Big Wheel Burger - A Review

I was pretty excited to see that my neighborhood was getting it's very own little burger joint. The humble hamburger is definitely the new black - it's gotten very trendy as of late.

I am a big fan of Pink Bicycle. They have delicious burgers and amazing fries. They also recently got on board the gluten free bun train, which makes this gluten reduced burger lover very very happy!

(Sidenote: Why wouldn't an establishment have a gluten free bun option? You buy a few dozen to start, chuck them in the freezer, and see how it goes. We have an amazing local bakery that does wholesale buns and breads for those of us who are glutarded).

When I saw Big Wheel Burger was opening in my hood, I was giddy with anticipation. Burgers! Burgers will help me deal with my Mexican Food Truck problem (I go to La Taquisa so much they know my name and order). I like Big Wheel's premise - basic offerings, but burgers made with local, sustainable, happy meats.

I had read some of the reviews on Urban Spoon, and they are mixed at best. I am always happy to give a new restaurant some time to grow and settle in, so I only take these with a grain of salt if the restaurant has just opened (unlike, say...an established restaurant like Pablo's, which should just know better than to suck that bad).

I have been twice now. I dig the vibe of the place. It's simple. You order, you listen for your order to be called. You take it to go, or you eat there. It's totally fast food, but it's a bit fancy because it's specialized and they use quality ingredients.

The first time I went I had a basic burger on a gluten free bun. The quality of the meat was apparent. It was cooked perfectly. The fries, which seem to be part of an ongoing learning curve, were nothing special, but were not bad. They were thick cut yukon gold fries and I *think* they might be of the frozen variety. I personally think if you're going to open a burger place with limited offerings, you should strive to do what you do well. The fries, in my opinion, should be hand cut and made on premises, not from frozen.

Let's consider the claim on their website:

"We use ingredients that support agricultural longevity with minimal environmental impact. Sourcing product from within 100 miles of our location to limit carbon footprint and support local economies. Use environmentally safe packaging materials while instituting recycling programs on every product level".

Love it. Love this premise. Unsure if the fries fall under this - will be asking next time I go in. I hope, if not, that they will consider making the switch.


The basic burger, while good, could have used a liiiiitle bit more of...something. I don't think it had anything on it except lettuce, pickles and tomato. I think I must have missed where the condiments were (I was in a rush that day) because it could have used a little mustard and mayo, but that's just me. Otherwise, it was delicious and I was very satisfied with my burger.

The second visit was actually less of a visit, and more of a request to my husband, who happily picked it up after a busy day at work. This time I had a cheese burger on a gluten free bun and it was SO GOOD. It had lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, cheese, and some kind of sauce. Now, I am a sauce girl, so sauce makes me happy. The hubby thought it was a little too saucy for his liking, but what are ya gonna do! Can't please everyone it seems.

He got me fries (same comments as before), and he got himself some chili fries, which I have never actually had before. Well...I am a fan. These were delicious. Sinfully delicious. A meal in themselves, some might say. I could taste cinnamon and maybe even a hint of cocoa in the chili? Whatever it was, it did it for me. Chili fries, you are delicious.

Overall, I am happy to give Big Wheel Burger my occasional patronage. They have good burgers, some good alternative options (such as gluten free and vegan). I hear the shakes are good too, though that's a little too much dairy for this lactard. I'd love to see some further improvement on the fries.

Let's give this new restaurant some time to spread it's wings and grow. I'm more than happy to pay more for a quality burger, where I know the cow that I am currently eating had a happy life until it became my meal. I am also more than happy to support a restaurant who supports the local food movement!

So, Big Wheel.... I like you. Welcome to the neighborhood.