Bar Louie

Restaurant: Bar Louie

Location: 701 7th Street NW, Washington, DC 20001

Date: 11/18/10

Burger: Louie

Score: 20.7

Burger (10 pts): 7.6

Comments: The burger was tasty and had good flavor. It was juicy, but also very.greasy and the oil made things messy. It was a decent size burger with the right amount of meat.

"Cooked well, however way too greasy." - Hamburg

Bun (3 pts): 1.8

Comments: The bun had a nice fluffy top but the grease from the burger seeped into the bottom bun. Even loaded down with grease, the bun didn't fall apart. It would have been better toasted.

"Great tasting bun. The bottom half became soggy as a result of the grease." - Flyer

"Good. Not too big. Got a little greasy on the bottom." - Fink

Cheese (3 pts): 2.0

Comments: Two slices of Provolone cheese were well melted over the rest of the burger and toppings. The cheese tasted great, but at times it couldn't hold it's own against the spicy toppings.

"Spot on with a great melt." - Eide

"Provolone cheese was good and melted well over the burger, but was overpowered by the hot peppers." -Shubert

Toppings (4 pts): 2.7

Comments: The Louie came with spicy giardiniera, grilled onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, and pickles. The lettuce was good, but shredded lettuce is always a disaster. Restaurants need to realize that no one likes shredded lettuce on a burger. A burger is not a taco. The tomatoes and pickles were good and the grilled onions were melted in with the cheese. The giardiniera stole the show though. The spiciness really came through and added a nice zing to the burger. Some people didn't care for the giardiniera and thought that it overpowered other elements of the burger.

"Relished peppers are not a favorite of mine, but it did add a nice tang." - Canter

Synergy (10 pts): 6.6

Comments: Bar Louie is located in Gallery Place in Chinatown and is a popular after-work hangout. The place was full, and there was a good atmosphere. The music playing was very loud, and the songs were hit or miss at times. There were plenty of TVs to watch sports. The waiter was good, and the service was pretty fast. The waiter provided plenty of extra napkins, which were needed considering how greasy the burger was.The beer selection is basic, but Newcastle as the beer of the month was a nice touch. Bar Louie needs to reconsider using 14 oz pints, when a real pint is 16 oz. The fries were poor and it would be advised to choose another side.

"Fries were the same as Burger King, a disappointment considering they were advertised as 'seasoned fries.' Atmosphere was way too loud including the music but the songs they played did keep the vibe well." - Silverman

"Too loud, way too loud. Not really good music either! Small beer selection and the fact that the burger came with toppings on both sides… fell apart when trying to put condiments on bun. However, good sports games on TVs and extra napkins a plus." - Hamburg

Total (30 pts): 20.7

Comments: Bar Louie has a pretty good burger for a place that doesn't call itself a burger joint. The meat had good flavor, but was a little too greasy. They should probably let the oil drip off before throwing it on the unsuspecting bun. The bun was good but got soggy from all the juices and grease. Provolone cheese was properly melted, and the giardiniera added a nice spiciness to the burger. The fries were forgettable, and the beer selection was ok but nothing special. The music was too loud and made talking difficult. The were plenty of TVs with sports on; a good thing with Maryland playing Pitt on ESPN. Overall, the Louie was a good burger, and even if you don't get the burger it's a good time.

"Quality burger and an excellent choice for late night burger needs as the kitchen is open late. Definitely room for improvement but I am satisfied." - Silverman

"Overall, a very good burger, good meat and toppings, only gripe was that it was a little greasy and messy, definitely a good time though." - Blank