Have you heard about the opening of Smashburger in Citrus Heights? Smashburger buzz seems to be everywhere. I’ve seen it on Twitter. I’ve been asked about it in carpool. Even my mom and her friend, Beth, are buzzing about this new burger joint. Everyone, it seems, wants to know: What is a Smashburger?
Happily, fellow foodie Vanessa Smith and I signed on for this tough assignment. Our mission? Determine just what the “smash” in Smashburger means, and be one of the first in Sacramento to experience this new fast-casual restaurant.
The concept is simple, but the execution is fresh, delicious and very now. The feel of Smashburger is part diner, part hip restaurant. The menu is well edited (burgers, dogs, fries, salads, shakes) with a bit of a southern flair thrown in (try the sweet potato fries and fried pickles). The ingredients are what set Smashburger apart: 100% fresh Angus beef, real cheeses like aged cheddar and brie, smoky applewood bacon, fresh produce, and a proprietary blend of seasonings that makes this foodie ready to go back for more.
Now for the “smash” part. You’ll be thrilled to know that we learned about this first-hand; in fact, Vanessa hit the grill and smashed her very own burger with excellent results. It involved fresh beef, a little melted butter and a free-form “smasher” that resulted in a seared burger patty that was juicy and delicious. We tried the NorCal burger, as well as the Mushroom Swiss burger, and both were delish!
Vanessa here: And, let me just say, the “smashing” shot is not my best angle, but it was a lot of fun to do and surprisingly was not an easy task. Hats off to the cooks who first have to “smash” the burgers for a count of ten, using more strength than I thought you would need to hold a burger down!
Moving on to the “sizzle.” The Smashsides offerings are where they really set themselves apart. The Veggie Frites – fresh asparagus spears, carrot sticks and green beans, lightly-seasoned and flash-fried to a warm, yet crunchy consistency – were my favorite and a great way to mix up a traditional burger and fry menu.
What can be said about “savor”? Well, everything! Maria really liked the Smashfries, lightly tossed in olive oil, rosemary and garlic. In fact, the variety of options on the menu will allow you to go light or indulge and treat yourself to the works.
For those watching the waistline, choose the classic Smashchicken sandwich on a multi-grain bun, or one of four signature salad options (we tried the Sunset, with fresh greens, dried cranberries, sunflower and pumpkin seeds, and loved it).
And, for those who choose to indulge, Smashburger uses Haagen Dazs ice cream in their milk shakes and malts, as well as root beer floats. We tried the Dulce de Leche milk shake – simply scrumptious. (They also offer beer and wine.)
For so much flavor and fresh ingredients, the price point (¼ lb. burgers start at $3.99, sides at $1.69) is a terrific value. Head over to the Citrus Heights location (5500 Sunrise Blvd. at Pebble Beach), which opens today, March 31 (hours are 10 AM to 10 PM everyday). Bring the kiddos and try the Kids Smashburger, Smashdog, chicken strips or grilled cheese.
Not in your neighborhood? No worries – there are four additional Smashburger locations planned for the Sacramento area: Folsom (mid- to late-May), Roseville (late summer) and two other locations to open in 2011.
We had a lot of fun sampling the Smashburger menu with Cakegrrl, so check out her post, too. If you need even more reasons to try Smashburger, try a NorCal Smashburger between April 10-16 and $1 will go to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services (a SacFoodies partner!). And if you’re on Twitter, tweet using the hashtag #smashburger, and you could win a free gift certificate.
Results of this SacFoodies mission: Don’t be afraid to get “smashed” – on burgers, that is!
Kelly says
Can’t wait to try a Smashburger! Thanks for letting people know about the opportunity to benefit Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services too!
Shannon says
That burger is calling my name! I can’t wait to try this place out!
Cody says
I love smash burger! Smash Burger was a vendor in our fair last year, and I doubted a burger joint holding up against delicious food fair such as turkey legs and corn on the cobb- but their food speaks for itself…the veggie frites and sweet potato fries are my fav! Great post! I love this blog! Keep it up!