It has been over a month since Slater's 50/50 moved into the mix over at Liberty Station. With all the hamburger joints across San Diego County, there was a curiosity about what Slater's could bring to the table and whether it could surpass local favorites like Hodad's or gastropub phenoms like Neighborhood. However, Slater's 50/50 boasts the "perfect meal" allowing its customers to choose from restaurant favorites or choose their own combination with 5 patty choices, 12 cheeses, 30 toppings, 20 homemade sauces, and even bread options. Each patron is given a sushi-style menu for their special order and the opportunity name their signature burger. To wash it all down, the bar has over 100 beers on tap including hipster's Pabst Blue Ribbon and local microbrews.
Fry choices are sweet potato accompanied with pumpkin sauce (almost a dessert in itself) or regular fan-favorites paired with bacon-infused ketchup. If something cheesy is in order, opt for the fried mac-and-cheese which the waiter recommends (and I agree) to adorn with both the chipotle mayo and pumpkin sauce.
But why 50/50? Mr. Slater coined his restaurant after his signature burger patty which is one part ground beef, one part ground bacon. The result is a pink and juicy burger patty that could make a vegetarian queasy and a carnivore grin from ear to ear. There's something primal about the steak knife stabbed into the center of each burger; a warning to patrons not to dare ask for a toothpick. However Mr. Slater's signature patty isn't the only thing with a double identity being served up.
Moving on to the dessert list is the bacon brownie that certainly does tap into the bacon-loving gastrotrend. The lighter and surprisingly refreshing dessert that shone through was the Guinness Mint Chocolate Chip Shake. Vanilla ice cream is blended with the dark beer along with chips created from Andes-like mints. The shake isn't overly sweet which is the true charm of this dessert and the chocolately mint flavor makes this a great ending to the savory burger.
Is Slater's 50/50 above the rest? Tough to say when the restaurant is still gaining legs here in San Diego. Slater's does offer unconventional options to the gourmet burger yet still offers up a true-in-form traditional burger that the purists can count on. Hodad's crispy bacon topper still takes the cake as a favorite topping especially paired with blue cheese. Neighborhood's atmosphere is a bit elitist, but as it should be with a Downtown location. Does Slater's 50/50 deserve a space in your restaurant rotation? Yes. Yes, it does.
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