Nuevo Grill & Cantina

Outstanding BBQ bacon cheeseburger with excellent, crispy onion rings at Nuevo Grill!

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Eastbound Bar & Grill

Recently tried Eastbound Bar & Grill in beautiful downtown Lakeside! We absolutely fell in love with this place! I really like a good loaded fries type dish so we went in for one of their “Skillet Fries” creations. This is the Carne Asada Chipotle Cheese. Fries blanketed with melted cheddar jack, chipotle sauce and carne asada. Outstanding! Also shown below is The Rodeo burger. Fatty half pounder with cheese, bacon, BBQ sauce and two crispy onion rings. And you can’t go wrong with 26 beers on tap! There’s something for everyone here.

Jack in the Box

This so-called Brisket Burger at JIB was surprisingly good!

Marinade on Main

This stunning burger is one of the best things I’ve put in my mouth at Marinade on Main! Made with a perfectly grilled hand formed beef patty, blanketed with melted cheese; crispy carnitas; pico de gallo; and guacamole. Outstanding!

Boll Weevil

Super delicious pastrami burger at the Weev!

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

Such a forgettable burger I can’t even remember what it was! Not sure what I was thinking considering I have access to many outstanding craft burgers right here in Ramona.

Marinade on Main

Lately I have been enjoying some great burgers in Ramona from some of our town’s well-known establishments/bars. Of all my visits to Marinade On Main though I’ve never tried their burger, until recently.

I ordered their “Signature Burger” and it was just outstanding! Farm raised chuck angus beef patty, cheddar, onion bacon jam, arugula, tomato, pickle and garlic aioli. Comes with hand-cut fries or pasta salad, $14.50. A farm fresh egg, avocado or bacon can be added to any burger or sandwich.

What stands out about this burger is its simplicity. The beef really shines through it all and it’s very clear to me that Marinade is using beef of a remarkable quality. From my understanding it’s a grass fed angus beef from a prairie farm in northern California.

The onion bacon jam is really good! Slightly sweet and smokey tasting. What comes on the burger was difficult for me to discern on its own so I’d recommend requesting some extra on the side.

Bun was an excellent bakery brioche style that was lightly toasted and stayed in tact throughout. Unfortunately the bun circumference was slightly larger than the beef patty. I like to see a more proportional bun/beef ratio.

Tremendous job from all the staff! I always see everyone working so hard and it’s very evident to me how much pride they take in the restaurant.

Way Point Saloon

Outstanding dinner recently at Way Point Saloon / Molly Malones / Up the Hill Grill / whatever you want to call it…

Probably one of the most remarkable burger creations in town, and my personal favorite, is the ‘Maple Bourbon Bacon Burger’. A half pound pure beef patty is seared on the grill then basted with a maple syrup/brown sugar/cayenne pepper/bourbon glaze. It all seeps into the meat while it finishes cooking and gets slightly caramelized on the edges. What sends this burger over the top has to be the mound of deep fried red onions & jalapeños! Outstanding flavor combinations and textures going on here.

There are a lot of great burgers around town but this one has always been a standout for me. Highly recommended.

Cheers of Ramona

Outstanding burger at Cheers of Ramona recently! This one is not on their regular printed menu, but available upon request. Called the “Big Matt”, it’s modeled after the venerable Big Mac. Made with two quarter pound beef patties, two slices of American cheese, lettuce, pickle and thousand island dressing (special sauce), all on an excellent, bakery fresh brioche bun. Only $9, served with fries, rings or tots.

I have to say that I’m really a big fan of the quarter pound beef patty, even when stacked two high. There’s something about this thinner beef form that is more tasty than a chubby, fatty patty. It must be the grilled surface area to beef ratio. Thinner patties definitely have a better mouth feel with more flavor and texture.

If you’re like me and have the occasional urge for a Big Mac in your mouth, do yourself a favor and spend a couple dollars more at Cheers and try the “Big Matt”! You won’t be disappointed. You’ll actually taste the beef! And be warned, you might need to take a shower afterwards.

Grub Burger Bar

My favorite burger at Grub Burger Bar is called “You’re my Boy Blue”! Made with crumbled blue cheese, blue cheese spread, cracked peppercorn seasoning, balsamic caramelized onions, mater and arugula. Anything combining blue cheese and red meat is going to be a hit with me! I’ve had many versions of blue cheese burgers throughout SoCal and this one is definitely at the top!

Also tried their mac & cheese side with bacon. Not the hottest or best mac I’ve had, but tasty nonetheless.