I have a very strong personality which may not be obvious. I’m also pretty sarcastic if you hadn’t noticed. I’m passionate, enthusiastic and borderline obnoxious about all the things I give a hoot about. My love for food is definitely one of them…
I really love food. When I travel I focus on the places I want to eat first and then plan my trip accordingly. I enjoy eating good quality, healthy and non processed noms that make my body feel wonderful. However, at the same time I love me some greasy junk! I love eating the stuff that is bad for me.
I’m often staring at my fridge at midnight wishing it was all wrapped in bacon and dipped in chocolate and topped with something spicy.
Slater’s 50/50 is the perfect balance between my food passions and my love of great beer. I’ve been going there since it had it’s first location in Anaheim Hills and they have expanded to Huntington Beach and San Diego.
Burgers by design that you can pile high with the most gluttonous options that can cause your arteries to cry a little… but made from fresh ingredients with amazing quality. If you are going to indulge in foods that are high in calories you should choose good quality ingredients and not the crappy pre-made, frozen and barely edible processed garbage most places offer.
This isn’t a grease pit! The well known foods there tend to be higher on the calorie scale but there are plenty of healthy options. You don’t have to do what I do and order everything deep fried and slathered with bacon but if you are craving that sort of deliciousness then you SHOULD!
The famous 50/50 patty is 50 percent beef and … wait for it… 50 percent BACON! Yes, you can a few moments to ponder that one, get a bib and take care of your drool.
Like spicy? Get the fire beef patty when you build your own! It’s got a kick to it so make sure you balance it out and don’t go crazy with the other spicy options. Unless you want to feel the yummy burn. I’ve tried the Flamin’ Hot on the Burgers Designed menu and it’s really tasty… I love the beer battered onion rings on that burger.
If you want a decadent burger try the Burger Carbonara. It features a peppered sterling silver beef patty, panchetta, sun dried tomatoes, creamy alfredo, micro basil on a ciabatta roll. So. Freaking. Yummy!
My personal favorite of the Slater’s 50/50 Burgers Designed is the Peanut Butter and Jealousy. Yup. You heard me. Peanut butter and jelly on a burger with big thick delicious bacon. Some of you are making a face right now thinking about that… but take my word for it… you will be a believer if you love peanut butter, jelly and bacon. It will change you.
I’m going to be totally honest: All of the menu items are fantastic. I have yet to be disappointed in anything I’ve tried and I think I’ve tried everything by now. The appetizers are amazing and if you like garlic, cheese and awesome you must try the Vampire Dip!
My last trip to Slater’s 50/50 I split a salad with friends as an appetizer. The salads are just as delicious and the rest of the menu. I’m now adding wasabi peas in my salads after having the Thai Chicken Salad.
The dessert menu doesn’t disappoint either! If you are a shake person you will find a combination that you will fall in love with. The Guinness Mint Chocolate shake is just amazing. Bacon lovers will want to try the Slater’s 50/50 famous bacon brownie!
If you want to try the best dessert around (I affectionately describe it as delicious crack… which is totally different than street crack) have the Cococarma. It’s a cookie, topped with caramel, toasted coconut, chocolate, laced with awesome, and they bake it in a cast iron skillet then top it with ice cream. It’s like a baked Samoa/Caramel Delight Girl Scout Cookie dipped in deliciousness (I’ve said that a lot)… but BETTER!
When I attended a Social Media event at their Huntington Beach location I was able to sample almost everything on the menu. That in itself was rad but what topped that event was meeting the men behind the bacon: Owner Scott Slater and the Executive Chef Brad Lyons. They aren’t two dudes that just wanted to open up a sports bar! They are two guys that are passionate about what they do and it shows. The staff is happy, friendly and cute! Hey, eye-candy helps… it’s worth mentioning! I quickly got the impression it was like a family.
Mr. Slater Himself… and I look like a complete fool because I’m not making a face!
I talked Scott and Brad’s ears off as much as they’d let me about the food, my favorites, their favorites and my concerns about food allergies. Even though I have frequently dined at Slater’s 50/50 I have yet to take the kids because it’s become my “night out” place. It can be a challenge to dine out with kids with food allergies but after one conversation with Executive Chef Brad Lyons I was totally put at ease. Unlike a lot of places that have their food delivered pre-made everything at Slater’s 50/50 is fresh and prepared when you order. There are a lot of options to accommodate food allergies and dietary restrictions and that made their super ultra deluxe bonus points go up a bajillion times.
I haven’t even gone in to the amazing alcohol and whats on tap! All I can say is if you like black and tans order a Dirty Pond Scum.
Black and Tan aka Dirty Pond Scum and A Pancake Burger Amazeballs Creation!
I may have to do a full night of alcohol tasting to give my full review on that… after I go back for a visit for an allergy friendly dining out with kids experience… oh the list goes on here.
Go find them on Facebook and Tweet with them. Drool over their menu and see if they have a Southern California location near you. If you aren’t in the area put them on your list of places to eat when you are! Oh and here are some final images in case you weren’t tempted enough.
Now I’m really freaking hungry.
The Best Burgers You Will Ever Have, Slater’s 50/50: Burgers By Design | Leila