…who knows) with carmelized bacon-onion compote, melted gruyere, light blue cheese, and baby arugala. It is very GOOD but not the best.  It was like 10 dominating flavors were having an orgy with each other and hitting my taste buds all at once.  And I decided that I’m a firm believer in a truly great burger being served on a hamburger bun…not a toasted roll. That’s not to say it didn’t taste great, but it felt confused. You just cant tell me that the best burger ever is served on a roll. Just like you cant tell me the best sandwich ever is served on a bagel, or the best sushi roll is wrapped in cucumber, or the best hot dog ever is served in a pita. If you’re looking for the best burger ever, first make sure it looks like a hamburger. So overall, it’s a very good burger, that’s nice but it’s not the best. Worth the price? probably for its quality ingredients. Worth a wait? not more than 30 min. My burger was also not very hot when it came out.

Now onto the real problem at Father’s Office, the atmosphere and the service. The place has no character, just blank wood walls. No decorations, signage, artwork, etc. You can’t order at a table, people hover over you while you eat so that they can snatch your table immediately after you’re done, you cant make substitutions on your burger, they have no ketchup, you cant go if you’re not 21, the crowd is all mixed up, and apparently if you want to ask the manager a question you have to do it AT THE BAR. We asked him a question as he walked by our table and he told us we could come ask him at the bar. Your a douche, nice Hawaiian shirt. So I guess you got your answer, will I be jumping on the fathers office burger bandwagon? Nope. Umami burger and Hinano’s, you’re next. By the way if you couldn’t tell, your competition is not looking good so far.