Bob's Burgers

Superman wears his cape and S insignia as if it were his epidermis. The same goes for Bob Belcher’s apron. Superman’s mission is to save people from falling out of a building, Bob’s is to make one of the best hamburgers east of the Mississippi. Both of these superheroes destinies were given to them from the cosmos before they were born.

Bob owns and operates the family ran burger shack next to Wonder Wharf in Ocean City, New Jersey. A Bob’s Burger made by Bob himself isn’t your typical greasy burger. It’s quality-obsessed where each element tastes only of itself. From a flat top grill, the bun is crisp and slightly oily, with a crunch at the edges, working towards a near-complete softness in the middle. If there was a flaw to the hamburger, it would be that the freshly ground USDA prime is too good and its preparation is too careful. The patties are consistently cooked to a perfectly pink centered medium, juicy, and full-flavored. 

The only soundtrack one hears inside is the stereo crunch of fresh iceberg lettuce, the sulfurous snap of raw onion against a luscious bit of tomato, and crunch of pickle chips. 

When people feel lucky, they order burgers with cheese. It doesn’t melt into the patty but stands glossily aloof from it as if it were mocking the richness of the sandwich rather than adding to the general effect. 

The well-built concoction remains intact for three-quarters of its life. The skinny cut fries taste mostly like potatoes and are crisp and well seasoned. Cokes have the perfect balance of syrup and carbonated water. The soft serve is as dense as plutonium. 

The cash-only greasy spoon serves a special burger every day for $5.95. And though at times they sound enticing, we at Restaurant Fiction are stubborn to try anything new at Bob’s Burgers. And we don’t think we ever will.