The Experience: Burger Weekly has reported on burgers in Los Angeles on a number of occasions before. For some time we even had a dedicated Los Angeles Burgermeister. But it’s been almost a year since I personally invaded the West Coast to try their burger wares, and one burger in particular has gone noticeably un-devoured. That’s why, after flying into LA, in preparation for my drive up the Pacific Coast Highway, I finally set foot in Father’s Office.
The system at Father’s Office is a little different. You order at the bar and accept that you can make no substitutions on your burger. It comes topped with a combo of maytag bleu and gruyere cheese, a heaping helping of arugula, and caramelized onions served on a sandwich roll bun. Johnny from the Julian Smith videos walked us through the process, which was cool as a fan of said videos.
Burger Ordered: The Office Burger
The Taste: Let’s start with the patty. It came medium rare as I ordered it, and it was juicy as all hell. It was rich with flavor. My dining partner and I had differing opinions about the cheese and onions. I found them to be distinct and tasty without being overwhelming. She was overwhelmed. Your mileage may vary depending on your sensitivity to bleu cheese.
I took issue with the bun and the arugula. The bun messed up the aesthetic of the burger for me, and at first I thought I was being errantly served a chicken sandwich. The arugula was so plentiful that it made me feel like a rabbit. These things made the burger feel incredibly Californian to me, but they aren’t my idea of a knock-out hamburger.
The Verdict: Father’s Office undoubtedly serves up beef worth trying, but I didn’t ride the wave of hype that brought me to the joint after eating the Rabbit Food covered meal. People go crazy for this place. I liked it, but think there are probably better burgers in LA.
Father’s Office is located at 1018 Montana Avenue in Los Angeles, California.
