The Burger Bar — Restaurant in Kalama

Typically, I love to support small local businesses, but my experience with customer service tonight was very disappointing. I arrived just before the dinner rush - the parking lot was almost deserted and no one was in the drive thru. I went through the drive thru and, as is the routine, was given my ice cream and asked to drive around to the front to wait for my food. They even had numbers to give out this time, which was new.

I waited about 20 minutes and watched someone who went through the drive through after me get food. I decided to call and was told that my food would be out in 1 minute. I waited another 5 minutes before I started getting my kids out of their car seats. Just as I got my kids out and was about to head in, someone brought my food out to me - roughly 27 minutes after I ordered. When I asked why my food took so long I was told “we are just so busy and backed up.” When I brought up that someone else, who came through the drive thru after me, had their food minutes ago the staff member looked at me like a deer in headlights. I asked to talk to a manager.

When I went in and asked the manager why my food took so long I was told they had given my food to the wrong car (cause apparently the numbers are just to look pretty) and they had to remake my food. I told him that they should have been honest with me when I called and not fed me some line about my food being out in 1 minute. I explained that I had ice cream melting in the car and it was unacceptable to treat a paying customer this way. The manager stared at me, not even offering to replace the ice cream.

Normally when we get home the food is still piping hot since we don’t live far. Upon arriving home the food was tepid and had to be warmed in the microwave. The fries were practically uncooked and not at all crispy. Honestly, based on my experience today I...

I'd been meaning to stop here for the past few decades, but the timing has never worked... Finally it did and oh what I've missed out on!!!

Quite simply the most amazing burger joint between Seattle and Portland... Just a hop off on exit 30...

This is of the style of the true original American hamburger stand from which the Arnold's in Happy Days was created. McDonalds tried to fabricate the design into a cookie cutter clone and made trillions... But this is what it is all about.

The staff are human, they talk to you, they love the food they make, they will make it your way. Ask for extra seasoning salt, they use the good stuff... Same kind of seasoning The Ranch uses in Bothell...

And the shakes... Right now they have hand picked raspberries... Real... Picked locally... You will have little luck with the straw though... This is a real fruit shake where you watch them put the berries in it.

Stopping at the Burger Bar kept me happy for the rest of the drive north. In a world things have become so prefab that most new homes are grey boxes or mcmansions... It's an important moment to have a great American hamburger at a bastion of individuality. Eating here reminds you to still be human.

From the tip jar for local search and rescue to the past Berry (real fresh that day berries!!!!!) in the cup... They will remind you to be human and to love community.

Enjoy!!!!

REAL BERRIES!!!!!!

Love...

We have driven past the Burger Bar numerous times, heading to and from Portland, for years, all the time saying “We really want to try this place one day”. Well. One day came along! After dropping our daughter off at PDX, my husband and I agreed that a burger and fries sounded like a nice meal to get before the final 1.5 hour drive home. We swung into the Burger Bar and were struck by how decent the prices were. We both opted for the 1/4 lb burger, mine with onion rings and husband with fries. He also ordered a chocolate milkshake. The waitstaff was friendly and hustling! It was busy and those kids kept up, all with smiles on their faces. Our food was delivered to the table quickly. Hot and yummy! The onion rings were excellent. Crispy and golden. The burger was tasty. The meat was a thin patty, and didn’t look hand patted, more like a thin, frozen pre-made patty. That kind of disappointed me, but, to their credit, it was tasty. Honestly, a very respectable greasy spoon kind of burger. Exactly what we were in the mood for! The crinkle cut fries were fried to a perfect golden crisp as well. And, the chocolate shake rounded the meal off nicely! The menu is large with some great options to try, so my husband and I agreed we’ll definitely be back to do just that! Next time you’re driving past Kalama, consider swinging into the Burger Bar and...