55 years or so ago there used to be a small burger place between Lynnwood and Everett on Highway 99 heading south. I forgot what the name was but they had the best burgers in Washington State. I can still remember how they taste.
They expanded and the place went to hell.
That is close to the area where I work. There are a lot of decent burger places in that area, but no great burgers to be had.
I think there may be a direct correlation between eliminating smoking in public places and the decline of diner food. Sorry to say, but the dude I want cooking my burger is a guy over 45, over 250lbs, sweaty...and with a cigarette in his lips. I want him to be surly, call the waitresses, 'hun,' and act like he's doing me a favor while cooking a burger from sub-grade, fatty beef. That's what a burger is supposed to be--we don't eat the damn things because it's healthy, we eat it because it's delicious.
A great burger should have cheddar (not american--a good cheddar with fat dripping out of it), a patty that still has pink inside, a tomato (which I'll take off, but I like when it leaves seeds and slime), bacon, and good dill pickles (none of those stupid bread-and-butter pickles). Bonus points awarded for a correctly cooked over-easy egg and avocado.
By far the best burger I've had was several years ago before Lunchbox Laboratories moved their shop from my neighborhood. I ordered an ala carte dork (duck and pork) with provolone and cheddar with bacon. They used four full strips of Hempler's bacon. Granted, the thing cost $14, but it was worth it.
Oh, since nobody has mentioned it, the best burritos in the seattle area are in greenwood at Gorditos. They are fresh cooked meats and the size of a newborn. Definitely get them 'wet' which means they put enchilada sauce on them with cheese and put the finished product under a broiler. Try the prawn burrito which comes with fajita style onions and peppers. They are huge, but heat up well, so get the jumbo.
