Fatburger

Today I had perhaps the biggest food disappointment of my life!

Back in 2005 I paid a visit to a Fatburger outlet in Santa Monica. I ordered a regular Fatburger with chilli (590 + 50 cals) - see pic at left. Quite simply, it was the best burger I have EVER eaten! Nice fresh bun with fresh tomato and lettuce, delicious grilled beef pattie, and yumm0 chilli for that unique taste. It was well assembled, too, but someone who cared about the meal they were preparing. And it looked good... it looked just like the fabulous food pictures in the advertisements! Of course I was looking forward to returning...

So today I went to the same restaurant with a very good and very old friend and ordered the exact same thing. My friend ordered a Baby Fat with egg (400 + 90 cals) and between us we shared a chocolate shake (910 cals). It didn't start out well. The girl who took the order didn't smile. She had a bored and disinterested look on her face. A couple of questions about the menu were met with impatience. I had planned to tell whoever took my order that I'd been looking forward to returning since my 2005 experience, but I decided against this - why bother with someone who's bad attitude has the potential to spoil your day?

The shake was good... I give it 7 out of 10. But the burger? Oh, the disappointment. Oh, the let down!

It was OK, don't get me wrong. It was quite OK, but it was nothing like the culinary magnificence I enjoyed about 4 years earlier. It wasn't prepared so nicely... seemed to be done in a rush, the pattie wasn't so perfectly grilled, the chilli didn't have that lovely chilli taste. And it looked smaller than what I recall. Overall, the burger gets a 6 out of 10. That's an OK score, but I was so much looking forward to giving a 9 or 9.5 (a 10 would be too much to hope for).

Maybe I'll write to Fatburger and share some feedback.... it will be interesting to see their response.