Lots of restaurants will tell you that they have the best burger in town. But at Carytown Burger and Fries, they just might.
Owner Mike Barber daily buys the best fresh ground beef which he uses to grill your burger to order. This is not a fast food burger restaurant. Nothing gets cooked ahead of time and kept warm under a heat lamp. At Carytown Burger and Fries, you place your order. Then they cook it to your specifications.
Located at 3500 1/2 West Cary Street, Carytown Burger and Fries doesn’t grant you the luxury of great service where the server comes to your table to pamper you. Instead you go inside to the small counter area to place your order. From there you go wait either in their upstairs room or out on the covered patio that provides a nice outdoor eating experience in the warmer months, but is also covered and heated during the winter.
But not to worry, you may have to place your order inside, but the wait staff will bring it to your order to your table. And when they do you will be amazed at the portions and then the taste of your burger.
The family went there on a Saturday afternoon at the recommendation (or pleading) of the college boy. They were plenty busy but we still had no trouble placing our order and finding a seat outside.
Unless otherwise specified, the burgers are 1/3 lbs. of 100% Angus ground beef. They’re served on a sesame seed bun with the works, including lettuce, tomato, onion, mustard, mayo and pickles.
But to me, it doesn’t seem right to go to a place that’s famous for their burgers and just order the standard with just tomatoes and lettuce.
So I went with “The Greek Geek” which has Tzitziki sauce. Okay, I liked it, but had to look it up. It’s a Light and creamy cucumber and dill dressing. But the burger also had Feta cheese, roasted peppers, lettuce, tomato and onion. And, like all of the burgers at Carytown Burgers and Fries, it was huge. You could call it “My Big Fat Greek Burger.”
But don’t forget the “and fries” part. They’re great as well. And the portions are also very generous.
The rest of the family wasn’t quite so adventurous. But no one was disappointed.
So who is Mike Barber and why Carytown Burger and Fries? He’s serious about quality cooking and food. Not only does he have a degree in business as well as attending the Hotel and Restaurant School at Sierra Nevada College, he named his two golden retrievers “Burger and Fries.” He moved to Richmond in 1997.
Some of the awards received by Carytown Burger and Fries include being named Best Burger in town by several publications and being listed as one of the “50 Best Food Finds in Richmond” by Richmond Magazine.
Prices are reasonable for a great burger and fries. But the menu isn’t limited to just burgers. You can get soup and salad, or some great chili. Or there are options for chicken or fish and chips. You can also get any of their specialty burgers served as a veggie burger.
So don’t not go just because you don’t eat burgers.
Wait? You don’t eat burgers? That’s a shame, because Carytown Burger and Fries makes some great ones.
The original building for Carytown Burger and Fries was built as a toll house for Westham Plan Road, long before the Interstate came through town. So how can you miss with the charm of Carytown and one of the best, if not the very best burgers in town?
Carytown Burger and Fries also has caterings options to bring their great food to your event.
Website: http://www.carytownburgersandfries.com/
