San Francisco Restaurant Review: Pearl's Deluxe Burgers

On paper, Pearl's Deluxe Burgers doesn't seem like a good family lunch stop. It's on a busy, narrow San Francisco street (708 Post Street, to be exact).There isn't much for seating at Pearl's Deluxe Burgers. If you're planning to feed a large lunch party, don't dine in unless "large" to you means three people. And be prepared to stand in line if you go after 11:30. But Pearl's is worth the wait.

Pearl's Deluxe Burgers are something from beyond this world. They are larger than any human should consume, completely filling, yet you feel like you might have eaten something good for you. Pearl's Deluxe Burgers doesn't use alien beef. It's actually Estancia Ecuadorian grass-fed beef, which translates into "no filler, all killer".

We ordered two Pearl's Deluxe Burgers with cheese for the kids, a Teriyaki burger for me and the award-winning Bula Burger for my wife. We also ordered Frings- a combination of fries and onion rings. Since there wasn't much in the way of seating, we drove off to a park to enjoy our lunch.

Within two bites I knew that Pearl's Deluxe Burgers were worth every parking meter quarter, every wrong turn and every minute in line. My teriyaki burger wasn't just meat sloshed in tangy sauce. The beef was tender to the teeth, while the combination of mushrooms and sauce kept it moist with every bite. As big as my burger was, it didn't upset my stomach and sit for eternity. Must be something special about that Ecuadorian cow. Every bite was a closed-eyed sensation. The cheese was perfectly melted and just thick enough to keep the mushrooms in place.

My wife's Bula Burger was even better. "It's like somebody took everything that was good in a gourmet meal and put it in a burger," she said. I agreed. The bun was just a light backdrop to the juicy, tangy bacon and burger combo. The tangy/spicy pineapple sauce complemented it perfectly.

And did I mention we paid less than $8 for each burger? I almost felt bad for not paying more. Pearl's does offer a beef upgrade, as if the Estancia wasn't enough. For a few dollars more you can have buffalo patties. And for even a few MORE dollars, you can upgrade to- get this- a Kobe beef patty.

As for the kids, they thoroughly enjoyed their Pearl's Deluxe cheeseburgers. They are a good size if you have tweens or close-to-tweens. These are pure beef burgers, so they'll be full for a while. And full kids on vacation are quiet kids.

I don't know when I'll be back to downtown San Francisco. But the next time I go, Pearl's will be a mandatory stop. Otherwise I'd have to buy my own Ecuadorian cow.