AKASHA/A GOOD BURGER & MORE

Finally a good hamburger on the West side of Los Angeles. Since I live on the West side and no longer work in South Los Angeles, (notice the new name for the city) I am branching out to review and taste the best of the West side. I am inspired enough to now write about my very first GOOD HAMBURGER find. Yes, a delicious hamburger exists on the West side, and it was a pleasure to eat there too, at AKASHA, 9543 Culver Blvd. in Culver City. The restaurant was industrial in style, with open fittings and tubing on the ceiling, yet adding a warmth with an open wall of wide dark wooden slats to my right.

I still didn't know if I was in the right place, where some odd months ago a young couple that I met at the Bagel Nosh recommended a restaurant that made a good burger. The turkey burger was recommended but I proudly stated that I would be ordering the beef burger with cheese. My plate came presented cleanly with a side of cole slaw. The first thing that I noticed was that cute little happy bun on the top, yet a little small in size.   The first bite was nice, hot and juicy with a perfect size and thickness. It was cooked well also, medium well like I ordered. I could tell that the beef was of high quality yet a nice grilled flavor stuck in my palate. The "special sauce" they call it on the menu was their own brand of kecthup. It was deliciously smokey with a sweetness like barbeque sauce, and had me licking my fingers in culinary delight. The burger came along side one leaf of lettuce, two small heirloom tomatoes, and grilled onions. I generously dressed my burger and also enjoyed little nibbles of the slim dill pickle, marinated in vinegar,  (that was both delicious and crisp), in between my bites. I prefer my pickle on the burger, but hey, this is the West side. The cole slaw was well executed, a lovely taste of dill.  But somehow the slaw didn't stand up to the freshness, with a tangy yet soggy taste, perhaps unhappy about spending the night before in the refrigerator.
When my server, Rob Blanchard asked how I liked the burger I told him that I could almost eat another, it was so darn good. Rob said that he has completed an exciting novel that he is excited about. I can not develge further.  He was a joy to have in this experience.  The cheese, well it gets high marks for taste, being cheddar or gueryue.
When I began to leave I chatted up the hostess, raving again about their burger when the owner came out. Asking if he was a chef, he said "no, but my wife is". Ironically, her name is "Akasha". I reported that my only criticism of the burger was that the bun, even though it was hot, may have been bigger. Allan agreed stating that he had made the same comment. Allan said that I must try the onion rings, which looked awesome, like wide rings of ribbons. He was very happy to have received my rave review and said that he heard about it in the kitchen. This topped our day. I can't wait to return, with the lingering aftermaths of a good burger.