Posted By: Cheeseburger Lover (06/01/2009 12:01:16 PM)
Comment: Can anyone tell how D's diner has business with it's nasty, sticky floors and uncleanly atmosphere? I know it is a greese pit, but why can't they clean it?

Posted By: Disappointed (08/08/2008 12:25:39 AM)
Comment: Sadly, Mike disappointed on a recent August evening. Yes, they tell us the burgers are always done to medium. This one seemed like it was barely warmed, not quite enough to dispel the fatty texture of uncooked ground beef; and the patty lacked enough flavor-imparting char. The lettuce had a bitter taste that didn't complement the meat. But the worst failure was the service. Not until I noted several others being served, who had entered and been seated well after our party, did I ask the server if our orders had gone astray. She replied that "we just figured out" that they had a problem with getting the orders to the cooks and that several orders had been lost for a while. A good server would have realized that something had gone astray when her customers were being served out-of-sequence (heck...they're BURGERS, and different ones don't take different amounts of time to prepare), and should have come to those whose orders were delayed to tell us...but no, all she could say was, "It's not my fault." Mike's legendary "no fries" policy has been breached a bit under the new ownership on Fridays. On other days the burgers include a choice of a macaroni or potato salad, or a bag of chips. I figured I could get chips anyplace, and so did my dining companion, so we got the salads, one of each. If the macaroni and potato salads we were served are typical, I'd say that fries should be served seven days a week; they were THAT tasteless. Burger City in Rohnert Park may not have the funky ambiance and the rough 'n ready crowd that frequents Mike's, but the food is better and I've never had an order go astray there. The basic Mike's Burger is bigger than the standard one at Burger City, but it's more expensive, too. And I think Burger City's tastes better. It seemed to me that Mike's is riding along on its reputation. Oh, yes...we wanted to sit at the counter where we could watch the cooks. But there were ANTS crawling around on the counter. We gave up after smashing several dozen of them, and the server didn't seem to care, just wiped them up, after which more of them crawled out from someplace under the napkin dispenser.

Posted By: Geep (03/08/2008 6:45:09 PM)
Comment: Mike's at the Crossroads has been sold to one of Mike's employees. Fries now available one day a week..or so I'm told. I keep missing that one day...

Posted By: Kim (15/07/2008 1:18:23 PM)
Comment: Best FAT Burger in Santa Rosa (and Sonoma County) is found at: John Barleycorns on Yulupa Avenue (cross street is Bethards) in the Longs Shopping Center. Now, my mate and I are extremely particular about quality and service (Disclosure: we WILL NOT re-frequent a place if we experience bad service or food. Period. snobs we are Not. I've been a waitress and we both work very hard for our meager incomes so want to choose wisely when we do go out to eat). REVIEW: Fat, juicy burger served with fries or side salad for about $10.00. We discovered by happenstance this somewhat funky place about 8 years ago when a friend & I were shopping in Bennett Valley and she had a Sonoma Express Card with Barleycorns on it. And I am so Grateful ever since!! Consistently High Quality Fat Juicy Burger Made to Order and Pleasant, Friendly Efficient Service. I like my Burgers FAAAT and a little Juicy - and for the past 8 years, they have done it every time, except once when it must've been an off night. I especially love the mushroom burger- the shrooms are saute'd perfectly and are delish w/ just a hint seasonings to enrich their flavor and come overflowing the top of the burger and onto your plate. You can also add grilled onions with the same result in flavor and texture and as of yet, never over cooked Most noticeable when you enter is a long bar that takes up half the restaurant running the length of the restaurant, couple of big screens- with the sound off -on two walls (thankfully they are always muted). But don't be put-off by this atmosphere ( i was the first time i went, but realized the food justified the visit), the food is awesome and you actually can hold and hear a conversation with your dinner guests. The dining area takes up the other half of the restaurant. Seating is available at tables for two & four (accommodations for larger parties is easily done by joining several tables together) and there is one large comfy booth near the entrance. They recently changed ownership and I can report that my mate bellied up and he found the same high quality and service as before- As an aside, when i am in Marin and have a hankering for a burger the only choice hands down is the Wild Fox (can be seen from 101 in Ignacio-behind burger king) for the same reason's as noted above.

Posted By: SL (24/05/2008 7:12:15 PM)
Comment: Jukes, Hamburgers (in Sausalito) makes excellent fries. Admittedly, I haven't been there in three or four years, but I doubt they've stopped making them. Great shakes, too. For my money, Hamburgers makes the best burgers I've ever had.

Posted By: jukes (13/04/2008 8:18:06 AM)
Comment: it's a bit of a drive and we found it by accident when a shop full of gorgeous crystal sculptures caught my eye in downtown Sausalito, but it's simply called "Hamburger" and it was the hugest and best I've ever tasted. Med rare perfect at my request, and a 1/8 inch slab of a nice white cheese on top, perfect burger (but.. no fries, and I think because the place is not much wider than the front door itself. Mouthwateringly revolving on a grill displayed in the window, the aroma beckons and in my case, I've not stopped thinking about driving down for another. Definitely worth a drive if you love burgers like I do!

Posted By: Wellie (27/02/2008 8:08:26 PM)
Comment: Nobody knows about HEALDSBURGER????? I was there for the first time and ordered a standard burger and they cooked it to my specifications perfectly- med rare. The bun was fresh, warm and lightly toasted. It is a generous burger and the bacon they used on my partner's burger was thick and smoky. The fries were fine but the sweet potato fries were great! They were crispy, crunchy and had a uniquely subtle seasoning shaken onto them after they were cooked. The chocolate shake was tasty yet a bit thin however, the gracious counter help made up for it. I don't think Taylor's or Mike's or anybody's is any better.

Posted By: hmmm (23/10/2007 6:04:37 PM)
Comment: i love the burgers and recently discovered that the toad in the hole has an exceptional one!...y'all should try it.

Posted By: Mac (02/10/2007 3:22:56 PM)
Comment: There is a new champ!! I just had the best burger ever!! at KC's Downtown Grill in Windsor, it blows away Mikes

Posted By: Jay (01/10/2007 11:11:24 AM)
Comment: Good comment on the cheese at Mikes, just one of several reasons NOT to eat there.He might have tasty burger meat, but the place and attitude go downhill from there. Way to many other great burger places to eat at, rather then suffer at mikes.

Posted By: shellbell (15/06/2007 11:51:12 AM)
Comment: Chubby's in SR is great but if you order the Gilroy you have to ask for x-tra garlic.....I was in Sonora at Chubbys.....tons of garlic which is what a Gilroy should be !!

Posted By: Aimala (10/01/2007 11:28:31 AM)
Comment: Mikes are great, but I think the cheese they use is...well...a bit cheesy! When I want a good burger, I'd like some good cheese to compliment it, not Cisco type buy-it-by-the-gross cheese. Don't get me wrong I love eating there, but I do think they could stand with some better cheese. A nice, thick sharp cheddar to be exact. I would also recommend Phyllis' Giant Hamburgers in Novato - they have a great selection of burgers of all kinds. I remember Quinley's in Petaluma: I liked their "Sonoma Burger" concept and thought it was awesome.

Posted By: Kathleen Anderson (05/01/2007 4:18:58 PM)
Comment: Andie's at the carwash across from Napa Premium Outlet is hands down the best hamburger since the Sequoia burgers of days past. I have driven past this place for years and finally tried it. Now it is top of the list. I like a burger put together well. Burgers are homemade perfection here! Happy Dog in Sonoma has made the most consistently great burger for the past 20 years...they are always the same!! We have to have one every few weeks along with fries and rootbeer milkshake!

Posted By: burgerlover (16/12/2006 6:37:22 PM)
Comment: This town still needs a good burger joint. What we do have, though, is restaurants that sell a good burger -- for a price. Sassafras has the best, I think -- good meat, cooked to order and of course good red wine to drink it with. Flavor has a very good one too -- it's what the owner eats most often, so it better be good -- and they have very good Moonlight beer to go with it.

Posted By: arcar (13/12/2006 2:22:29 PM)
Comment: Can't figure out why nobody has mentioned Ausiello's. There burgers are cooked the way you want, they're plenty big and fresh, and you can fix them up the way you like from the salad bar. Their fries and chili are awesome. Same goes for their grilled chicken burgers. Absolutely devine.

Posted By: Tom Clark (10/12/2006 2:54:39 PM)
Comment: Mikes is one of the BEST Stop at Fosters Freeze across the street get their GREAT Fries take them to Mikes Have a GREAT burger and GREAT fries, EASY

Posted By: jeff williams (01/12/2006 4:27:25 PM)
Comment: The Willow in Petaluma on petaluma blvd.Large great burgers hard to finish bring an apitite

Posted By: Michaela DeBiase (21/11/2006 11:00:35 AM)
Comment: You must try the burgers at Chubby's in the Market Place right next door to Panda Express(their potstickers are killer). Chubby's doesn't seem like much but definately an old fashioned diner atmosphere but so far the burgers are really good. Oh and another great burger is the Bruschetta Burger and garlic fries at Applebees......Now that is a fabulous burger.....a must try.........cooked to perfection......

Posted By: Valerie (05/11/2006 7:08:27 PM)
Comment: El Derado, hope I spelled that right, Kitchen in Sonoma has the BEST French Fries. They call them Pomme Frites. I go there just for the fries. They serve them on a cloth towel in a bowl. YUM!

Posted By: PR (05/11/2006 12:16:14 PM)
Comment: Hamburger Ranch is definitely mediocre at best.

Posted By: Heather Irwin (03/11/2006 2:16:40 PM)
Comment: Mike, I think you're my biggest fan. Or something. You know, I love that folks are pumping/pimping their own stuff. It all comes down to opinion. I did post the top reader favorites...which included everything above the "surprise entries" after that, it's a free for all, and i think folks should decide for themselves. I still think Chippery rocks. You like Mikes. Maybe we should have a burger off. :)

Posted By: Mike (no, not that Mike) (03/11/2006 1:52:35 PM)
Comment: Heather, see what I mean? Now you've got somebody pumping some joint that didn't even make the top 36. Why don't you have a vote and list the top three/five? 1)Mike's 2) Mike's 3) Gayle's 4) Buns n Burgers 5) Barleycorns

Posted By: Ashley (03/11/2006 11:46:11 AM)
Comment: The Last Day Saloon has amazing burgers. Try the black and blue burger it has blue cheese on it and a fresh sourdough bun. They are now open for lunch too. A cheeseburger will cost you about $7.50

Posted By: Tim (02/11/2006 5:06:25 PM)
Comment: D's diner and Sequoia serve frozen costco patties. Don't think they should even be on the list!!!!

Posted By: Tim (02/11/2006 5:05:52 PM)
Comment: D's diner and Sequoia serve frozen costco patties. Don't think they should even be on the list!!!!

Posted By: Bob (02/11/2006 3:42:37 PM)
Comment: Mikes is the BEST! Not having fries makes Mikes uncommon, but the burgers compensate for their absence. Having said that, I wish they had fries!

Posted By: Mike (02/11/2006 3:12:08 PM)
Comment: Heather - Why all the political correctness? You've ruined the burger ratings by including 36 joints. Some of the places you listed are terrible. Stick with a vote of your readers and list the results. Mike's, no contest.