Stu Smith's Burger Bible
Bagdad By The Bay really likes food, and takes some liberties when imparting
wisdom and experience with food upon others. Having owned and operated several
restaurants over a quarter century and as the principal of this site, let me say that one
of the most difficult and complete meals offered is the seemingly simple hamburger.
If prepared and served right, it contains just about every part of the food pyramid and
when done with enthusiasm and skill, it can be a great meal in itself. I’ve made a
conscious effort to list everyone in the food business who takes a shot at making a
burger and here I offer it up to you as Stu Smith’s Burger Bible…
| Place | Location | Phone | Grade | Pluses & Minuses |
| Baghdad Cafe | 2295 Market St. | 621 4434 | B | good people watching, so-so fixings |
| Balboa Cafe | Fillmore. | B | fine ingredients swell folks | |
| Barney's | 3344 Steiner | 544 0320 | B | good makings, inconsistent service |
| 4138 24th | 282 7770 | B | ||
| Bashful Bull | 1222 Noriega | 564 1584 | C+ | great location, good vibes, so-so |
| Bayside | 1787 Union | 673 1565 | C | loud, yuppie, mediocre |
| Beach Chalet | 1000 Gt Hiway | 386 8439 | C | location, views, less than average |
| Beeps | 1051 Ocean | 386 8439 | B- | just average |
| Bell Tower | Polk & Pacific | B+ | good stuff, one of a kind owner | |
| Bistro Burger | 343 Sansome | 989 7566 | B | good ingredients, too rushed |
| Bob's Broiler | 1601 Polk | 474 6161 | C+ | an older crowd with few expectations |
| Buena Vista | 2765 Hyde | 474 5044 | B+ | superb people watching, good fixings |
| Burger Joint | 807 Valencia | 824 3494 | B+ | good ingredients, well prepared |
| Burgermeister | 86 Carl | 566 1274 | B+ | good makings, fixings, preparations |
| Joe's Cable Car | 4320 Mission | 334 6699 | B | good stuff, expensive, poor service |
| Cafe Flore | 2298 Market | 621 8579 | B | great people looking, good fixings |
| Chow | 215 Church | 552 2469 | B+ | fine fixings, prices, preparations |
| Clown Alley | 42 Colombus | 421 2540 | B+ | a long run, funky & fun |
| Curley's | 1624 Powell | 392 0144 | B | North Beach tradition |
| Delancey St | 600 Embarcadero | 512 5179 | B | Velveeta is an option here! |
| Denny's | 1700 Post | 563 1400 | b | mass produced but ok |
| 495 Beach | 776 3700 | B | better than above for some reason | |
| Double Play | 2401 16th | 621 9859 | B | not this joints long suit |
| Enrico's | 504 Broadway | 982 6223 | B+ | great people watching, fine stuff |
| Flipper's | 492 Hayes | 552 8880 | B+ | good ingredients, treated right |
| 1398 9th Ave | 664 5500 | B+ | like above | |
| Fog City | 1300 Battery | 982 2000 | B | diner piece of a well run chain |
| Gio's | 531 Commercial | 362 0800 | B+ | simple with good makings |
| Gordon Biersch | 2 Harrison | 243 8246 | B | should be better, but beer is king here |
| Grubstake | 1525 Pine | 673 8268 | B+ | made well, long hours, fine fixings |
| Hard Rock | Pier 39 | 885 1611 | B | mass produced without care |
| Harry's | 2020 Fillmore | 921 1000 | B+ | the legacy of a master |
| Holding Co. | 2 Embarcadero | 986 0797 | A | good stuff, well prepared, fun |
| Houston's /font> | 1800 Montgomery | 392 9280 | B+ | great for a chain, good service |
| It's Tops | 1801 Market | 431 6395 | B | fun, funky and tiny |
| Izzy's | 3349 Steiner | 563 0487 | B+ | good fixings and people |
| Johnny Rockets | 81 Jefferson | 693 9120 | B | ego burger |
| 2201 Chestnut | 931 6258 | B | the one on Fillmore ain't listed | |
| Leopard | 500 Sacramento | 982 6822 | B+ | historic, good stuff, fun |
| Liverpool Lil's | 2492 Lyon | 921 6664 | B+ | great stuff, well prepared |
| Lori's Diner | 336 Mason | 392 8646 | B | an honest attempt |
| 149 Powell | 677 9999 | B | mediocre fixings | |
| 501 Powell | 981 1950 | B | mediocre service | |
| Lou's Pier 47 | 300 Jefferson | 771 5687 | B+ | good stuff, jazz & outdoors |
| Max's | 311 3rd | 546 6297 | B | good stuff & service, pricey |
| 398 Geary | 646 8600 | B | inconsistent | |
| 601 Van Ness | 771 7300 | B | poor attitude | |
| Mel's Drive-In | 1050 Van Ness | 292 6357 | C+ | mediocre, poor service |
| 3355 Geary Blvd | 387 2244 | C+ | more | |
| 2165 Lombard St | 921 3039 | C+ | and more | |
| Mission | C+ | and even more | ||
| Miz Brown's | 3401 California | 752 2039 | B+ | great fixings, service & prices |
| Momo's | 760 2nd | 227 8660 | C | inconsistent |
| Moose's | 1652 Stockton | 989 7800 | A | finest stuff, service & people |
| Mo's | 1322 Grant | 7883779 | B+ | the way it's supposed to be |
| 772 Folsom | 957 3779 | B | not as good as the original | |
| Original Joe's | 144 Taylor | 775 4877 | A | biggest, best and most fun |
| Orphan Andy's | 3991A 17th St | 982 0596 | B | tired feel, so so stuff |
| Perry's | 1944 Union | 922 9022 | A | the old fashioned way |
| 185 Sutter | 989 6895 | good fixings and prep | ||
| Pier 23 | Pier 23 | 362 5125 | B | great outside location |
| Pig & Whistle | 2801 Geary | 885 4779 | B+ | fun place, good stuff |
| Polkers | 2226 Polk | 885 1000 | B | over run with bad 'tudes' |
| Rendezvous | 1760 Polk | 441 2233 | B+ | good stuff, price & location |
| Rex Cafe | 2323 Polk | 441 2244 | C | bad attitudes, poor service |
| Rickenbackers | 133 2nd | 543 3498 | B | past its prime, but still good |
| Rocco's | 1131 Folsom | 554 0522 | B | good stuff & staff |
| Slider's | 449 Castro | 431 3288 | B | good stuff, fix it yourself |
| 1204 Sutter | 885 3288 | B | tiny bit demented | |
| Sparky's | 242 Church | 626 8666 | C | don't go sober! |
| Stars | 555 Golden Gate | 861 7827 | B | should be a lot better |
| Tappe's | 1085 Sutter | 474 2077 | C | this menu is too ambitious |
| Ramp | 855 China Basin | 621 2378 | B | totally inconsistent |
| Washington Square Bar & Grill | 1707 Powell | 982 8123 | B | up and coming |
| Whiz | 700 S Van Ness | 824 5888 | B+ | so so, nothing exciting |
| Zeke's | 600 3rd | 392 5311 | B+ | good stuff, good sports bar |
| Zuni | 1658 Market | 552 2522 | C+ | small, overpriced |