BRICK AND MORTAR

On Main Street in Santa Monica lies a quaint, tucked in kinda place.  I liked it, especially the friendly staff.  I was invited in to the bar for a drink to start but I declined and sat on a small enclosed patio.  The chairs were primo, with tufted, cushiony seats.  Oh yes, the burger.  Well, to start it is cooked on a grill and with a lot of pride by the owner and his chiefs.  The cut is 80/20.
 The brioche bun wore a top of a large jalapeno with a green tie knot stick to match it's color.  A very clever touch.  The bun was good, but a little dry, falling apart a little.  The meat lacked seasoning, I thought, until later when I ate the remainder.   The flavor sunk through and it was delicious, memorable and that's what I am looking for in a burger.  The onion marmalade helped to enhance this taste, but it seemed to get lost in the brioche bun.  Perhaps it shrunk due to my ordering it medium done instead of my usual medium-rare doneness.  The burger did get a little lost in the bun, not filling it out.  At first I liked the chopped lettuce, which I prefer over arugula, which a lot of people are doing now.  By the time I was finishing the burger the lettuce appeared limp and wet and taking away from the overall gastronomical experience.  The cheese could have been pumped up a noch, adding to the integrity of this burger as well.  I found the fries, skinny, but too puffy with air instead of taste.  The truffle shavings were pretty and different for me, although I prefer a good ketchup.  Since I relinquished the urge to order a beer, instead I was tempted by the side of mac n'cheese.  It was good, creamy and with bread crumbs atop.  Everything comes with a top here, huh?  There was a wonderful heat to it which gave it a kick, but I was told by Frankie that there was no spice in it.  Perhaps my taste buds were lingering over the jalapeno bites.  When I ate it the next day it was still spicy and much more delicious after putting it under the broiler to give it a nice crust top.  Comfort food! Umm, umm, good.  Thank you Frankie for seducing me into coming back for a dessert, on you, soon!  Just don't let me go back to Buffalo Bill's coz I might not fit in their jeans after dessert.  I give this restaurant and burger an 8!