ARLINGTON – A friend of mine has spent months searching for the best burger in the Puget Sound area. He was leaning toward announcing Seattle’s burger icon, Dick’s, when I suggested he try Paradise Burger at Smokey Point.
Then Paradise Burger closed before my friend could get there, and they stayed closed for a year. But the popular burger stand reopened about two weeks ago with new owners, and they’ve made some great decisions, such as hiring the right people.
The Saturday afternoon we visited, the cashier had worked at Paradise Burger under the original owner, and a second employee frying the bacon used to work at a very popular burger stand at Lake Goodwin.
The menu’s the same with hamburgers for $2.99, a cheeseburger at $3.29, a double patty burger costs $3.49, and the bacon cheeseburger, still one of the pricier choices, is $4.09.
My friend ordered one of his favorites – a burger dip ($4.29) and I chose a cheeseburger with double cheese, skipped the onion rings ($1.99) and deep-fried mushrooms ($2.99), and added a small order of fries ($1.99). We both wanted shakes ($2.39). My dinner partner had a strawberry and I ordered my usual vanilla.
For those who don’t want a burger, menu choices include chicken sandwiches ($4.39), chicken clubs ($4.89), fish burgers ($4.29), BLTs ($2.99) and the least expensive sandwich on the menu – grilled cheese ($1.99). If you’re a little hungrier than a burger, try fish and chips for $6.59. There’s also a garden burger that’s $4.29.
After a couple of bites, my friend and I commented on how good the patty tasted and how fresh the buns and tomatoes were. My friend described the crusty hoagie roll for his burger dip as a nice touch, and it came with plenty of au jus. Paradise Burger also serves barbecue sauce with the burger dip.
Our shakes were too thick to drink with a straw and automatically came with a spoon, which my friend used to taunt me as he downed numerous strawberry slices. But I fought back by not being too generous with my fresh-from-the-fryer fries. They’re cooked with skins on, which I always find tastier than others. All the food in my order tasted as I remembered it from the former Paradise Burger. The cashier confirmed that “everything’s the same, and now that people know we’re open again, they’re beginning to come back.” It’s time to call my friend to see if he’s still on that quest for the perfect burger.
Herald restaurant reviewers accept no invitations to review, but readers’ suggestions are always welcome. Reviewers arrive unannounced, and The Herald pays their tabs. Contact Anna Poole at features@ heraldnet.com.
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