Local Burger & Fries (Northampton, MA)

Since Local Burger & Fries opened about a month and a half ago, I have heard good things and have been trying to get in to test their veggie offerings. Between work, illness and travel it proved more problematic getting downtown then one might imagine. However, last night the wait was finally over and I, along with three friends, fought my way into the Friday night crowd waiting to order.

By the time we were up to the counter to order I had decided to go for the standard Veggie Burger with fried onions and cheddar cheese with a side of the hand cut potato fries. After a short wait the food was brought out to the table we had managed to grab. First impressions were not overwhelmingly positive. The Veggie Burger was served on a soft, heavily sesame seeded, white bread roll. The patty was very thin with a single slice of cheddar melted over it. On top of that was a small dollop of fried onions, a single small piece of wilted iceberg lettuce and two half slices of an anemic looking tomato. I turned the burger over to add a little ketchup to the base and discovered that the bottom of the burger was charred to a blackened cinder. Unfortunately, I did not really get a sense of the flavor of the Veggie Burger itself, all I could taste was the char. The burger could have benefited from either being a little thicker or being cooked with a little more care. Additionally, it would have been nice if the burger had been served on a nice local baked hard kaiser/water roll with more generous portions of the requested toppings.

The standout performer of the evening was by far the hand cut potato fries. They were well cooked and perfectly seasoned. I was also able to sample some of the beer battered onion rings that were ordered by the table. The general consensus was that they were a disappointment. After a bite or two they reminded me of a savory funnel cake. The beer batter was very thick and doughy and the single ring of onion in each one was lost in all the breading.

I will definitely give Local Burger & Fries another shot. I don't want to write off a place like this based on one burnt burger. I just hope they find their sea legs soon and learn to deal with the Friday night crowds that they are going to need to keep coming back if Local Burger & Fries is going survive.

Local Burger & Fries
16 Main Street
Northampton, MA
11AM - 10PM Sunday-Wednesday
11AM - 3AM Thursday-Saturday