It is hard to be excited about eating food that has a Frankenstein reference attached to it. For example, genetically modified foods are often referred to as “Frankenfoods” since they are born in labs just like that scary monster Frankenstein was. And then there were those ill-conceived hot dogs that were around in the 80’s called FrankenStuff – the ones with chilli and/or cheese injected inside the dog. Remember that? Gross. I remember one of my friends eating close to an entire package of the cheese variety in one sitting. Those preservative-laden dogs probably still reside in some remote corner of his stomach. With all these unappetizing things in mind, I was really hesitant to try out a burger place in Benicia called FrankenBurger that opened up back in March.
Even though I had heard really good things about FrankenBurger, I was a little skeptical. I was convinced that it would be a gimmicky place with a Frankenstein theme and some over-the-top stuffed patty with a bolt driven through the top of the burger in lieu of a frilled sandwich pick. My imagination was working overtime as I made the 40 minute drive to the little town of Benicia – a place I don’t often visit. I have lived in the bay area for most of my life and this was going to be the second or third time that I had been to the quaint bayside town. It is a little out of the way and for the most part doesn’t have much to offer other than a few shops, restaurants and views across the bay of oil refineries and the deteriorating mothball fleet of old warships that are slowly poisoning the Suisun bay. Sure, there are some cool Victorian homes and the people are pretty nice, just not a place I would normally go to hang out. But, the almighty burger was calling my name. Hello Benicia!
Unless you know where to find FrankenBurger, you might not know it exists and walk right by it. The small burger joint consists of a small red and white tiled counter just inside the brick arches of the Old Tannery Building. There are no signs on the exterior, just a banner and sandwich board for the newly opened Frankenstein Tavern – another venture by the owner of FrankenBurger. Someone obviously has a crush on Frankenstein. The menu is the standard burgers, dogs and sandwiches and most items are prefixed with Franken, like Frankenbird for chicken, Frankenchili…you get the idea, and that was making me nervous as I decided on what burger to get. The menu even proclaims that they have “Monstrously Good Food”.
There are two options for burgers, the FrankenBurger Classic or the FrankenBurger BIG – both are available in one-third, one half or two-third pound. The Classic is your basic burger with cheese while the BIG is the basic burger with your choice of cheeses, peppers, bacon and other special toppings. I went with the one-third pound BIG ($6.75) with cheddar cheese and bacon. The manager told me more than a few times that they are proud to serve only the freshest ingredients and most are delivered daily. The fresh Angus is never frozen, the veggies are hand cut and Foccacia rolls from Panorama Bakery are dropped off fresh every day. I peered into the clean kitchen and watched the cook work his magic while I waited. I was happy to see him drop two uncooked strips of bacon on the griddle next to the grill – no pre-cooked bacon here.
The BIG was delivered to my table in the sparsely decorated dining area. It was a really tall burger, the kind that can dislocate your jaw as you try to take a bite. It was presented in a plastic basket and was cut in half with two long wooden picks keeping it all together. The BIG looked great as it stood precariously like wooden blocks in a game of Jenga. I had to do a little rearranging and scrunching to make sure the BIG would stay together. The first attempt at a bite was difficult but finally managed to make it work. Juicy, flavorful and fresh – that’s how I would describe the BIG. The meat was well seasoned, juicy and cooked perfectly – they cook all burgers medium unless specified. The crispy bacon mixed well with the mild cheddar and the pickles, tomato and shredded lettuce all were cool and definitely fresh. I especially enjoyed their pickles – crunchy and sour. The Foccacia bun was toasted just right with crispy edges and a soft center that had a subtle hint of rosemary. The secret sauce was subtle and didn’t overpower the other ingredients.
The FrankenBurger was a really tasty burger and was in not gimmicky in any way. The only gimmick they have at FrankenBurger is using quality fresh ingredients at decent prices. You won’t have to give up a limb or take out a second mortgage on your house to have a meal here. In addition to the fresh burger ingredients, they also hand cut their fries and onion rings – which are called FrankenRings, of course. Once I got over the whole “Franken” thing, I enjoyed the food and was in burger heaven with the BIG. I now have a good reason to go to Benicia and I am going to make a point of it whenever I am in the area. I hope they get a sign out front so other people can find this hidden gem.
RATING: 4.5 out of 5
FrankenBurger
131 First Street
Benicia, CA 95050
(707) 747-9800
Hours: 7 Days a week 11:00AM – 8:00PM
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Nice write-up – you got my mouth watering.
Don’t know when I’ll find myself in Benicia, but it’s on my Google Burger Map!
Fantastic burgers!