Handlebar
984 University Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94710
Handlebar Menu
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Address :
984 University Ave
Berkeley, CA, 94710 - Phone (510) 984-2125
- Website https://www.handlebar984.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Tue
- Mon :Closed
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Brunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : No
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Dogs Allowed : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Mark B.
Quite good! The family & I stopped in for dinner. Insanely good lemonade, best mac&cheese I can remember ever having. Thumbs up on the Steak & Caesar salad. Back flip on the Mushroom pasta! Hat tip who ever designed their Handlebar mustached logo on their water bottles. Nice touch putting the bill inside old novels. Why not 5 stars?/constructive criticism : Really difficult to sit for a long time with kids on bar stools. This place should have a full sit down eating area with reservations. The food is that good. It seems like a bar, that happens to have food. It should be a steakhouse that happens to have a bar. Will definitely be back.
(4)Heather H.
Went in sat down, was ignored by the blonde overly tattooed bartender for 10 minutes? Mind you it is super slow! Then asked for menu and beer list, she points to wall and starts listing beers really fast as she walks away. Then doesn't speak to me again for 5 more minutes and approaches other customers. Won't be going back. I used to come here when they first opened and the service was better and food was great but this is the second time in the last 2 weeks I have had to walk out because I was ignored. Both times the same tattooed blonde with a double chin and lack of ability to multitask.
(1)Robert R.
Cold Beer!! Great burger!! Tots are amazing and definitely get the Mac & cheese with jalapeños and bacon!!!!
(5)Courtney D.
We went here for dinner and were big fans. The burger was delicious and the tater tots were amazing. I got the watermelon drink which was very unique. At first I wasn't sure how I felt about the drink but it really grew on me. I felt like everything could have been a smidge cheaper but that's a feeling I commonly have in the Bay Area
(4)Colin S.
The food is tasty - I particularly liked the house greens w chicken and the burger, though the party was a bit small. The tater tots were awesome. Played mountain music and bluegrass. I heard some Hayseed Dixie in there (the Bluegrass AC/DC tribute band)
(5)Lea M.
When I first saw this place last year all I could think about it, "I can ride my bike with no handlebars, no handlebars, no handlebars." However, I kept this lil guy stuck in the back of my head in case of necessary refreshments if needed when stuck in bay area traffic. Let's talk about the tots guys. These are no elementary school tots that you get in little aluminum trays here. No. These tots are beyond Napoleon Dynamites wildest dreams. These tots are with truffle oil. Nononono... not truffle butter. TRUFFLE OIL! Guith... these tots are the shit. The bar is awesome - beautiful wood with a boat ton of liquor. The service... awweeesommeee saauce!! Not a dive, not an upscale, not like a hip....ster.... kinda shin dig. You dig?
(4)Teresa R.
Excellent burger (cooked medium, not medium-well, and on a quality bun), but a little pricey with all the add-ons (e.g., $2 for bacon or fried egg). tater tots with truffle oil are still good. this place would be 5 stars if they had draft beers and if the add-ons didn't make the burger expensive. friendly staff and nice bar, but I need draft beer with my fancy burger. Update: Received a message from them saying that they will be providing draft beer in the near future. Also realized that if you whine enough, you get what you want. They get five stars!
(5)Dana K.
I can't stop thinking about the most delicious corn dog thing I had for brunch: buttermilk pancake batter wrapped around a breakfast sausage on a stick, with a maple dip. Amazing.
(4)Rick B.
Spring Break 2015 in CA...Tried this spacious little local bar one night for dinner and it served us well. The striking thing when you enter is the wooden bar itself...floor to ceiling high and 20 or 30 feet long. The bar was a beauty...we heard it was a leftover from the previous operation that was in here...the Temple Bar. Anyway, glad they kept the bar as it is the centerpiece of this large room that has little in the way of furniture. A few four-person tables along the wall, a few stand up tables hanging off the support posts, and a couch n' coffee table set in the window...not much else...which makes for a spacious feeling. Big screen TV sets the mood and at game time is a nice addition as you can see it from almost anywhere. Now to the food... Three in our party of four had hamburgers, all three cheese (cheddar). The hamburgers were ordered medium for two and medium rare for one, and were all done to the point of being just past pink...but still salvageable. The juicy hamburger was mated to a bun that had it's top toasted to the point of cracklings...too well-toasted. But then I am a fan of nice soft buns for my hamburgers...so it is definitely personal preference. One hamburger came with the fried egg on top, one with caramelized onions, and the third with both...the fried egg was a nice addition. The fourth in our party had the pork chop...it too was a bit past done but was tasty and well received. As to libations...Campfire Stout was the beer for the table and it was excellent...nice dark porter...rich, smooth, and jet black. Smells a bit like a s'more and has little head, but goes down very easy. Would be a nice recommendation for dessert too. One of us had the lemonade, which was lip puckering and almost undrinkable...had to have the bartender put in some simple syrup to make it passable. The bartender was the only one working the front this weekday evening (they had a single cook in back), and as such he was behind the eight-ball most of the time. The much ballyhooed tater tots arrived when we were almost done, but made for very good food. All-in-all a bit on the pricey side, but a passable stop on any tour of Berkeley pubs.
(3)Sean M.
Stopped in here for a quick bite to eat and a cocktail after class. The burger is AMAZING and the rusty nail that I ordered was on point. The staff was sincere and honest in their recommendations and seemed as though they genuinely enjoyed their guests. 5 stars for sure!
(5)Arthur Y.
Came by here on a saturday afternoon, craving a burger. I'd heard that it was connected to the 510Burger truck, which made it a pretty solid option in my book. It's on the west side of university, west of san pablo. Walking in, I liked it right away. It looked like a old timey bar, except that it had a giant flatscreen hoisted up on the wall showing the USC-Stanford game. Great start! Decor is awesome, bar is super nice - apparently the original bar restored. (I heard something about it being previously the oldest bar in Berkeley) Beer selection is limited - which is why it can't get 5 stars - they don't seem to have any beer taps - bottles only. Food menu has a bunch of things - I only looked at the burger. Nice burger - the meat is ground coarse - so its a different mouthfeel than the 510 Burger. Comes with L,T, Pickles and the bun was toasted (a little too much but not bad). Comes with TATERTOTS!! Something about truffle oil, but I didnt really taste it. Overall super satisfying - but expensive at $14. $17 once I added bacon and other stuff. But I was happy. But get some taps for god's sake!!
(4)Rachel J.
Eeeeeehhhhhhhhh. Another wanna-be-hipster bar. The poor bartender doubles as the waiter, so is simultaneously trying to tend bar, mix drinks, take orders and serve food. Handlebar, I hope you pay him well!! The ambiance isn't much to speak of, aside from the cool piece of furniture holding the booze - a few tables and chairs, bare walls, fluorescent lights. Food was mediocre, including the tots, which are supposedly made with truffle oil but you can't taste it. Might as well be canola oil. The location is great only because there's not much else on this block. Unfortunately they decided to skimp on the beer and wine selection, which is a little odd since it's a BAR. They only had 2 red wines, and ran out of one in the middle of a pour, so I ended up paying for half a glass of red. Hmm. Perhaps they need a beer tap...? Lots of great new places in Berkeley - hit up Longbranch Saloon instead.
(2)Ashley J.
I've been stalking Roland's food for many years now and he NEVER disappoints. I was seriously surprised to find Handlebar on the empty side this past weekend. Everything we ate was 5 stars and I can't believe more people weren't there eating this amazing food. Not only is there no bad seat in the house to watch Warriors games on one of two televisions, the bartender was attentive and the food was on point. I'm probably going to regret hyping this place up because it's bound to get crowded... Breakfast Tacos + hash brown were delicious and the ever amazing 510 grassfed Burger was even BETTER than I remembered! The bun seems to have been upgraded and now it is hands down the best burger in the Bay. I'll be back soon to try the drink specials and explore even more of the menu.
(5)Augusto T.
Good food, cool venue Handlebar is an interesting, yet strange venue. I really like that they offer buckets of beer. No hassle ordering if you are coming here with a group. Grab a bucket and get to work. What is surprising is that their menu features mostly fork & knife main dishes, instead of the expected finger bar food. While the food is not on the cheap side, everything was enjoyable, the portions are generous, and I left fully satisfied. Both cocktails I tried were very good. The Hot N Dirty with Siracha and fish sauce tasted as expected, yet was more enjoyable than expected. If you are craving a Bloody Mary, a very dirty Martini, or a Hair of the Dog to wake you up, this is a solid choice. I also tried Panty Pilar, which was light and refreshing, with its pineapple and Thai basil working nicely together. Starting at $14, the burger was not cheap, especially if you start adding extra toppings. They have a note on the menu saying that their burgers are cooked on the rare side, which made me excited since I always order mine medium rare. Disappointingly the burger arrived at a medium or medium well done term, so the all the fuzz seemed overdone. It was still pretty tasty and came with a large amount of truffled tater tots to fill you up. The tater tots were nice and crispy, but not being a fun of the overused truffle oil, I would skip it. It makes the whole restaurant smell of truffle oil and didn't really add too much flavor. I really enjoyed their pork chop with corn puree. It was a large serving and the pork chop was tender, juicy and flavorful. The puree was a good complement, sweet and umm corn-ey. You order both food and drinks at the bar and then everything is brought to your table. I guess you have to pay full tip on the food too? Service and bartenders were friendly. Being far from Downtown it is a little out of the beaten path, but I look forward to returning sometime.
(4)JP C.
Intriguing place with a similar vibe to Acme bar. The bar structure itself is very impressive, worth a visit to see. There is not a lot of seating for such a big space but I usually end choosing to sit at the bar since there is no table service. Drinks have been improving over time. When they first opened they only had 5 bottled beers, and no Hendrick's gin. Things have improved with 10-12 bottled beers available and a better variety of liquors. I feel like beer taps would help... The food is good, but has not been particularly consistent. The size of burgers and bread seem to vary, as do the quantity of tater tot fries (with truffle oil, yum!). The menu is limited but does a good job of being a bar that serves burgers and not much else. Warning: food is pricey though, don't expect to spend less than $30 per person for dinner and a drink. I've never left unhappy, but satisfaction varied between 3 stars and 5 stars depending on the day. Hence, the four star review.
(4)Nick N.
It's an expensive burger, but they're all expensive burgers now. This one is as close to worth it as they come. Summer squash, yes. Their cocktail list is better than most. You can order a Gin Cel-Ray no problem. There's a television that's always on the most "important" game, but you can avoid it no problem if that's not your thing. The bar is beautiful. Everybody I've met there is nice. It's easy to get to. The sign outside it cool. Okay.
(5)Bill H.
Alright, a proper bar west of San Pablo! Temple Bar closed within a week of my moving near University Ave. I was happy to see Handlebar open up a couple weeks ago, and visited this week with two other folks. I think Handlebar is a work-in-progress, but what's there already is great. The bar itself is gorgeous (a gigantic piece of wood that's worth gawking at), but the front of the restaurant was so bare that the only eye-catching piece of furniture was one of the staff's very expensive-looking bicycle. We ordered drinks and burgers, both were satisfying. My old fashion was delicious ($10), the wine list had great coverage and glasses were around $8-$12. The beer list is a little skimpy, and there's nothing on tap at the moment, just bottles. My burger was delicious - not too much meat, tasty butter lettuce and cheddar cheese. One of the better burgers I've had in Berkeley. The tater tots, though, were everyone's favorite. Apparently the tater tots are fried twice and then drizzled with truffle oil. Yeah. I was sad when I popped the last one in my mouth. Service was friendly and quick. Ordering from the bar initially was a little odd given that we were delivered our check to our table. But whatever. If you couldn't divine it from the name - this place definitely has a bit of SF-hipster vibe going on. The aforementioned bike was a fixie (obviously), and the check was delivered to the table inside of a pulp fiction book. Nothing unbearable. Overall, I had a pretty good experience at Handlebar, I'd definitely recommend checking it out.
(4)Victor G.
Handlebar looks more a bar than a burger joint. when one walks in, u are directed to the bar to order . after ordering, u take a seat and wait for the food. flatscreen: soceer seating is at the bar or a few "stools" or a few tables. eats: "handleburger" (14) ordered medium rare, only rare offfered -lots of options available, skipped. got the plain which came with tomato, lettuce, pickle. burger was rare indeed, no juice though. tasty in a unique way -homemade bun really toasted. -fried tater tots crispy on outside, mushy on inside. from mashed potatoes? no opinion, seldom eat them -comp fruit slices were nice -comp rum cocktail very strong. takeouts: -burger not the traditional one. dfiferent. -impressed by service, mostly the freebies. -other menu offering was mac & cheese. 5 stars for the experience 4+ stars for the food, it'll grow on me when i think more about it. -menu and drink at the door entrance, not on the tables... -check hours before going. only mondays opan lunch so far.....
(4)S A.
Soo happy the Brick and Mortar Masterpiece is OPEN! Love the vibe, the bar, the decor, and of course the tunes you can't help but chew oh so happily along with. The burger itself was amazing( as always) with a few more twists. Pickle garnishes, and accompanying tater tots are a nice spin on the 510 classic. Super excited, can't wait to start bringing folks with the next time... Ps the cocktails are on the level too #ijs
(5)Jennifer W.
Excellent! Went a few weeks ago for dinner and cocktails with a friend and had a great time. We loved the ambience, comfortable but clean and "casually elegant", with old school country music playing. (Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, absolutely classic sounds). The server was awesome, personally came to our table to take our order even though it's usually an order-at-the-bar place. He was friendly and chatted a bit, but totally professional, told us a bit abut the place, answered all our questions about the menu and the drinks very knowledgeably. And a hottie also ;)! We shared an EXCELLENT juicy cheeseburger, perfectly done and seasoned, just excellent and fairly priced. I don't remember the names of the cocktails we had, as they have some really entertaining names for them, and one of the ingredients for what I wanted was unavailable but the friendly server came up with an alternative solution for the ingredient and whatever he made, I remember it was fantastic! The only disappointment was the dessert. I'd take off 1/4 star for that if I could. It was a brownie, and very disappointing. Totally tasteless, most likely from a box, and could have used about 3 times the amount of chocolate that went into it. But the owner also came over to chat with us a bit and was very friendly. Maybe they have improved the brownie by now, but if you order the burger, tater tots, or cocktails, you should have a wonderful experience.
(5)caroline y.
I'm a fan of FiveTen burger, so I was looking forward to trying this place. It's a bit odd, because you have to go up to the bar to order, and then the food is brought out to you. The food was pretty good, but my complaint is the price. 2 entrees, a side of tots and 2 mint lemonades came out to $50. We didn't even have any alcohol. That was pretty surprising for a casual night out. The decor also seems to be having an identity crisis - it's kinda like a saloon and kinda like a sports bar. I think it's a great place to grab a drink and watch a game, but I wouldn't go back for dinner.
(2)Ford W.
handlebar is such a unique place that i love very much. i like how cute the place is. it is like going to an old western bar. i think everything about the place is western style though. the burgers, the place, the service. its all kind of old fashioned feel. one of the things that i like about this place is that when they give you checks they will give you the checks in some old fashioned book instead of the usual plastic check holders. whats so good about that you ask? well if you want to they will let you borrow the book so that you can read it and return it when you come back. enough with that though i want to get onto how good the food was. as usual as burgers always are they were exellent. i like how the buns were seasoned... perfectly. they were super salty. they were also nice and thick which made them very flavor full. to drink i got the housemade lemonade. DELICIOUS. i was not too sweet or not too sour like most lemonades. it was just right and very refreshing. the service was great. i want to give a shout out to Crystal for being such an awesome gal and helping me and my dad's out because of her we had such a great time. i will come back as soon as i finish the book and then borrow another one.
(5)Jess L.
Great addition to the neighborhood. Went there in my birthday which was a Saturday but it was pretty quiet. Their hours probably have something to do with that. That said, all the cocktails we had were amazing. Went back again some afternoon for their tater tots and it was delicious. Sadly a few drinks weren't available because in the winter months they don't have fresh juice. Overall, Just wish they had longer hours and replaced the drinks (after all it's california and we get fresh fruits all year round).
(4)Brandon C.
What an excellent bar! Jen Seidman has done a marvelous job finding and restoring this gem of a spot (yes, the backbar is original). Mondays are Industry Brunch with great drink & food specials. Excellent choice of spirits, gorgeous Cocktail Kingdom bar equipment, and command of the little details.
(5)Billy R.
Here's what I ordered: Bloody Mary, burger, chicken sammy, tater tots, and coffee. Bloody Mary was really spicy and thick. Not the best Bloody Mary I've ever had, and the portion was a little small, but the flavor was there. Burger with bacon and cheddar was amazeballs. Chicken sandwich was ok. A little on the dry side. I probably would not order this again. Coffee was delicious. Served with cute little glasses with sugar and creme. Note: all food and drinks must be ordered at the bar. The bartender was really friendly. Definitely coming back to try everything on the menu.
(5)Ray B.
Had to make the train and didn't have all the time in the world to wait for a table at Betty's We passed Handlebar on the way to the train station and decided to give it a try. The server was also our bartender (yes its that kind of place). She was nice and very helpful. Handlebar had an interesting menu it wasn't your run of the mill breakfast place. I alway enjoy interesting menus but the food was just OK. Might head back another time for lunch to see how they handle that.
(3)Marti B.
Decided to check it out since we drive by on the way to and from work. Went in on Tuesday night and at 530pm the place was pretty empty. In about 45 minutes this changed and when we left I counted 32 other people in the bar. BF had beer. I ordered the Junglebird; one of the house made special cocktails. During the time we were there, I had two. Each bartender on staff that evening made one of my drinks and I am happy to report that they tasted the same. Sweet and tart and tasty and I would certainly order that cocktail again. We decided to check out the food. Tater tots = yum. Chicken sandwich was tasty and juicy. The mac and cheese was good as well, although I would have liked it served warmer than we got it. The summer squash was light and pretty much made me happy. Overall the food was good albeit a little pricey. The ambiance is so understated that you spend time focusing on the person or persons you are talking too. Out of all the folks that were there, only one group had a cell phone out that they were looking at. I didn't notice anyone staring at the game on the tv behind us. Everyone around us was engaged in quite conversation with co-workers, friends, and loved ones. We will certainly be stopping by again.
(4)Eric F.
Passable cocktails, but I could hardly enjoy mine as there was absolutely no heating to speak of. I hate to be blunt, but how can anyone comfortably enjoy a drink here when it was absolutely freezing inside on a cold winter night? To not be able to finish my cocktail and have to ask for hot water simply to stay somewhat warm was a little absurd.
(2)Phillip D.
I'll make it short and sweet Lots of good things about the place - Spacious seating - Bar atmosphere - 80 music (at least that's what they played while we were there - Flat screen tv, great for game days Definitely a local vibe. Seemed like most people knew each other when they walked in. We tried the mac cheese, burger, and steak and eggs. Nothing super WOW about it but it's definitely made well. Definitely a nice chill spot to hang out with friends.
(4)Chancy F.
If I could give half stars, I would pick 3.5 stars. A very good meal, but nothing really amazing. I got the pork chop, with bacon and greens and corn pudding. Also had the tater tots and the Lonesome Dove cocktail. The corn pudding was really good as were the greens, but the bacon helped out a lot with that. The pork chop was good, but nothing special. The tater tots were pretty awesome. Truffle oil. Not as good as Moxy's truffle fries but the second best. The drink was okay. But it was a lot of good food for only $30. Not bad at all.
(3)Erin J.
Had probably the best blood mary I've ever had in my life here. The service was also really good. Granted, I came for lunch on a random weekday when absolutely no one was around, but still, everything was great. I got the steak and eggs which was super delicious. Definitely not the healthiest choice, but I enjoyed my experience here.
(4)Estefania M.
This could be an awesome place. The ambiance is loud but the servers are very friendly and we got our food fast. My boyfriend got a medium rare burger and it was still cold and too raw to be "medium rare" I got the mac and cheese because they didn't have a veggie burger option. If they would've had a veggie burger I might return. The drinks were good, we got the dealers choice and they made an excellent tequila drink. However, they didn't have any beers on draft and were beer people so we were dissapointed. The greatest part of our experience were the tatter tots, I would return only for a cocktail and tatter tots.
(3)jaime t.
Food was fresh and delicious . The bar is beautiful . The service and drinks were desperately lacking . Our high priced cocktails had almost no alcohol and even thought the bar had few customers service took forever . The girls behind the bar were bush talking and on their phones . Service and good drinks were not a priority . We went to another Local bar for real drinks .
(2)Abby D.
The dining area was frigid on a Sunday eve, it felt like the place has no heat. The waiter came to the table and told us we should order our food at the bar, which felt awkward. We had 3 dishes, all of which were sickeningly salty: meat and potatoes, pork, and mac and cheese. Everything would have had decent flavor if the chef didn't oversalt them. They forgot the mac and cheese and brought it out with the entrees with just a casual apology.
(1)S and P R.
Drinks, Food, Service, Excellent! The Monday brunch menu had nice offerings. Service was fast
(5)Jared C.
Came in on a Sunday after some beers at the torpedo room. Place was empty even with a tv showing the Oakland game. Burger was ok, best part was the bun. Toys that came with it were ok. Seems like limited non alcoholic drinks as my diet coke as from a bottle and another guy asked for dr pepper or rootbeer which they didn't have. The guy tending bar was nice.
(3)Monica K.
I live in the neighborhood, and was excited to see a new place to eat and drink. However, I was somewhat disappointed. First, the burgers really aren't worth $14. For a $14 burger, I expect organic, grassfed beef (this was aged beef - the menu didn't say anything about organic or grassfed), and I expect an amazing bun. Also, I don't expect to have to pay $2 extra for caramelized onions. So, I skipped the onions and had a decent, but not particularly amazing, burger. Also, the menu warns that the burgers are cooked on the rare side. Great. I like rare. I asked to have mine medium-rare, but when it came it wasn't pink inside at all. Oh well. Second, the burgers are served with tater tots. These were tasty, but I just felt like I was eating a lot of deep-fried crispy greasiness after a while. (I later saw in another review that they use truffle oil on the tater tots and also double fry them. Well, that explains why they're both tasty and a little bit too heavy.) Third, the drinks are pricey. I'm not a beer drinker, so if I wanted alcohol, it meant a bigger bill. Fourth, while I think the space is beautiful, and I loved the colors and lighting, I really didn't like the set up of having only high backless stools with the only low seat being a bench in front. As my back was hurting that day, my husband and I immediately sat on the front bench side by side. In fact, we had to sit side-by-side since there was no way to sit across from each another. While we were there, a family came in, and their child was too small to sit on the tall stools. As a result, a few of them sat on the bench, while one person was relegated to a tall stool, which made for awkwardness reaching the table, conversing, etc. I just really feel like the room calls for a row of booths along the left wall, or maybe just a combo of tables with tall stools and some lower tables as well. I may wind up going back since it's in the neighborhood (although I'm not rushing over there), in which case I'll update my review if needed. I do think this place has potential - maybe an expanded menu and a better arrangement of tables and chairs?
(2)Anthony C.
I came here with me and my friend. We had some great wine and the burgers are the Forsure thing that got going for them. The bill was about $60 for wine, mac and cheese, and 2 burgers. The fact that the burgers they use are grass feed, organic beef, are to die for. I highly suggest getting the hash browns with it because 1) they offer a lot 2) they are pretty damn good. We had a female bartender took care of us on a Monday night. The place was very slow and we were perhaps the only people there. Overall disparate personal situations with my friends, the hospitality that the handle bar offers has a lot of potential.
(5)Bryan B.
It's a shame that so many can't understand what they're paying for. Yes, the burgers are expensive. But they are a good value. The meat was extremely high quality, the tater tots are truffled, and all the ingredients that go with the meal, are fabulous. The pickles are house-made, and top notch. The $2 cheese(aged cheddar) was fantastic. If you want a 7$ burger, go to jack in the box. This is a high-end bar that is doing something wonderful. Best burger in the bay-area. My only disappointment is the beer selection. But fine, so what.
(5)Leslie C.
This is definitely an almost-5 star. I have a feeling within six months they will have all the kinks worked out for a full 5 star review. For two burger dinners, three mixed drinks and a whiskey on the rocks we paid just under 80 bucks (not bad for quantity and quality). Stepped in tonight, a Thursday, for a burger date. Simple choices: How do you want it cooked? 3 cheeses, bacon, jalapenos options to add-on. Date asked for his burger still mooing - they said no problem and he was very happy when he got it. I asked for mine medium well and it was still moist, juicy, and flavorful. FOOD: This is a seriously DELICIOUS burger. The meat itself is very flavorful - no need for powerful spices here, you can taste the quality, and they recommend a lesser cooked option to showcase that flavor. Additionally, the bun is one of the best burger buns I've ever had. Held together til the last bite, didn't get sloppy and mushy on me, and tasted like heavenly buttery goodness. The house pickled cucumbers and tomato are likewise scrumptious and add a great tangy undertone to the burger. The truffled tatertots are AMAZING. DRINKS: Drinks are fabulous as are the bartenders! Every single employee had a can-do, ready to please attitude, and got every order just right. They were friendly, and the fiveten co-owner even came out for a bit to chat up the guys next to us at the bar. I had a margarita, very good. Mild flavor. Nice punch. Also had some sort of mixed drink with a maple/cream soda flavor - REALLY good. Highly recommend. Whichever review I read that stated this place focuses on low-alcohol mixed drinks got that very wrong. The date enjoyed his manhattan. The selection of beer (bottle only I believe) and liquor is limited, but decent. Protip: Order drinks and food at the bar - sit wherever you like. If you've got a tab running, they'll bring it to your table but there's no formal waiter service. BEST THINGS: The bun. buttery. deliciousness. The attitude. Fabulous. The bar. Wide enough to comfortably sit at for eating a full meal. Great ambiance when they turn the lights down around 9. Clean, clean, clean. The bathroom. They've got two, unisex, and they are clean, bright, and awesome. Room for Improvement: Condiments with the burgers. I got two individual little rings of red onion with my burger. Moar, pleez. Also got two cucumbers - delicious! May we have four? Lastly, the ketchup containers are quite small. Larger dishes or multiple would be great. Standardization on the burger. My date's burger was definitely bigger than mine. No girly portions for me! My burger was completely filling and very good, but it'd be nice to see them closer to the same size. You can see this in the Yelp pics - some fatter/thicker, some thinner/wider. The glass on the bar. I know this is weird, but the mirrors were really streaky and driving me just a little nuts. An otherwise gorgeous wood bar with very comfy stools.
(4)Abby H.
Great local spot, love the relaxed vibe and the food is quality. A friend mentioned the price points for alcohol were a little spotty--ie cheap booze at twice the price, high end at a more reasonable cost, but if you know your way around the menu should not hold you back from stopping by.
(4)Amy T.
This place has amazing potential! It's a gorgeous setting with an amazing bar. I was incredibly excited when I heard it was an acme bar + fivetenburger collaboration effort! At this time though it's missing a few essentials I came to love from the places this collaboration spawned from: draft beer and grilled cheese! I totally get that they may be trying to class it up from the fivetenburger menu but their truffle grilled cheese is BOMB, as I learned from the days when the five ten truck would park outside acme. That being said, I went to handlebar the first week they opened and had the stove top mac, which was a heavenly yet classy take on the stovetop delight. I also had the house recommended cava to pair, which was a reasonable bottle price for the quality/tastiness and complemented the Mac perfectly! As a pescetarian i was really looking forward to how their menu would evolve with time but when I stopped in yesterday they still only had Mac n cheese or a salad as food options for me. I totally understand if handlebar wants to get away from street food but I hope they will add more options and draft beer in the future.
(3)Patrick S.
Like burgers, tots and fancy cocktails? Then this is your spot. Lots of space for a crowd, sports on tv, friendly service. Decor is an interesting mix, I would love it to see the rest of the place match the amazing wood bar. Burger was really, really good.
(4)Jessica X.
The food is great. But everything else destroys it. Tonight, and two weeks ago, I had to eat with my coat, hat and scarf on because there is no heat. Inquire about the heat and you'll be told it's broken, "someone will be in to fix it on Thursday." (five days from today) Don't buy it as it has been two weeks between my visits and still no heat. And it's in the low 40s outside. My food was cold... big surprise. No discount. No apologies. The bartender was clearly drinking to stay warm. I saw some customers come in, do a once over, and leave. It was a Saturday night and it was not busy. HEAT YOUR RESTAURANT. Aside from that, the restaurant is clearly run by someone (and yes, I actually do know who you are ) who has no idea what they are doing. 1. Why is there a massive area in the front of the house with no tables? I've been here when it is (heated) busy and there've been no tables. Tables = revenue. 2. Is this a sports bar? Why is it that every time I'm in there someone is yelling at the TV? What identity is Handlebar going for? 3. Ordering at the bar is fine for most places, but when a burger is running me $14, it seems like they are being cheap. 4.The playlist (on someone's iPod) was fine, until it started repeating songs making us all too aware of time passing in a cold cold hell. 5. The pinch-of-salt from the cups might be very hip, but all it does is make me wonder who's paws were just in my salt. Gross. Craptastic management is ruining great food. WHY!
(1)Scott S.
Once again, Crystal proves her mixology skills and serves us the PERFECT Handlebar Sour!
(5)Chris J.
Some 8 months later, I decided to visit on my own. A late Saturday night and on my own, I walked in. Nice long bar, and ordered the burger ($14) with Roquefort cheese ($1.50) and jalapeños (50¢). OK, I just spent $16 for a burger. It's sustainably sourced beef, and the tater tots ($5) were crispy and perfectly fried. Two beers and I had now dropped $31. For a cheeseburger, fries, and a couple of beers. All in all, a damned good meal. Service was good, left a 15% tip, but...sustainably sourced beef notwithstanding...a cheeseburger for $16 is NOT regularly affordable. at least for me. I don't plan on returning, despite the great burger. Sorry, but eating a burger for $16, well...it just isn't sustainable.
(3)James H.
This place is amazing! Everyone and their mom has to try the burger with cheese, grilled onions, and bacon. Just don't put the pickle in the burger and you've got the perfect burger. Also the corn pudding with pork was very tasty. Great staff, beautiful bar, and people. So glad, there's a place to hang right around our place. Coming back for Monday brunch!
(5)Kathy W.
I went there with my boyfriend (who'd been there the week before for the soft launch) for lunch because he wouldn't stop raving about the burgers. And it did not disappoint! We both got the burger, I added fried egg and cheddar, and it comes with fried tater tots, everything was on point. Definitely one of the best burgers I've had in awhile. From the outside, it looks like a dive, but once you step in it's very modern and sleek. I love the area behind the bar. I can't say much for the alcohol, as I'm not a drinker, but the bartender Guillermo was very nice! Seems like it'd be a good place to go to have a few drinks and just chill :-)
(5)Andres B.
not really a good experience. the bartender put me off with a kind of weird funny attitude. not mean just...strange. no draft beers. more of a cocktail joint i guess is what they are shooting for. read reviews here and i went for the $20 burger. i must say the meat quality was very good. weird the truffle tater tots... can order with no truffle oil i guess as i did mine. but no substitutions on this dish which is strange. the lettuce was crummy iceberg. no way i am ever eating iceberg since 1992 or whatever. there is way better leaf lettuce out there and this burger deserves it. anyway, not going back. burger competition is heavy in this area and the price does not really match the product. ps the room seems cold and un- cozy. and the bar is strangely situated. parking can be a drag. but there was hardly anyone there.
(2)Kurma T.
The old Templebar space in Berkeley is now Handlebar, a joint project from the folks behind Acme Bar and 510 Burger. The immediate good news is that the old teak bar is still in use. The rest of the space is pretty bare bones. It was 10pm and the kitchen had closed so all I got was a beer, but the small menu of burger, salad, Mac and cheese seems appropriate to the surroundings. I'll update this after returning for something to eat, but I am encouraged to see this historic location up and running once more.
(4)Oren L.
Damn good pork chop! Had some of my friend's fries, they were yummy as well. Nice to see folks eating dinner with their kids at dinner time.
(5)Matt R.
Best burger in Berkeley that I've tried.
(5)Jim M.
So i had been wanting to try 510 burger (the food truck) for a long time but could never commit to the time or the places or i was too drunk.....Luckily, its now a brick and mortar joint in west Berkeley. So before we went to a Lorde concert at the Greek, we hopped in an uber and tried it out. There was plenty of space at the bar to eat and drink. We got helped by Guillermo, who, i have to say, is one of the best bartender/servers we've had in a while. There were a lot of families in there so it looked very children friendly. But the main star was the burger. Holy crap, it was so amazing. The bun is made in house and I could eat about 20 of them and the burger itself is equally good. I'm sitting here in my underwear on a saturday morning wondering if its open yet. Its that good.I got my burger with cottage fries which look like small potato discs, and were also delicious. Jovanie got the tater tots, and they are as awesome as Yelp has been saying. And i normally don't even like tater tots. This place is worth the drive from anywhere in the bay area. Especially if you like a good drink and a good burger. I can't recommend it more highly. now where did i put my shorts?
(5)Tanya O.
Love this place! Went for brunch a couple weeks ago, the food was delicious and I had one of the best bloody marys I've ever had here. Get the tater tots, they're incredible! I'll definitely be back for brunch and to try more cocktails sometime in the evening.
(5)David P.
Not so good.
(2)Zac D.
Best burger in the eastbay! Guillermo and the other bar tenders are top notch, and Janie makes an awesome Oldfashioned. I cant wait to come try their brunch.
(5)Florent B.
Read about this place in an article of the East Bay Express. We got 1 of the special of the day: cooked ham with 2 poached eggs, salad and a toast. The ham was delicious, and perfect poached eggs. Also the pig in a blanket with the hash brown. The sausage corn dog style was very tasty although might not be a perfect brunch item. Hash brown was indeed truffle oil infused and crispy although not the best I've ever had. Service was awesome. Place nice and was not too busy so perfect for a party. Street parking was largely available.
(4)Big Baby Jesus C.
Well that didn't take long. Place was actually busy last time I went in. First thing I noticed was the deafening racket. High ceilings, nothing to absorb the sound, couldn't hear what the person next to me was saying. My wine was almost, but not quite, hot. Very warm, and pinot noir is supposed to be served at a slightly cooler temperature than most reds. Not sure how that came to be. Their dessert was a fail. Said it was a peach and strawberry cobbler. My ass. It was a biscuit, some whipped cream, and a pile of berries and peaches. The beer selection is pretty pitiful. All light beers, Negra Modelo, and Racer 5, insert jaw breaking yawn here.
(3)Erica P.
Fine service. Nothing special. Looks like they opened before they were ready.
(2)Chris M.
I'm going to echo basically every other review on here: The prices are astronomical. I would expect $14 burgers, $16 pork chops, and $10 drinks at a decently nice restaurant in downtown Berkeley or somewhere in SF; definitely not at a place where I have to order at the bar and somewhat off the beaten path like Handlebar. I will never order food here again for this reason. The decor inside is pretty cool, but lacking something. The bar itself is awesome... it looks to be original and reminds me of some cool old bars I've stumbled upon in SF. The tables though, are a little weird, They are mostly awkwardly arranged high tops with stools. They don't lend themselves well to eating at. The food is pretty good. I had a pork chop with the corn pudding. Both tasted good, but neither was very hot. They were just warm. Again, at the price point I would expect a pretty flawless presentation. The drinks were good. I got the hot n dirty martini. It was super weird, but not in a bad way. It tasted like spicy, alcoholic pho broth. I also got their house old fashioned... and I am putting it out there: IT WAS THE BEST OLD FASHIONED I HAVE EVER HAD. EVER. And that's saying a lot because this is basically my favorite drink. And there you have it. Good place, but way too expensive and a little awkward.
(3)Christine S.
I've been here twice before and both times I shared the pork and corn pudding with friends and family, who were delighted by this dish. Tonight my husband and I went Handlebar hoping they were showing the Giants vs. Cardinals game and they were! Again, I had to have the pork and corn pudding and it didn't disappoint. The drinks are strong, albeit not memorable. Not important though. We had a good time and enjoyed the good service and ambiance. Glad to have this gem in our neighborhood. We'll be back!
(4)Chaya B.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I was not impressed. Since there was soo much hype about 510 burgers, which I never had the chance to try, I was really excited to have a burger. My friend and I both had burgers and walked out of there paying $20 each, way to expensive for a burger Im sorry! I got cheese and jalepenos for and extra $3. Both of us noted how the meat was kinda gamey, (probably the good quality meat), the taste of the grass the cows ate? She said it tasted like lamb? Not feeling it! Yummy bun! Also the pickled tomato added a "weird" taste. I typically love pickles. The tater tots are a nice change to fries and were crispy and salty. As far as atmosphere, the bar is amazing, but you can tell they have just opened, not "broken in" yet. The music was a combo of old school jams, funk and soul, I ain't mad at that. Kind of hard to have a convo. A bit dark too, lights kept going up and down, and then we got a candle on the table, thanks. We went early, its really a bar, with food, not a restaurant. Only a few choices for eats. We didnt try drinks. They have tall tables with stools, the bar area, and a long table by the front window good for a group. I hope they do well, the area needs more life in! But damn, that is a rich mans burger, wont be doing that again! For that price, it seems odd to order at the bar?
(2)Nadir V.
Wow, GREAT brunch. Loved me the burger with bacon and a fried egg with Tator Tots (I ate a couple more than I should of, thought). Guillermo our server was hospitable, sharp and awesome. I am definitely going back to check out their drinks (they had some fancy tequila!). Highly recommend it to anyone who wants great food, affordable prices and an awesome atmosphere.
(5)Taree L.
They say they are not advertising because they want a slow start so they get it right. Very attractive. You do have to be able to sit on bar stools for the most part (two bench seats). The burger and tots were expensive but very good and filling. I split it with a friend and with a salad it was plenty. The salad needs work as do the drinks but it will come. I thought the burger was every bit as good as 900 Grayson and theirs is really terrific. Same price but you only get the burger at Grayson (no tots and no beer). .I saw the chicken grilled on a salad with a creamy dressing and that looked great. They also have a heavy handed (no chi chi eggs) brunch on the weekend (including Monday so those who work in restaurants have a day they can come..........so sweet!!!) Ill try that as well. Love the vibe. lll return many times to this place. Nothing like it near by. In time I'm hoping they open for lunch too. Taree Lyn
(4)W. S.
Crystal is genuine and sweet and creates some really great cocktails. The burger, truffle tots and mac are ridiculous. Handlebar...you complete me.
(5)Richard P.
Great new spot!!!!! This area welcomes this classy and tasty split for good and cocktails.
(5)Carissa P.
First time last night- oldies playing, truffle oil tots, really nice staff, burger was really good (we added cheese and bacon so I don't even want to know how much it cost but at least the tots are included in the $14 base price.) They're just getting started so hopefully there will be some cool sofas or other seating options in the future. Cute bar. Good food. I'll def be back.
(4)Elmer C.
serving cold mac and cheese for $12 is unforgivable. everything else was decent but i mean, come on, really? what cook puts that in the window? it gives me serious second thoughts about everything else.
(1)Billy T.
One of the best places to grab a Long Island Iced tea. This magnificent ambience that was experienced was invigorating. I enjoyed my one and a half hours there which was a very memorable experiences. One I will always remember.
(4)Jennifer C.
I want to like this place more, but just can't deal with how loud it is inside. It would be much nicer if they installed some acoustic treatments or the like. Beautiful bar, though.
(2)Micaela O.
Awesome food. A little pricey but worth it. Atmosphere is cool. Service set up is a little weird . They should just bite the bullet and have table servers. As of now you have to order everything from the bar , all while servers are standing around .. Looking for something to do. Burgers are bomb and they have awesome beer bucket deals . Worth it .
(4)Josepe M.
This place has so much potential. Owners of ACME + FiveTenBurger, sounds good, right? I know they are still working out the kinks, but until they do I can't recommend it. The cocktail program has a couple tasty drinks, but the novelty of a watermelon jalepeno spritzer wears off after the first one. The bloody mary isn't as good as the Acme offering either(tastes thinner not as spicy). The beer selection is really poor, and is by far the easiest problem to fix. They need to get some drafts, and at least 1 IPA worth a crap(Racer 5 just doesn't cut it). How about some Pliney, Ninkasi, Drakes, Green Flash, Ballast Point etc? After the first round of cocktails, most people struggle to find a drink on the list they actually want. The bartenders are great though, and willing to improvise a cocktail for you particular tastes. The decor is pretty sparse, but I know that will improve with time. The food, while pretty tasty, is overpriced. The braised pork dish is really good. The burger is pretty good, but not when compared to other offerings in the neighborhood. The tater-tots seem like a novelty, and everyone I know would prefer some nice twice-cooked fries, to be honest. How about a solid happy hour and daily drink deals?
(2)Joel B.
I have to say that for the dozen years I have lived in the Bay Area, the long stretch of University Avenue between Highway 80 and the UC Berkeley campus has left a lot to be desired. For years it has felt like a long no-man's land stretch of cheap motels, miscellaneous small businesses, Indian restaurants and markets, and a whole lot of college-oriented junk. But in the past couple of years, some compelling options have been coming into this stretch of Berkeley such as Townie, Pizza Moda, Perdition Smokehouse, Slow, Pedro's Brazil Café, and Chocolatier Blue, among others. The most recent and most compelling to me to date is Handlebar in West Berkeley. The space is beautiful, with a Pioneer-era décor. On this day, we went for lunch and were not in the drinking mood. We discovered that they offer a wonderful sounding brunch on Saturday, Sunday and Monday, which is a rare day for brunch. Today we went with their burger: dry aged grass fed beef burger on a handmade bun. Served with pickled cucumbers, pickled tomatoes, red onion, butter lettuce and truffled tater tots. The burger was cooked an absolutely perfect medium rare, the pickled cukes and tomatoes sweet and tangy and the bun tender and fresh. This burger is the best we have had in awhile made better only by the truffled tater tots. I suggest you pilgrimage to Handlebar to eat as many of these as you can, but if you are sharing them, as I did, be sure to eat them quickly before your eating partner houses the majority of them! In fact, I returned a week later without my friend to selfishly eat an entire side of the tots to myself one evening, along with one of their signature cocktails, the Panty Pilar (Pilar light rum, pineapple, thai basil, lime.) The drink was refreshing but very light on the booze and packed with too much ice, but it's OK, I will definitely return, if for nothing else those crack head tater tots!
(3)Brittany P.
Excellent food and drinks, even better service. The staff were so sweet and helpful, answering all of my questions about the drink menu with a smile. And the truffle tatertots were so crazy good! I'll definitely be back.
(5)Bonnie C.
Came here for Sunday brunch since I am a huge fan of the FiveTenBurger truck. The Handlebar burger was even better! It is a bit pricey, but well worth it, since it comes with the most amazing truffle tots, and the portion sizes are generous. The grass-fed burger patty was thick and juicy, and the artisan bun was crispy and held up well to soak up the burger juices. Everything on the plate was tasty and of good quality. My kid loved their mac n cheese (and they accommodated her request of adding bacon). It was such a huge dish that she enjoyed the mac n cheese for another 2 meals. The kids loved sitting at the window at the coffee-table-level benches. The space is homey and spacious, with a huge flat screen for sports fans. This is definitely a place I can see myself frequenting.
(4)Rachael J.
Handlebar more than held up to expectations. I came with my co-workers for the Industry brunch on Monday and was very excited to see that they had bought my favorite Hawaiian restaurant (which was hardly ever open) and not only retained the beautiful antique bar and dark wood floors, but lovingly restored them too. The place is decorated beautifully and outfitted with very comfy bar stools. I have no idea what the other reviewers are talking about. The food and drinks are not expensive at all for this level of quality. If you want cheap food made with cheap ingredients made also cheap by minimum wage workforce, go to McDonalds. I had a very tasty Bloody Mary with just the right amount of booze and fixings, baked spicy eggs (OMG -delicious) and truffle oil hash browns - which were also amazing. They were the only hash browns I've ever had that I wouldn't even consider putting ketchup on. The bill for 6 people (minus my drink) was $74 so I would absolutely not call that expensive by any means. The cocktail menu looks inventive and inviting and I LOVE the gold cocktail prep tools. The staff was attentive and gave us complimentary lemonade and tomato/basil/buffalo mozzarella appetizers. I highly recommend this place if you appreciate tasty and beautifully made food and cocktails.
(5)Ku'ulei A.
I live right across the street and came in for a yummy brunch! This bar place has warm inviting colors, antique light fixtures, and a beautiful bar! I started with a large cup of delicious strong coffee and was given an adorable mini carafe of cream and raw sugar. Nice touch! I ordered the Sammy (if I remember correctly) which was house-made breakfast sausage, cheese, and a fried egg all on this delightfully crisp and hearty english muffin (not like those flimsy ones...) This breakfast sando also came with a green salad all for $7!!! My only complaint is that the salad was crazily over salted which i'm sure was just a one-time mistake... And this is not a complaint, but I may have been able to pick up my sando with my hands if there were only one sausage patty in there, but there were TWO juicy pattys, so I cracked my yolk and sopped it up with a fork and knife. I finished the meal with a tasty and very generous grapefruit mimosa which had a fancier name but I don't remember. All in all a great first experience! Great value and quality! Can't wait to come back for a burger and perhaps some draft beer? Lastly, as a completely insignificant and minuscule suggestion, I recall looking around and thinking the space could benefit from some indoor greenery or plants... No biggy, still a gorgeous spot! Thanks! I'll be back with the Mr.!
(4)S Z.
Still not a busy place with friendly staff. drinks are well done and food was very good! We had the burger w blue cheese and it was very tasty. One time I had the watermelon drink and that was awful but the old fashioned is really good!
(3)Korina B.
Sorry, I just didn't like it that much. The guy at the bar was nice, the bar itself was beautiful and I liked the mix of beautiful silverware but my "likes" end there. I ordered the beef tacos and while the beef itself was tasty, it seemed like an incomplete dish as it was just some beef on a tortilla with a small amount of salsa on the side. For $9 bucks. One of my friends ordered the breakfast sandwich which was ok, but overly salty; another had the "pig in a blanket" which is really a hotdog on a stick which she said was also ok, but way overpriced, and we all shared the mac and cheese which at $15 should have been the Best Ever, but was strangely grainy in texture. Between the three of us our bill came to close to a $80 (incl. tip) and only one of us had a cocktail (a bad Bloody Mary, but at least it was small), one had coffee and one, water. I think I'll hit 510 if I decide to try the burger, but eating here has reduced that chance.
(2)Tim W.
Excellent burger and tots. Burger and toppings were fresh and flavorful. Pickles were especially tasty. Great service and a very tasty drink called catus juice from the bartender.
(4)Amber E.
Handlebar was everything they claimed to be...good food, fun cocktails, and above all great service. Tonight was my first time even though they've been open for awhile now. The burger with cheddar and caramelized onions really hit the spot, and the mai tai was pretty sweet but they warned me. I'm not convinced that the tater tots were worth the hype the bartender insinuated (good for bar food? For sure. But THE food for the bar? Not so sure. The burger was so good that it outshined the tots). Loved the mojito-like cocktail. And the service was really fantastic. Everyone had a fun attitude and I would have been happy to spend more time at this place.
(5)Brian G.
So impressed with this place! One of the best burgers that I've had in years! Plus, they worked with me on making sure my wife's burger didn't come near truffle oil because she's allergic to mushrooms. (She's totally missing out, btw, The truffle oil tater tots are amazeballs!) And, when I found out there was garlic (she can't have that either) on the burger (that's not on the menu), they frickin' remade it... And have me a shot while I was waiting. Go! Eat here! Your tastebuds deserve it.
(5)David O.
Came here on a slow Tuesday night. Cute bar and good old fashioned....food service was slow for only having one other set of customers. Delicious burger but way too salty tater tots. Pork chop was dry :-( greens that accompanied were overly salted as well. Wouldn't bother with ordering from kitchen but good neighborhood joint for cocktails.
(3)Robyn B.
Pros: - the drinks were really good, and there was a wide selection - nice atmosphere inside - hamburgers were pretty good. The only issue was that they were seriously messy!! - tatertots were perfection. mmmm. Cons: - only two people working on a Thursday evening with the Warriors playoff game on- made for seriously slow service and you could tell both the bartender/order taker and the busser/waiter were stressed and needed backup - they ran out of pretty much every vegetarian option. This was especially annoying because it wasn't even busy when we ordered (it got much busier later on). How could they have run out of the veggie entree and both veggie appetizers? - the one vegetable available was the "greens." These were an unappealing plate of soggy looking sauteed greens. They were bitter and unseasoned. We ended up sending them back because they were so bad. I had high hopes for this neighborhood bar. I would maybe go back again for drinks, but only if it looks like it is not busy, or if they hire more people.
(3)Rochelle B.
So after being disappointed at a different resturant for being closed in the middle of the damn day my Husband and I ate here on a Saturday afternoon. The place was basically empty but the employees were very friendly. We paid a $68 bill plus a tip ($10) for 2 burgers, two purple drank specialized drinks from the bar and an order of Mac and cheese. You have to add bacon, cheese etc to your burger which starts at $14. We asked for WELL, WELL done as the menu suggested and got medium rare and had to send it back. There was an assault of salt lol. Everything was so damn salty that it started to wear on your taste buds and the bun was so toasted that it damn near cut my mouth. All in all the atmosphere was cool but for what you pay, I don't think we'll be back. Handlebar Burger $14 +$1 for cheese and $2 for bacon so $17.00 including tater tots. A speciality drink (purple drank) $8 Mac and Cheese $12 **Update, after eating here I got lucky enough to re-live the meal over and over for 24 hours if you know what I mean. So I for sure will never return.
(2)Nathan C.
The food here is really top quality and prepared by a staff that clearly not only knows its stuff, but works hard to please. The burger is well-composed and the tots were unexpectedly delicious, if slightly gratuitous. I know you don't go to a place like this for portion control, but leave some room for beer! The $14 price-point is a bit steep, but well worth-it. I wouldn't mind seeing it for $12 with about half the tots. They are new and they obviously care deeply about how things are working out, so much that after the kitchen closed, the back of house staff came out and socialized extensively with the customers, genuinely eager to know what people enjoyed and what they didn't. There's a certain candid, no-bullshit approach from the staff that helps this place avoid becoming insufferably hipster. As I was leaving, they were reminiscing about home cooking methods. It's good to see that a hot new establishment cares most about isn't what moustache wax to buy or whether their silverware is gluten free, but really about trying to capture what makes people happy on a sunday afternoon. I did notice that the burger came very slightly overcooked and that the crowd was hesitant at first, unsure of exactly how to interact with the new space. I found the seating to be quite comfortable, but I arrived after walking about 20 blocks, so I would probably have been happy to sit on just about anything that held my weight. All in all this place is great for its age and has the potential to be a 5* location once it hits its stride.
(4)