Hamburger Joe's of Surfside — Restaurant in Surfside Beach

I’ll start with the good. The food was decent. I wanted a good greasy burger, and I got just that.

However, the sign that says “Enter as our guest, leave as our friend.” Isn’t so much true.

I have been traveling to this area for years and I’ve always been skeptical of this place… I don’t know- The name has just always gave me the creeps. Not sure why…ANYWAY.

Our server Amanda, wasn’t overly rude to us, but her service was nothing I would write home about. She just rubbed me the wrong way. She never once looked us in the eye, or seemed to even care that we were there. Which granted, maybe she didn’t. When I asked about cole slaw for a side she said “a pint” I said “no just a side” she said “well it’ll have to be A PINT” I told her I was fine with just fries. My friend then asked for a thing of ranch with her cheese sticks. She brought that to us. When we asked for an additional for our fries she said “LOOK they cost 50 cent each ok?” (I don’t mind paying the 50 cent. It was just the way she worded it. Like my god, I am so sorry you’ll have to go get that tiny as* cup of buttermilk and spices)

I told her I was fine with just ketchup and to forget it.

As we ate our meal, I watched her interact with other tables, and her fellow employees. She barked at many of them, and I watched them roll their eyes, as her and a friend snickered and checked their phones. I felt so sorry for them. It made me not miss working for the public. These poor employees who more than likely hate working there because of her.

When I was finishing up and wanted a refill of my beverage, she just stared. How dare I dine in HER resturant while SHE is working. Only when she saw me typing up this review, did she ask “did you want a refill?”

Amanda - I hope things get better friend, I do. I am so sorry for whatever is going on that you had to take it out on your tables, and worse your co workers who can’t just pay and leave. To those of you working there with her- there’s plenty of good paying Resturant jobs hiring where Amanda is not present.

Joe- good burger, but I’ll just go to River...

We went to this place for 2 reasons. One we heard from numerous people that they had the best burgers in the area and two they were supposed to have decent prices for their food.

Well I have to say the prices were not too bad. Things are ala cart. However I thing the prices were fair for what you get. As for the food, not so much. I asked about the fries and onion rings, both are frozen. I'm not saying you can't get good tasting fries or onion rings from frozen, I've had them, but not from this establishment. At best they were average. I suppose that's all okay because nobody said they have the best fries or onion rings.

The hamburgers, what to say, they were also average. Mine was not hot, didn't come the way I ordered and tasted like a burger I could get anywhere. The bun was okay, however not toasted. That's fine some people don't like toasted and I understand. So no big deal. The onions were raw and chopped which made them fall off the burger and scatter everywhere. A sliced onion would have been better for this I would think. To each their own. I had on small slice of tomato that didn't cover more than 3/8's of the burger. I had to ask for more mayo as there was just enough on there to say they put some on. As for the burger itself. It certainly looked hand patted and fresh. However the taste was nothing special. I didn't taste any spices, not even salt or pepper. It was just a hamburger patty.

Generally I wouldn't say this much about a hamburger especially for the price. I can't remember exactly what it was but very reasonable. But when you say you have the best burger around I expect much more. They really should try harder. I suspect I will be in the minority with this review but I've had much better burgers from places that didn't hype their burgers.

Our waitress wasn't really attentive either. She was good enough but could have been a little better...

Hamburger Joe's used to be so much better than it was on July 24, 2023. The young lady seating us appeared to be on some type of medication (bless her heart ) or extremely sleepy. The waitress unfortunately could not get our order correct?. Literally, it was a burger all the way, Grilled chicken and hamburger steak, two fries and onion rings. We waited 45 minutes for the wrong order. After such a long wait we decided to take the food the way it came, after all it's still just hamburger and chicken, my food was cold, after such a long wait, you would expect to get piping hot fries, no. The food looked unappetizing, I didn't even want to take a picture. The waitress did not refill our drink cups, ( it's a hot summer day and never received the water requested, so I did it myself and filled our drink cups) after 45 minute wait, while seated and not busy at all and I really tried to get her attention. Even after the waitress knew she got the order wrong, she still tried to charge me for hamburger steak and I only wanted a hamburger, It was sooo nasty, but we had a busy day ahead and didn't want to waste the food or time. Extremely disappointed. Also, there was a strange odor of septic sewer lofting through the restaurant. Every once in a while you get a hint of the smell when you get closer to the restroom it was worse. Y'all need to do better.

I recommend the drafts, I didn't get one but I should have after that...