Jump to content

Elevation Burger, A Virginia-Based, Quick-Serve Hamburger Franchise Expanded To Multiple States and Countries


Recommended Posts

The timing of this thread was perfect, as I needed a place to take a buddy to lunch, and he was entering week two of an extended visit from his so-strictly-vegetarian-they-don't-talk-about-meat in-laws. Hans' crew assembles a pretty good sandwich...the toppings are good, crisp and cool, the special sauce is tangy and tasty, and he uses a good cheese. The burger patty itself was decent and juicy, but didn't really express the quality of the meat, I think for one reason: it had no char. None whatsoever. Dudes - try searing just a little crust on that puppy and it'll sing. Really. Without it, the meat is merely tender but nondescript.

The fries were glistening wet with olive oil but didn't actually taste greasy. Thinly cut, they're neither boardwalk fries nor Belgian frites...just tasty lunch fries. Loved the mini-cookies. Elevation has a lot going for it, and is a credible alternative to brand Five.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife and I recently had lunch there. I had the Phat burger, her the Veggie #1, and we split the fries and chocolate shake. I was very impressed. The burger was two small patties of good beef cooked to well with no char. Some char would have improved it as would cooking to specification (medium) and a larger patty. My wife enjoyed the veggie which I did not taste. The fries were thin, not at all greasy, and had a nice hint of olive oil. The shake was excellent.

I don't know what the complaints on pricing are about. That lunch cost $15. That's a shade above McDonalds pricing.

The restaurant itself is nice. Service was friendly and it did look like Hans basically hired the local high school. Most of the patrons looked to be young families.

As others have pointed it, Elevation compares very well to In N Out. They are extremely similar and I mean that in a complimentary way. Elevation has higher quality beef and thus would get a slight edge. It is better that five guys, much better. However it is not as good as the burger at Harry's (especially when they served Wagyu beef) . While Harry's is not a very fair comparison, it sets the bar and provides some ideas for potential improvements. A larger single patty allows for the burger to be cooked more like a steak with the seared exterior and a rarer interior. I believe the absolute best preparation to be a 1/3-1/2lb patty with a seared, charred exterior and a medium rare center. This just can't be done with the smaller patties.

As for the Wagyu vs Virginia Kobe branding silliness; it's just marketing and I certainly know what I'm getting with American Kobe beef.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Heh... the other day I signed on to post about Guajillo and found it already on the first page. Today I sign on to post about Elevation and find IT on the first page. Clearly the boards respond to my every telepathic command. :)

Thing the first: the milkshakes are top notch. Excellent ice cream, perfectly mixed. The texture is thick but drinkable and very, very creamy.

Second, the fries. Their flavor is way above par. In addition to the hint of olive you get with them, the quality of the potatoes really shines. That said, the texture is slightly below that of Five Guys. I find the fries at Five Guys to be perfectly crisp on the outside and creamy on the inside (like having RTS steak char on the outside and grandma's mashed potatoes on the inside). But Elevation definetely has them beat on ingredient quality and overall potato flavor.

As stated before, hamburgers are my favorite food. Five Guys is my favorite hamburger joint (and no, I have NOT found any dimishment in quality since they exploded into an uberly multiple-location chain). Therefore, any hamburger I have that's NOT Five Guys is undoubtedly weighed against that ultimate paddy sensation.

And now what you've all been waiting for - my review of the burgers. They are good. Very good. Hans Hess says he loses sleep over the quality of his beef, and I believe him. What really draws me there, though, are that his burgers just make you feel BETTER than those at Five Guys. Given their commitment to ingredient quality and overall cardiac health, this is no surprise. Because of an appearance-conscious fiancee, I find myself at Elevation more than Five Guy's these days (three trips in two months).

If you're looking for a quick and delicious lunch, then Elevation is definetely the way to go. You'll leave there feeling GOOD in a spiritual sense (if not culinary). The ingredients come alive. If, however, you're looking for an all-american burger experience where grease and "Oog, I can't get out of my chair"-ness (in a zen way) is what you're looking for, along with the best french fries this side of the Seine*, then Five Guys is still the way to go. Plus, a properly ordered Five Guys burger is the textbook example of Type I cooking.

*Yes, I'm aware that "French" fries originated in Belgium, so you needn't bother correct me. :lol:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

My wife and I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner. The food was quite good, the fries could have been cooked a little longer since they were a little limp (sort of reminded me a thinner version of 5 guys - I would love to know where Dan finds crisp 5 Guys fries). All of that being said, Hans did not make the greatest impression on my wife when he called her Katie instead of Kate. A huge pet peeve of her's since she is a bit older than 13 (in her mind the age when women named Katherine should no longer go by Katie).

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For me, one of the things that makes any restaurant unique - is not only the food, but also the people - and in this regard Hans Hess IS unique. As the Don Rockwell board can read for themselves, Hans Hess is passionate about his burger, fries, quality, and the entire process of getting a fresh burger and fresh fries out to his customers. When I first met Hans, I had this entire "build-up" to the situation from my boyfriend, who knew him. We were meeting a bunch of people at Elevation Burger for dinner. Hans took a break and joined us for a few minutes. I must say, that within the course of those few minutes, Hans exuded passion , committment and creativity. When we've returned, I've heard this man talk about the potato process, and how he wants to store them in a cooler for a period of time before he serves them, and what is the best approach to do that? I've heard detailed discussions on the supplier process in the area and the trial and tribulations of being a "one-stop" /unique place, and not a chain with more volume.

I want to also add, that I just DON'T go to ANY fast food places. The reason I don't go is that my stomach cannot take it. If I have a Big MAc, or anything from Five Guys, sure enough an hour or two later, I've got grease overload and my stomach is churning. So, I've shunned fast food for years. I've dismissed it from my RADAR entirely. I'd rather starve, and I have. So, I had some serious concerns to try the Elevation burger when I first went, thinking " Will this be another episode ?" I had hoped the organic beef would make a difference, but I was still concerned. And I am happy to report, that NO ISSUES. To me, this means, there is actual Beef in the burger and that whatever process Elevation Burger uses to cook - that its not greasy, and makes my stomach happy.

What I can say is that this guy wants to serve a great burger and great fries, and he is passionate about it. Sit down and talk to him about his ideas, because he has tons of them.

Meanwhile, Elevation Burger is the only fast food place I will go to. So enjoy - and have a shake, burger, and fries. They are awesome.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It's a gorgeous Columbus Day, so I figured it was high time I biked out to Elevation Burger.

I started with the Cheeseburger, my measure of any good restaurant, and was not let down at all. Rarely has it ever been the cheese that makes the cheeseburger; normally, the cheese is there to contribute to that globby texture that gets overwhelmed by beef taste. I could taste how good the cheddar was- it tasted like it was older than my bike.

I forgot to order fries, so after finishing the burger I got back in line. To continue with the general lean of the thread, these fries are very, very good. Each time I dipped into a fresh little white cup of ketchup, I experienced that same slight sadness that came with marring a new cylinder of play-doh. It was just too perfect to destroy, but in the end it had to happen. Very, very good fries.

Fries and a "boutique" root beer from the fridge were done, but... I was still hungry. Plus, well, I had to bike back across a WHOLE COUNTY* and I needed fuel. I got the "half the guilt", which is one meat patty with one veggie patty. You have a choice in veggie patties, too. You either have the one that tastes like meat or the one that tastes like veggie. How provocative for the "Vegans vs. Omnivores" thread. I got the "tastes like meat" one, expecting it to be subverted by the meat on top. Not only did no one raise an eyebrow at me going through the line a third time, the veggie held up nicely. It tasted a bit like hamburger polenta and had a nice crusty shell.

My only criticism is that I ordered bleu cheese dressing for the second burger and it didn't have much of a bleu cheese flavor to it. I'll grant that it's dressing and not the actual cheese, but there's not much of a point if you're thinking "what this burger needs to taste like the ones I make is bleu cheese."

Is this a better burger than Five Guys? Hoy... well, it's not quite better than the original Five Guys I used to get in high school, but it is probably better for you. Is it better than post-franchise Five Guys, Fuddruckers, Red Robin, et al? Think of it this way- you can have a favorite kind of dog, but that doesn't mean that you don't love every dog you meet. Some people are cat people. I'm a hamburger person. Elevation is going to be my favorite for a while, but that doesn't mean I can stop hussying around at Wendy's.

*the smallest country in the continental United States. Seriously.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I schleped out to a specialist in VA today with cat in tow (Hi Scottee M!) and plotted my route home to include a stop to Elevation Burger--'cuz I knew if I didn't, it would be a long time until I found the place. (I find VA so confusing--same street names in different places for example, and even this thread says it's on Lee Hwy, but the address is actually on S. Washington St. :) )

Good news is that I found it--I arrived a little early tho', and waited the half hour until they opened. The fries were very good--especially since they were so freshly made. Perfectly salted, some crispy, some not. I could not tell they were fried in Olive Oil--tasted more like your standard corn or vegetable oil to me. Now to the burger--I think I made a mistake in not getting a cheeseburger. See, the burger was juicy, it just didn't have a lot of flavor. No grilled flavor, no meaty flavor, not even salt and pepper came through. Maybe the cheese would have added the saltiness, but I'm not sure that would send it over for me. The last time I was in Five Guys (in Gaithersburg) I'd say the burger actually tasted better--even if it wasn't as juicy--and we did have crisp fries there. But even better than that was the burger I had in Olney at Cheeburger Cheeburger recently. (Pekoe, my avatar, did enjoy her sample greatly, I must admit :) ) The staff were incredibly helpful and friendly, and I could see going here if I lived in the area, but I don't see it as a destination burger place for me. Especially since I'm often in Reston, Tysons and occasionally Leesburg, but rarely in Falls Church. That's not to say I wouldn't go back if I am ever in the area...second chance, ya know?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I schleped out to a specialist in VA today with cat in tow (Hi Scottee M!) and plotted my route home to include a stop to Elevation Burger--'cuz I knew if I didn't, it would be a long time until I found the place. (I find VA so confusing--same street names in different places for example, and even this thread says it's on Lee Hwy, but the address is actually on S. Washington St. blink.gif )

Did you notice those new buildings going up in back of Elevation Burger? My company is moving into one of them in early December. Many of us are already fans of Elevation Burger. They will be getting a noticeable shot in the arm when we move -- as will the nearby Italian Cafe, the German Deli, Super Chicken, Victor's...

And also, dear god, Milan Donuts. blink.gif

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally tried Elevation for the first time last night....What can I say, it was not bad, but there is no overwhelming desire to rush back. Ordered the Big Phat which is a double with cheese, fries and a shake. They did leave the pickles off by mistake, which did upset me, but life will continue. Overall the burger was juicy and very fresh, but there was a residual taste of "something" that I can't describe, that left an aftertaste that was'nt so much as "beef" rather than just grease. The fries were very hot and not bad, but I just can't deal with the huge GREASE factor that accompanies these or most other fries. A little grease is a given with fries, but the residual from these on my fingers, could lube Hillary for her next 3 presidential bids. I ate a few and tossed them. The shake was actually pretty good, but needed another minute under the blender. A few sips and I had had enough( a personal choice as with the fries because I don't really eat too much unheatlthy food much, rather like to sample it).

Overall, not bad, but would probably prefer a five guys for that beef taste(albeit overdone-taste). I was having a conversation with a guest the other night about burgers and we talked about Inn and Out again. We both agreed that In and Out is good, but it is good for a fast food burger, nothing really outstanding and actually way overated when compared to other burgers, but against McD's and Wendy's etc, Inn and Out is the better Cookie Cutter alternative. Elevation and Five guys trump any of the Chains

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I've been back four times since my 'missed connections' post last year, and I feel like my impressions then unfortunately remain the same today.

The fries are not what they once were; the burgers are still inadequate (btw, the 'Virginia Kobe' part of the 'Made with Organic Virginia Beef' has been crossed out on the menu -- I wonder, an appeasement to the erudite epicure, or simply a change in the supplier of beef?) . Five Guys gets knocked around for having a lifeless patty, and fairly enough, but I have to say I don't think EB is doing any better in that department. They are about even in juiciness (with a slight edge to FG), and the elevation burger suffers from too little seasoning and searing. And like Five Guys, chances are your condiment specifications will get screwed up. (I am at the point now where when I go to Five Guys, I get the damn thing naked and put all my condiments on at home.)

Unlike Five Guys, Elevation Burger does not get its buns locally. They are the Martin's potato rolls that you find at any supermarket. Given its devotion to local beef, I don't understand why they haven't sourced buns from a local baker as well. Martin's rolls are starchy, spongy, and utilize preservatives. They do fine for a backyard BBQ, but should have no quarter in a place that was created to "elevate" the burger.

On the upside, the fries, while not as good as they once were, are still good, reminiscent of In N Out fries, and the no-bake cookies are something I have a hard time saying no to, expanding waistline be damned.

Now Elevation Burger, like Five Guys before them, is getting into the franchise business. I would advise them that if they truly want to be pioneers in "creating a burger meal that tastes good," they hold off on the franchising for now and get their burger right instead. We don't need another Five Guys -- there will soon be over a thousand of those around.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, I've been back four times since my 'missed connections' post last year, and I feel like my impressions then unfortunately remain the same today.

The fries are not what they once were; the burgers are still inadequate (btw, the 'Virginia Kobe' part of the 'Made with Organic Virginia Beef' has been crossed out on the menu -- I wonder, an appeasement to the erudite epicure, or simply a change in the supplier of beef?) . Five Guys gets knocked around for having a lifeless patty, and fairly enough, but I have to say I don't think EB is doing any better in that department. They are about even in juiciness (with a slight edge to FG), and the elevation burger suffers from too little seasoning and searing. And like Five Guys, chances are your condiment specifications will get screwed up. (I am at the point now where when I go to Five Guys, I get the damn thing naked and put all my condiments on at home.)

Unlike Five Guys, Elevation Burger does not get its buns locally. They are the Martin's potato rolls that you find at any supermarket. Given its devotion to local beef, I don't understand why they haven't sourced buns from a local baker as well. Martin's rolls are starchy, spongy, and utilize preservatives. They do fine for a backyard BBQ, but should have no quarter in a place that was created to "elevate" the burger.

On the upside, the fries, while not as good as they once were, are still good, reminiscent of In N Out fries, and the no-bake cookies are something I have a hard time saying no to, expanding waistline be damned.

Now Elevation Burger, like Five Guys before them, is getting into the franchise business. I would advise them that if they truly want to be pioneers in "creating a burger meal that tastes good," they hold off on the franchising for now and get their burger right instead. We don't need another Five Guys -- there will soon be over a thousand of those around.

Was the "chef" in the kitchen? :angry:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

(btw, the 'Virginia Kobe' part of the 'Made with Organic Virginia Beef' has been crossed out on the menu -- I wonder, an appeasement to the erudite epicure, or simply a change in the supplier of beef?)
Sunnyside's been out of business for awhile, so no "Virginia Kobe" exists anymore.
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Meh.

On a rare driving excursion into the depths of Virginia (at least, as far as this city-dweller is concerned), I made my first visit to Elevation Burger. And I don't get the hype. Perhaps the burgers and fries here were better before, but now they're mediocre at best. Certainly not worth the trip, and to be honest, I might've been happier with Burger King down the road. Okay, maybe that's a stretch, but to me the food at Elevation seemed completely indistinguishable from any fast food burger and fries.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Meh.

You really didn't have to go beyond this word to describe Elevation Burger to a T. This is how I and most people I know feel about this establishment, which is unfortunate because I want so badly for it to be great.

Gotta love those key lime pie milkshakes, though. That is the one thing I have had a EB that was worth the (enormous) calorie count.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have always been a Five Guys fan, but I have been disappointed by some of their locations (inconsistent). So, I have given Elevation Burger three tries and they failed every single time over the course of about 18 months. Not only is it off my radar at this point, but when people bring it up, I will chime in and make it clear that I am not a big fan.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I definitely wouldn't say that I'm anti-EB...but it has definitely, noticeably, sadly fallen off from their early days. It's still possible to get a great meal there, but you have to be lucky. Anyone who's read this thread has to understand how much it pains me to say this :mellow:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

it has definitely, noticeably, sadly fallen off from their early days. It's still possible to get a great meal there, but you have to be lucky. Anyone who's read this thread has to understand how much it pains me to say this ;)
I'm sorry to add to your pain. Here's a newsflash from today's Washington Business Journal:
Tuesday, April 15, 2008 - 11:27 AM EDT

Elevation Burger to open 7 more restaurants in the Washington area

Washington Business Journal - by Gillian Gaynair Staff Reporter

Falls Church-based Elevation Burger, has signed three multi-unit franchising deals that will bring 12 new restaurants to the District, Northern Virginia and New Jersey. The new partnerships are in addition to five corporate stores Elevation Burger plans to open in the D.C. region by 2010.

Founded in 2005, the company offers organic burgers and fresh cut fries cooked in olive oil. It decided to start expanding through franchises in January.

Locally, two franchisees will bring seven restaurants to areas such as Crystal City, Old Town Alexandria, Shirlington, Kingstown and Arlington, as well as several areas around George Washington University. Both franchisees expect to open their first locations by the end of 2008 or early January 2009.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe this is what EB needed -- some places do better when they're part of a larger organism than when they're all by themselves. For one thing, they'll have more sway with their providers, which can only be a good thing.

Good luck, Hans and April!

(Also, this may not be the place for this, but we've used EnviroCab twice now and loved it! The cars are sooooo clean -- get that new car smell while you can! And because they buy more carbon offsets than they use, it's actually in some way better for the environment to use these cabs. Plus, they were on time and courteous -- impressed my guests so much they paid for us to take an EnviroCab to Alexandria when Tripewriter was stuck at work.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Several areas around GWU? What does that mean? The GWU campus isn't huge...

I didn't read that to mean just the "campus" myself---several areas around GWU would include the areas surrounding the boundaries of the campus, such as Farragut West (where there already is a Five Guys) and the West End (where Trader Joe's has located, and much more development is to come) and South Dupont (where, for example, the Crepeaway restaurant markets itself to the GW crowd, even though it is at 20th and L) I'd gladly welcome one in my neck of the woods. I'm not saying it's advisable, but it has been done before; I'm at 19th and L, and there currently are 4 Starbucks within a 2 block radius.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

This is the logical local competitor to the enormously successful Five Guys. I wish them the absolute best of luck!!! At their best I prefer Elevation Burger and, if I were a few years younger, would have competed to be their franchisee.

Potentially, the In-n-Out of the East.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I dunno, Capital Icebox, I've had both and am here to tell you that not one item I had the In-n-Out came anywhere near Elevation Burger. When EB is on, it's grand stuff.
I've had both as well (many, many times in the case of In N Out), and on their best day Elevation Burger has come nowhere close. Individual tastes aside, In N Out knows how to properly season and sear beef, they use fresh (not store-bought) buns, and In N Out has steadfastly resisted the temptation to over-expand or franchise (only members of the family may own a location).

Every time I go back to EB give them another chance, things remain the same or worse, and the fact that they're franchising now does not bode well. Saying this is like getting In N Out on the East Coast only makes it hurt more. FIX YOUR BURGERS, dude!

(In EB's defense, In N Out has nothing like the EB no-bake cookie.)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Finally, I made it to EB last night to get dinner to go. This was my first visit, and I was looking forward to it. It was around 8:30 pm so it wasn't too crowded. The counter person was pleasant and cordial, and if I wished anything was improved it would be to have a smaller copy of the menu down where you can see it while you're ordering instead of having to lean back and try to read the big overhead list.

I ordered a cheeseburger with caramelized onions, ketchup, mayo and lettuce, and the french fries. I knew I wanted a shake, and only knew the flavor because I had read about it somewhere (Key Lime) not because I could see a list of flavors.

I had to wait for a little while, but they have a bench, and it wasn't uncomfortable. It did take a little longer than I thought, but I was in no hurry, and I could always play a game on my PDA if I needed distraction. Next time I'll bring a book.

My shake was ready before the other items, so it was nice to have something to sip on whilst awaiting my burger and fries.

I live on the other side of Falls Church, so it was a short ride home, and the food was still warm. The burger was good, had a nice texture, much better than 5 Guys I thought, and just the right size for me to not end up unpleasantly stuffed. I usually buy the Martin's potato rolls anyway, so I liked the bun.

And the fries were fantastic! I couldn't resist nibbling on the way home, and upon putting the first one in my mouth thought "Oh...yes....olive oil!" I love thin fries, and don't care for the thicker "steak fries" like Five Guys serves, as it's just too much starch for me.

The shake was good too, I'll be back for more.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

According to the sign posted on the door today, the Lee-Harrison location is opening on Tuesday, April 7 at 11am.

It was indeed open on Tuesday. Not too crowded around 5:30pm. Looked like a lot of staff to me, but I am sure they wanted to make sure everything went smoothly on opening day. Everyone was trying hard to be helpful and solicitous, and succeeding. This was my first time and the food was fine, but at close to $35 for 4 burgers, 2 fries, and 3 milkshakes, the place isn't cheap.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

It was indeed open on Tuesday. Not too crowded around 5:30pm. Looked like a lot of staff to me, but I am sure they wanted to make sure everything went smoothly on opening day. Everyone was trying hard to be helpful and solicitous, and succeeding. This was my first time and the food was fine, but at close to $35 for 4 burgers, 2 fries, and 3 milkshakes, the place isn't cheap.

Isn't cheap when compared to what? $35 breaks down to $2.50 per order of fries ($5), $3 per milkshake ($9), and $5.25 per burger ($21). How much cheaper do you think it should be?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Isn't cheap when compared to what? $35 breaks down to $2.50 per order of fries ($5), $3 per milkshake ($9), and $5.25 per burger ($21). How much cheaper do you think it should be?

Those fries are worth whatever they want to charge for them, IMO.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Isn't cheap when compared to what? $35 breaks down to $2.50 per order of fries ($5), $3 per milkshake ($9), and $5.25 per burger ($21). How much cheaper do you think it should be?

I suppose it's all relative, and I understand that "ingredients matter," but this is still essentially fast food, albeit of a slightly higher quality. I guess I am just not used to spending $35 to feed 3 children. As a point of comparison, I can take my $35 to Ray's Hell Burger to feed 3 and come back with change, not to mention premium burgers that must be 2 1/2 times as large.

I do not want to be Mr. Negative, and will allow that the milkshakes are quite good and on a level not found in ordinary fast food establishments. The hamburgers are definitely superior to McDonalds or Burger King. Wendy's? I'm not so sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I haven't yet been to E.B. but I noticed the new one at Lee-Harrison shopping center this past Wednesday as I was leaving post-Harris-Teeter grocery shopping, so I didn't stop in. Thought I'd check this thread to see what the story was.

I'd completely forgotten about the E.B. in Falls Church, I just thought that this was a brand new burger place. Mostly, I was curious to see just when it had opened, and I had no idea that it had been this week.

As a Five Guys fan, and someone who really enjoyed discovering In-and-Out Burger in Indio, California, I'm looking forward to seeing just what this place is like.

I'm waaaayy behind the times, I still haven't been to Ray's Hell Burger, and I really want to go there. Probably just as well, I'm sure that I'd get addicted to it, and I don't need any additional lbs 'round my middle at the moment :rolleyes:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Well, since I was grocery shopping right next door today, I took the plunge and visited the Lee-Harrison Elevation Burger.

I liked it. I just had the $5.99 burger (the Elevation Burger? Can't remember) and an order of fries.

The fries were perfectly decent, but I was disappointed that the order wasn't a little larger and that they were such a skinny cut.

My order came to a little over $9.00, so yes, that was a rather expensive lunch as a burger with fries goes, but I'll probably go back.

I'd rank it behind Five Guys and In-and-Out (virtually a moot point, since I-a-O is a west-coast-only chain) but it isn't a "distant" third. I'll try a different burger or toppings next time.

The service was good, and I'm sure that it will make money hand-over-fist when the Arlington County schools let out and parents are grocery shopping with their kids.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The multi-state expansion has indeed started, with the National Harbor location logo and sign up, but the paper is still on the windows. Wow. Incidentally, Disney has just announced that they're building a resort out there, on the hill, overlooking the Potomac river. Double Wow. I didn't know National Harbor is almost near-Orlando-like status.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

EB was a ray of sunshine in the burger arena when it opened a few years ago in falls church. the owners were always jumping in to help the gynormous lines on w/es, the fries were fresh, the burgers were good and the shakes addictive.

my father in law gave it a try at the new harrison street location and was underwhelmed... that makes me sad. i wanted EB to succeed and be the next FG with better products ("local"ish beef, olive oil fired fries, etc) but the shiny-ness is gone and the product has suffered according to my papa-law. maybe hans and april can get in the kitchen and get the olde EB spirit back.

good luck to both in the expansion business, they are REALLY nice people and deserve the best! :D

cheers!

p.s. also, why are they closed on Sundays? that's the day we get the burger urge in my household...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to Elevation Burger in Falls Church with Hubby and the new brother and I am with the Meh's. I felt like I was eating at McDonald's but paying them 3x the price. Hubby was mad that I had suggested we go when we could have gone to Ray's. Oh well, apparently some people like it. Just not us.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...