Blue Dog Beer Tavern in Sherman Oaks

Another day of basketball and another restaurant. This time it was Blue Dog Beer Tavern in Sherman Oaks. Blue Dog is mostly a beer and burger joint, and they do both well. They list about a couple dozen different beers, about half of which are on tap. Nine burgers are listed on the menu, but it looks as though you can pretty much ask them to make whatever burger you want, within reason, and pending available toppings. They also serve salads, sandwiches, and other typical bar fare. I will have to return for the Buffalo wings, since they look like the real deal.

Today I tried the Blue Dog Burger which is a 1/3 lb. of certified Angus beef, topped with 1/4 lb. of thick-sliced bacon, fried mushrooms and onions, Swiss cheese, and a hickory smoke sauce served on a grilled potato bun. Right off the bat it was clear that Blue Dog cares about its burgers, as they asked how I wanted mine (medium, but I could go medium rare next time). This was a very good burger. The patty was loosely hand-formed which left much of the beef texture and flavor intact. There were three large fatty slices of bacon about a quarter inch thick. And the cheese oozed and pulled like a good cheese should. It was a little bit messy, especially towards the end, but not so messy that it was difficult to eat. Overall, it was a wonderful melange of beefy goodness.

I also have to comment on the fries, which were also very good and came standard with the burger. They were natural cut with skin on, and they had an excellent crunch factor without sacrificing the interior flakiness. So paired with the burger, it was a very pleasurable experience to say the least. And all of this cost only a little more than a Hamilton.

Some other notes on Blue Dog:
- 4 out of 7 on my mess-o-meter, which means stuff might fall off, but if you have big enough hands you can hold it together.
- 7.5 out of 10 on my burg-o-meter, meaning I will definitely go back, even though I don't have many reasons to go to Sherman Oaks.

Blue Dog Beer Tavern
4524 Saugus Ave.
Sherman Oaks, CA 91403
(818) 990-2583

Blue Dog Beer Tavern