Yep, I love a good burger. When I got the invite to come check out the new Smashburger on College Avenue the day before the “official grand opening”, I just about had to go. The place sounded pretty cool and is located on the Tempe ASU campus just a short walk from the Veterans Way/ College Avenue light rail station at 777 S College Avenue ( good “railgating spot? ).
Being new and planning on growing quickly in the Valley, they have a few new menu items just for Arizona. The “Arizona Burger” absolutely rocks! Topped with Habanero cheese, guacamole, lettuce, tomato, onion, jalapenos, and chipotle mayo on a really good chipotle bun, you can’t go wrong. ( I took the onions off, but that’s just me…)
There is also an Arizona Devil Dog with Habanero cheese, guacamole, fresh jalapenos, and spicy chipotle sauce that will most certainly be consumed by yours truly in the very near future.
From their press release I learned that they are:
“Named for the cooking method used to create the perfect burger, Smashburgers start with a one-third or half-pound ball of 100-percent Angus beef—fresh, not frozen—smashed, seared and seasoned on a flat grill. Served on a butter-toasted artisan bun and topped with a selection of real cheeses, Smashburgers feature the freshest produce and top-quality condiments.”
There have been some write ups by friends of Rail Life in the past. This EV Living article mentioned Smashburger and there was a New Times mention, as well. Yesterday, I got the real scoop straight from the “horse’s mouth.” My new friend Scott is the President of Smashburger, and we discussed their menu and their ingredients, along with expansion plans and their desire to be Arizona’s favorite burger place. I was impressed with their passion, their vision, and their food.
As a burger fan, I know we have some pretty stiff competition for them in town. In fact, I can think of a couple of places close by that will give ‘em a run for their money. However, they have good food at a reasonable price and I like the location of this Smashburger for a “fast casual” place. On College Avenue, they should get a lot of foot traffic from ASU students and faculty, which I hope helps them survive this tough economy.
Hopefully, I’ll get to make a return trip with our favorite light rail restaurant guy soon to get David’s take on their food.
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