Burger Bar

I had the greatest impromptu dinner with my mom the other night. We felt like going out to eat in San Francisco & decided on The Cheesecake Factory - it's located at the top of Macy's in Union Square. I know what you're thinking...out of all the fabulous restaurants in the city, why did we choose a chain restaurant? (more on The Cheesecake Factory later). But as we walked into the store, I noticed a sign for Burger Bar, one of Chef Hubert Keller's restaurants! So we changed plans and opted for the bar instead ;)

Admittedly, I was overcome by the cool music and fresh smells of burger-y deliciousness swirling around us. But before letting my guard down completely, I decided to speak with a waiter. To my surprise, most of their fries and burgers are completely gluten free! He told me to simply request my meal without a bun and notify my waitress about the allergy. Simple enough - there was no fuss whatsoever.

The menu is overwhelming - meat varieties and tons of different toppings make it hard to choose the perfect combo. I finally decided on sweet potato fries and a turkey burger topped with roasted peppers, grilled zucchini, and caramelized onions. It was divine. The portions are pretty big, but I devoured every tempting morsel. Prices are pretty reasonable for what you get - my meal was around $15. Plus, the views of Union Square are awesome.

Far from San Francisco? Burger Bar also has locations in Las Vegas, Mexico City, and Beijing. From the friendly wait staff to the bliss-inducing food, it's definitely worth a trip if you can swing it!