The Burger Before The Burger

Jan 23

By Lindsay

There was a time before celebrity chefs competed on TV + customers tweeted restaurant reviews while on their second course. There was a time before ultra-modern fast food restaurants existed + we wanted foie gras on our grilled red meat. (Mind OUT of the gutter, thank you very much.) Yes, there was a time, loyal readers, when George’s Bar + Restaurant in the Virginia Highlands was touted as the “best hamburger in town.”

George’s was a staple in Atlanta before burgers were sexy. The beer is cold, the burgers are hot, the menu is simple + you don’t have to look like you are going to prom to get a table. In fact, I rolled out of bed, put on shoes, got in the car and sat down on George’s heated patio yesterday + didn’t even think twice about not wearing makeup – something I would definitely have had on to eat at almost any other burger joint in Midtown Atlanta. It was just what I had in mind.

This hole-in-the-wall has a rich Atlanta history + has had some seriously exciting celebrity sitings! Check them out here: Where’s the beef, George?!

Slick + I ordered up a pitcher of Miller Lite from our friendly, heavily-tattooed waitress + casually perused the pretty cut-and-dry burger options on George’s menu.

I ordered the 5 oz. Bacon + Jack Burger w/ fries…

…and Slick got the 8 oz. Bleu Cheese Burger w/ fries.

Everything tasted great. The burgers were really simple, cooked well, and best of all – they were cheap.

There is a time and place for everything, and frankly, there’s a time when you want your burger to be a burger - not a supporting cast member for a musical at the Fox. Sometimes you just need greasy comfort food w/o the frills, and when you do, George’s is about as good as you can get.

For all the other times…you know my heart belongs to Bocado.