It's Burger Week - Rocky's Crown Pub

A few months back I received a very pleasant email from Colin, among other things he wondered why I didn't have many burger posts....I really didn't have a good answer. Which got me thinking.....why not a week of burgers? And now with Cathy's help, it looks like we'll have a work-week of burgers! A real mixed bag of burgers. So get the Lipitor out, let's get rolling. Burgers from Monday to Friday is dedicated to Colin....I hope that you did find a good burger out there.

Well what can I say about Rocky's? It's a Pacific Beach institution, a little pub located on the corner of Ingraham Street and La Playa avenue.

And when I mean little, I mean little, just a few tables, and the bar. When we arrived on a recent Saturday morning at 1030am the place was already packed. There was an interesting cross section of people of all ages.

Luckily, the Missus and I managed to snag a table. I love the menu, well calling it a menu may be stretching it a bit; there are four burgers(1/3lb Hamburger - $4.25, 1/3lb Cheeseburger - $4.75, 1/2lb Hamburger - $5.25, 1/2 lb Cheeseburger - $5.75) and Fries($2.50) on the chalkboard, that's it....no "Vietnamese Menu Overload" here!

Rocky's is the sort of local hang-out where you've got to know the "rules"...there ain't no waiters, if you're sitting at a table and waiting for someone to take your order, your going to wait a while. You need to walk up to the bar, and hope someone acknowledges your existence so you can place your order. You'll place your order and give your name which is written on a post-it note and passed to the closet small kitchen in the back. You better listen up for your name to be called, otherwise some hungry patron may get your burger.

Witness the 1/2lb burger:

Yep, there's no secret sauce, bleu cheese, bacon, mushrooms, monkey-style, blackened-ahi, tofu, kobe beef, have it your way, thing going on here. It's just a burger, hand formed, not pressed too hard, so the burger is rather tender, juicy, beefy, and pretty much just how it should be. As with many "bar burgers" you add the condiments, the pickles, onions, lettuce, and tomato are placed on the top of the bun when the burger is delivered. The burger is also almost unseasoned, so you'll have to work it out yourself as well. It's just a good burger!

The Missus and I each had a 1/2 lb Burger and shared a basket of fries:

The fries were fine, crisp and not oily. They were also just barely salted.

At about this point we managed to scarf down the rest of the meal....people were milling about waiting for seats to open up. There's nothing more uncomfortable than having a dozen drooling people staring at you while you eat, and they weren't salivating over our food, they were all drooling over our table! So we left them to fight over our seats. Still it's a mighty fine burger, and a nice way to start burger week, don't you think?

I think I've covered as much as I could about the burgers at Rocky's...but one last thing, get the 1/2lb burger, the 1/3 lb burger is kinda puny..........you'll thank me later!

Rocky's Crown Pub
3786 Ingraham St
San Diego, CA 92109

(858) 273-9140

Comments

[Lynnea]

Sometimes simple burgers are best. Hodads in OB makes yummy burgers.

[nhbilly]

I love burgers and fudruckers - medium rare please! ;-)

[Trent]

Monkey-style burger is immensely strong, and immune to nearly any weapon. When it's properly used, it's almost invincible!

[Colin]

That weekend I emailed you I burgered at Waterfront and the Linkery. The linkery's burger improved from the last time I had it, using a bun instead of their rustic toasted bread. I think the linkery's burger was fine, but it's got a little too much going on. Pineapple and eggs and onions are a little too much. Condiments should compliment the burger, and send it in a specific direction. Instead, it overwhelmed the burger and confused its flavor.

The waterfront, while unabashedly plain, was very flavorful and perfectly cooked.

And thanks for the suggestions and shoutout. I'm totally famous now.

[Marisa]

Please say Lefty's in North Park is on your list to visit... It may be a pizza joint, but they have the best darn burgers and fries... I've heard they boil the fries the night before then fry them when ordered, in any case they are fantastic!

[The Office Goat]

Wow. It's been a few years since I've been to Rocky's, but I could swear that our burgers _always_ came "sauced-up" ... but we always ate around 8pm after mountain biking. I distinctly remember the discussions as to what (and how much) the bartender/chef had put on the burger to make them taste so great.

[Captain Jack]

Hey Bro,

I just love Rocky's, simple beefy goodness.

Happy Holidays

[Kirk]

Hi Lynnea - Yep, everybody knows about Hodads.....

Hi Billy - I woulda' never thought that you'd be a "fuddy"? LOL!

Hi Trent - So who has the more powerful "Burger-foo"....monkey style vs animal style! Happy Holidays!

Hi Colin - I'm glad you found some burgers. Thanks for the inspiration!

Hi Marisa - Well Lefty's wasn't, at least not for burgers....I've only had pizza there. Guess I need to give burgers at Lefty's a try! BTW, the Missus was ooh-ing, and aah-ing at your creations:

http://www.onebyone.typepad.com/

Hi TOG - So what "extra" were they putting on your burger to make it taste so good?

Hi CJ - Yep, good simple burger!

[The Office Goat]

I always thought it was just a ketchup/mustard/mayo combo, but maybe the magic was all in the ratios?

[Kirk]

Hi TOG - Does sound good....we've gotten our burgers plain each time we visited though....

[Didi]

Hmmm, I love the Rocky's burger. It's always a hectic place to try and get a place to sit though. Worth it for the burgers.

The burger at Lefty's is good but not as good as Rocky's.

[Kirk]

Hi Didi - Yes, finding a unoccupied seat can be a challenge. Says something about the burgers there. Thanks for the info on Lefty's, I may still give it a try!

[Jared]

Oh, come now. As small and hectic as Rocky's is - it is BY FAR the absolute best burger in all of San Diego county. Period. End of story. No one else can even come close.

Of course, Nessie's is nearly as good - but if I am not mistaken, it is just over the county line. ;)

[jane and john]

Used to live in PB - brought my husband to Rocky's for the burger and a beer. Still the best place and people couldn't have been friendlier. We like that there is such a cross section of people - locals,beach people, even a few "suits". Rocky and her staff are the best!

[Kirk]

Hi J&J - Yes, Rocky's makes a good basic burger.