Smashed RVA — Restaurant in Richmond

We ate on 10/21/23. I am always looking for the next best burger, and so we try new places occasionally. We both prefer thinner burgers with the right ratio of buns and toppings to put everything into balance. As such, a smashed burger grabs our attention. The service was great. Cashier was engaging, helpful, informative, and on top of everything. I had the single Plain Jane with Smash Sauce added. I was disappointed right away with the toppings. The profile looked nothing like the many pictures I see on the website. I expected to see toppings lifting the bun up somewhat, and cheese or sauce dripping down the side, and a patty with high enough fat content to make it drip a bit. Instead, I lifted the bun top to see if anything was actually on the burger, and found a very minor amount of lettuce and tomato. So I lifted the patty to see if there was more underneath, and it looked like a little sauce, but was not sure. Biting into the burger, I did not really taste the sauce, although it did look like something was there. I wish there was more, like in the pictures. The char on the outer quarter of the patty seemed overdone. The burger overall was a bit dry. My favorite smash burgers have a good mixture of crispy char and moister portions. The seasoning of the burger was a welcome surprise, I am glad Smashed RVA did not hold back. At over $20 per person (incl tax/tip), for a single patty, fries, soda, it will be hard for me to justify a return out of my own pocket, unless maybe I just hit on...

Having had burgers from Cobra, Station 2, Beauvine, Eazzy, Bach, etc, Smashed RVA has a combination of all the right ingredients--both culinary and aesthetic--to fortify themselves as a staple in Richmond. The atmosphere is relaxed with a minimalist approach to decorations and downtempo tracks like MF Doom in the background. They have a large parking lot too; most of it is on a slope so fair warning for handicap.

The gentleman behind the counter provided a travel guide level understanding of the menu to assist a first timer. Their patties are 4 oz of Seven Hills beef, they have two main, in-house sauces that are both fire, and the fries come standard with a cajun/malt vinegar coating, but they openly provide a salt only option(which I chose).

I ordered their double patty OG Smash option(you can get 1, 2, or 3 patties)and I think it was the first burger I've ever had to rip the meat from the sides and dip it in the sauces before I actually picked it up to eat it, so hats off for a unique experience! The fries are really good with the sauces as well. My only critic would be to reduce the amount of grease on the outside of the bun, and try to keep it all between them(I padded mine down with a napkin).

I look forward to the next opportunity I have to enjoy this place because it was a truly awesome...

So I am beginning my "Burger Quest 24". Because I moved to Richmond 4 months ago and Richmond got the Burger city award for 2023. And me being a burger connoisseur I had to pack my sword, shield, bib, and mack in the back of the Ack and take on the Quest. What a great start to the Quest, as Smashed RVA smashed it home. I was greeted by a man who had exceptional service especially for a burger spot, the music was some jazzy hip-hopish instrumentals which was dope. I got the regular burger two pattie and added tomatoes and lettuce and the regular fries. Burger was awesome, beef great flavorful, the patties overwhelming the bun size which is how I usually pack my meat if ya know mean!!?!? Great size which justified the price of 13 bucks. The burger gets a 8.9/10. The fries were a bit over seasoned, needed to sip my soda to balance the over seasoning , the fries get 6/10. If the fries were better then this would be a grand slam on my Quest to find the best. Slaughtered and slayed the burger and on the next spot. also large parking lot....