(redmillburgers.com) – Phinney Ridge
How I heard of this place: When I first moved to Seattle in 2001, I was told Red Mill had the best burgers in town. It wasn’t long after having arrived that I sampled one, two…and was sold.
Type of cuisine: Burgers with special sauce and sides (shakes, malts, fries, onion rings).
Ambiance: The small lobby area with limited window-lined bar seating greets the hoards that stand in the doorway waiting to place orders. There is indoor seating to the right of the register and grill – complete with bacon pillow. Outdoor picnic tables and benches are also available under the loud speaker for seating on summer afternoons. The space is casual, no frills and the focus is on the food.
What I ordered: In the past, I used to order the Verde Veg Burger, with fire roasted Anaheim peppers, Jack cheese, lettuce, red onion, tomato, Mill sauce on a Kaiser bun. Or the same with chicken. On this visit, and most others, I ordered the Bleu Cheese N’ Bacon Burger topped with crumbled bleu cheese, pepper bacon, lettuce, tomato, Mill sauce on a Kaiser bun. In our party of seven, one other person opted for the same burger. She accompanied hers with onion rings and lemonade. Two other dining companions ordered the Bacon Deluxe with Cheese: pepper bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, American cheese, Mill sauce. One of them added a cherry shake to the order. Two others chose the Red Mill Deluxe with Cheese: American cheese, lettuce, tomato, pickle, red onion, Mill sauce. One accompanied her order with a mocha malt and the other ordered a side of fries. Our last dining companion went out on her own and ordered the Chicken Club Burger served with black pepper bacon, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, basil mayo on a Kaiser bun (she opted for no bacon).
What I loved: I loved the melted blue cheese and thick, crispy bacon! The large burger satisfied every bit of hunger after a very active morning of running, canoeing and swimming!
Why I loved it: The outdoor seating that allowed for our entire group to sit together was well worth the wait for the burger. The burger was large and satisfying and the sides a perfect complement.
Cost: Average ($6-$7 per burger, no sides included)