Red Mill Burgers--Phinney Ridge

09/07/2008 Posted by TheMemberName

The verde veggie burger is the best I have ever had. Maybe it's the sauce, maybe it's the toasted bun. I'm a vegetarian who used to frequent Red Mill with a non-vegetarian, and she always ordered the veggie burger here, claiming that it was actually better than the cow burgers. Delicious. The real milkshakes are good, too. Unfortunately, this restaurant is cramped and it can be hard to find a seat, or even a place to stand while waiting; the line is routinely out the door; credit/debit cards are not accepted (there's an ATM, though); the hours are incompatible with late-night and Monday cravings; parking is a headache; it’s so noisy that people don’t always hear their names called when their orders are finally ready; and it gets so busy that the employees are often unable to answer to phone. I’m surprised the owners don’t extend the hours and open a drive-through, or a new location next to school (think how much money they could make off the munchies at Evergreen!). The employees seem to handle to crowds pretty well.

Pros: Amazing veggie burger

Cons: Unless you are lucky enough to score a seat, it's impossible to avoid being in everyone's way

08/07/2008 Posted by angelcity67

Red Mill has the best garden burgers in Seattle, hands down; I have them dozens of times and I've never been disappointed! But if you come during the lunch rush, be prepared for a long wait - sometimes the line makes it all the way out the door. The fries and pineapple milkshakes are great too!

Pros: easy parking

Cons: noisy, long lines

06/15/2008 Posted by alphaphish

Red Mill has excellent burgers and fries - the verde, made with roasted chiles, and the double deluxe stand out. These aren't exactly gourmet burgers - they are the ones that have that drive-in style gooey cheese and soft buns, and they are less than $8. We go there whenever we have the chance. One complaint, but it is a big one - they close early at unpredictable times. Very unprofessional. I tried to get in tonight fifteen minutes before closing and the door was shut. It's too bad - these are great burgers and I rushed to get there in time. Hopefully they'll fix this soon.

05/04/2008 Posted by itsthemirrors

I've been living in Seattle for a couple of years now and have been looking forward to trying Red Mill Burgers -- I've heard a lot about it. Like a previous reviewer, I use In-N-Out as the benchmark when it comes to burgers. Today I tried it and thought the overall experience was just ok. There was a bit of a wait but that was understandable based on the line. I tried the Double Deluxe Burger and enjoyed the spicy chili powder-ish kick but overall, I thought the burger was just, er, run-of-the-mill -- no pun intended. Having said that, the fries were fantastic. Overall, its worth trying if you're new to the area and maybe worth a stop if you're in the vicinity, but Red Mill Burgers is not a place I will go out of my way to return to. In my opinion, Burgermaster and Fatburger are better alternatives in Seattle. In response to the previous reviewer's nonsensical rant about Californians, all I have to say is: DUDE! I moved here from California too and last time I checked, every citizen was free to move where they please in this country. You need to face the fact that we are absolutely and without a shadow of a doubt cooler than you. We only moved here to leech off of the lower cost of living. Once we consume your resources and turn Seattle into another LA, we'll all move back to Cali - job well done. In-N-Out is the best and that's all there is to it.

Pros: good prices, good vibe

Cons: its hard to live up to the high expectations

04/27/2008 Posted by soraya9

My dinner companion dared to ask the cashier/order taker at Red Mill about a charge on our receipt (the wrong burger had been rung up) and we were treated to silence and withering looks from not only the cahier, but the manager as well. Yes, it was only a 40 cent overcharge and the WRONG BURGER. I was so appalled at how they treated my friend that I approached the Manager and was told that the cashier was new and that they had been busy all day. No apology- just more withering looks for both my friend and I. Wow. So what if the gals working there are attractive- their attitude makes them ugly and the food horrible.

Pros: None.

Cons: Horrible attitudes, overcharging, 0 customer service .

01/23/2008 Posted by blywyn

Yes indeed, this place has spectacular cheeseburgers. But you may well wait 40 minutes to get your order. The staff are completely brain-dead, and don't care about customers because this place has received so much press. They'll lose your order and you'll watch the "chef" play air guitar. Perhaps tourists will think that this is a cute, laid-back Northwest experience. But it's actually a poor business model. Make your cardiologist happy and skip on down the street to Carmelita for great food and staff that care.

Pros: The cheeseburgers, when you finally get your order...

Cons: Customer service

11/25/2007 Posted by go_back_to_cali_morons

Comparing these to an "In-n-Out" burger is as naive as it is irresponsible. If you are going to complain about a Red Mill burger, you should make sure that your next sentence isn't one that says that you prefer an In-n-Out burger. By the way, no one would mind if you packed up and took yourselves back to California and stayed there. You guys from there are the only ones who think you are cool, but you still think everyone envies you. Get over yourselves and your crappy In-n-Out burgers. I don't remember anyone saying that In-n-Out burgers are one of the top 20 in the country. So pack your bags and get the hell out of Seattle. And Santa Fe too.

Pros: Burgers, Fries

Cons: California immigrants are all over Seattle. You can spot them by their incessant comparison of EVERYTHING to California!

06/13/2007 Posted by greenlakegirl723

Even though it was small, crowded, and not the cleanest place, it gets 5 stars for the great food and quick staff. The line was practically wrapped around the block, but the staff busts out all the food they can while still staying upbeat. Try the bleu cheese bacon burger.

Pros: Delicious burger, cheap

Cons: Crowded, dirty

04/03/2007 Posted by sherryi

These Seattle landmark restaurants that are supposed to be so awesome are so disappointing. My bar is In-n-Out Burger in California. I read an article that compared these to Red Mill. My husband and I made the journey to Phinney Ridge on a Saturday. Place was small and crowded...always a good sign. Despite the fact that the line was out the door, our order was taken within 3 minutes. Good service! After finding a tiny, uncomfortable table we got our burgers in about 8 minutes - no complaints. However, the burgers were blase'. This Mill sauce was a little like ketchup, mayo and chili powder. Burgers were flavorless and my bun was so dry it was falling apart. We had ordered some onion rings to try and they were ok. We will not go back.

03/01/2007 Posted by im2345

Hamburgers are not my favorite, but when I need a little grease to lubricate the gullet, Red Mill is where I head. Plus, I can get my coffee fix next door

Pros: Not bad for fast food

Cons: Still going to clog the arteries!