Delux Burger

I'm not going to lie, we've got a real credibility issue on this one-- all reviews by herbivores of restaurants with "burger" in their names should probably be taken with a serious grain of salt. If you want to know more about the burger for which Delux is known, talk to Lauren. All I heard her say about her Classic Burger ($9) was that it was tasty, a little rare and somewhat "soggy." Please follow up with her for details.

So Delux is one of those moderny-hip places with unisex bathrooms and $3 cupcakes. My immediate impression was positive (despite a subtly strange and unidentifiable smell.) The dining room is small and crowded, with a large seating bar dividing the room, 6 4-top tables on one side and the real bar on the other. The lighting is low with neon blue and green accents, mirrors, and candles-- nothing too innovative, but pleasantly cool.

Don't be fooled by the huge bludgeony menus, the food selection is rather small, especially for vegetarian types, and especially in comparison to the menu of drinks. I ordered the Tomato Mozzarella Salad ($9) which entails, quite literally, 5 slices of tomato and 5 slices of fresh mozzarella drizzled with some sort of balsamic vinegar. Unexceptional at best. Neither the tomato nor the cheese had much flavor, and I found myself forcing down the 4th set of slices. Fortunately, it seems that my three comrades had much better meals than I did (Turns out I'm really good at finding and purchasing the weakest entree on any menu.) Lauren, Cerrin and Teta reported good things about their Classic Burger, Grilled Vegetable Panini ($8), and Beet Salad ($9), respectively.

My highlight: the french fries. I'm a real sucker for fries and Delux has a lot to offer here. Patrons can order standard fries, or sweet potato fries, or a mix of both, to be enjoyed with ketchup and aioli sauce. Full orders and half-orders are available, and the best part is that the fries are served in a squirrel-sized shopping cart. Why? Who knows! But its adorable and definitely adds to the overall fry experience.

We didn't stay for dessert, partly because we were full, but mostly because our server clearly wanted to turn our table, understandably. The service was great, but my sweet tooth doesn't appreciate being handed the check without any mention of dessert. If he would have offered the dessert menu, I'm fairly certain that I would have purchased one of those overpriced cupcakes.

Well, anyway. In short, I probably won't return to Delux Burger by my own volition, which, if anything, is an argument for meat eaters to check this place out. And don't forget to order the fries.

Delux Burger
3146 E. Camelback Rd.
Phoenix, AZ 85016
602-522-2288
www.deluxburger.com