Ellensburger
Story by Patrick Pugh & Hope Cox
Since the dawn of time many questions have stumped humanity. Questions that make us question who we are and what our place might be in these vast cosmos we call the universe. PULSE seeks the answer to one such important question, "What is the best burger in all of Ellensburg?" CWU students speak on the various local burger spots and what makes them their favorite and a local eatery weighs in on what makes their burgers special. In addition, a PULSE reporter shares her views on several burgers served around Ellensburg.
Word Of Mouth
One person who’s thrown their hat into the ring is Jace Mears, a junior at CWU and an elementary education major, who claims that the best burger joint in all of Ellensburg is Campus U-Tote-Em. “For me, it’s nostalgic,” says Mears. “My mom went there when she was doing college, she used to eat there. We would stop by whenever we went through Ellensburg.”
Another student, Abby Willey, might find it hard to agree with Mears’ assessment. Willey cites the CWU’s very own Lion’s Rock as her favorite place to acquire the scrumptious meal based on convenience. “I don’t go out... so, it’s just in and out,” says Willey.
As important as it is to get the opinions of ordinary people, it’s just as essential to get the perspective of those who own a burger joint. After all, they’re the ones in the kitchen. Jeremy Custer, co-owner of The Ridge (a restaurant and bar located in Ellensburg) explains not only what makes a great burger, but also what makes a great burger experience. First, he brings up the fact they serve two different types of sandwiches at different times to help fit customers' moods. “We’ve got the Smash Burger and the Ribeye Burger. Smash Burger, we wanted something that we could do fairly quick [and] easy. I mean honestly, they’re straight forward burgers but if you do them right, they’re amazing,” says Custer. “The other burger [is] the Ribeye Burger and we use the ribeye trimmings and fat that get cut in with all the beef. It just gives it an extra amount of richness, which people love.”
Custer also explains what makes going to a burger joint so special, specifically at his place, “You have service everywhere. What sets it apart is the focus on hospitality... The idea is making them feel special so that they want to come back. They want to tell other people how great everyone treated them as they came in. That really carries a lot of weight in this town. I think it carries a lot of weight anywhere, but this town specifically.”
Relish, Refreshments and Reviews
PULSE reporter, Hope Cox, visited several local eateries and now gives her opinion on what the best places are for readers to try out on their own.
U-Tote-Em
The Wildcat Burger consists of bacon, cheese, an onion ring and BBQ sauce. The burger came wrapped in a napkin to keep your hands from getting too messy. It was well-constructed and not squished, unlike what you would experience from a fast food chain like McDonald's. The burger had a good crunch between the onion ring and crispy bacon. The cheese melted perfectly around the beef patty and there was a good sauce-to-burger ratio. The BBQ sauce added sweetness and tanginess which paired well with the savory beef patty and salty bacon. This was a great burger.
The Campus Burger is a deluxe burger that consists of bacon and cheese. It was well-constructed and easy to see all the different layers. The bacon, onions and pickles had a satisfying crunch. The sauce dripped a little with each bite. A solid choice.
The Tav
All burgers from The Tav include mayo, lettuce, tomato, relish and pickles on a toasted sesame seed bun.
The Super Mother is a quarter-pounder with American cheese and ham or bacon. The burger was well constructed. The bacon was crispy and savory. The beef patty was a little bland and had a noticeable charred taste. The pickles were tangy and crunchy and the relish was sweet. The mayo was mostly in the middle and not spread evenly throughout the bun. The edges of the burger were a little dry. The first bite was bland but got a little better with each bite. Overall, Mediocre.
On the other hand, the Super Garlic Mother is a quarter-pounder topped with fresh garlic and cheddar cheese. The beef patty was bland beside the charred taste from the grill. The burger lacked the taste of garlic. Not as good as advertised. Neither burger was completely finished and only a few bites were taken because of the bland taste.
The Palace Cafe
The Palace Cafe is a local restaurant located on Main St. All burgers include crisp iceberg lettuce, tomato, pickle, sweet onion, mustard-laced relish and mayonnaise on a freshly baked sesame bun.
The Bacon Cheeseburger consists of crispy bacon strips and Tillamook cheddar cheese. However, the burger lacked structural integrity, and had fallen into two piles on the plate before reaching the table. The top half consisted of a fistful of shredded lettuce, tangy pickles and rings of white onion. The bottom half consisted of the well-seasoned juicy beef patty topped with melted cheddar cheese wrapped around the patty, and strips of crispy bacon strips. Once assembled, it became a tall burger and a mouthful to eat. Each bite, a new adventure of sweet, savory and tangy flavors bouncing from taste bud to taste bud. Overall, a great burger, with subpar presentation.
The Caprese Burger is a grilled herb-infused turkey patty on a ciabatta bun with basil aioli, fresh mozzarella, roma tomato and fresh basil. Served on a plate, sliced down the middle. The basil had a very prominent flavor and paired well with the juicy, savory patty. The tomatoes were not evenly spread throughout the burger. The burger tasted similar to a margarita pizza, so if that is your go-to choice of pizza, then this is the burger for you.
