How I Rate the Burgers

I will judge several factors in determining the overall rating for each hamburger I eat.  Each factor will be given a rating of 1 to 5, with five being the best.  I will consider each of the following seven factors.  If any factor is not applicable (e.g. I don’t have any sides with the meal), it will not be included in the calculation.  You’ll notice that five factors deal with just the burger, but that’s what this blog is really about anyway.

Location/Access – How easy is it to find?  Is it easy to get into the parking area?  Is there adequate parking?

Facilities/Ambience – Is the building clean and in good repair?  Is there enough seating?  How is the room temperature?  What kind of noise is there?

Staff/Service – Is the staff friendly?  Are they professional?  Are they clean or sloppy?  How well do they handle any special requests?  How long did it take to get your food?  Was everything correct and, if not, was it corrected to your satisfaction?

Food Presentation and Appearance – How is the food presented (in a basket, on a plate, etc.)?  How does the food look and smell?

Bun Quality – What kind of bun was used?  Is it toasted and/or buttered?  Is it too hard or soft?  Is it the right size for the burger?  Does it hold together well?

Meat Quality – Is it cooked to the requested doneness?  Is it seasoned well?  Does it have a good crust?  Is it juicy or dry?

Toppings – What toppings are on the burger?  How is each topping on its own (lettuce fresh, bacon crisp, cheese melted, etc.)?  How much is there of each?

Overall Taste/Quality – What is the overall taste experience?  Does any topping dominate or seem out of place?  Did the sandwich hold together all the way through the meal?

Sides – Since a burger is seldom eaten by itself, were all the sides of good quality and sufficient quantity?  Was everything the right temperature?

Value - Was it worth the price?

Once each factor is rated, the individual ratings will be averaged to determine the overall rating, rounded to one decimal place.  I will then assign a number of stars to give the overall rating.  Here’s how the final ratings stack up:

0.0-0.4 points, 0 Stars – A truly awful experience, I would never want to get near this burger again, short of a survival situation.

0.5-1.4 points, 1 Star – A bad burger, but edible, I would only eat this again if it were the only option around and I was really hungry.

1.5-2.4 points, 2 Stars – A less than average quality experience, I would go out of my way to avoid this burger.

2.5-3.4 points, 3 Stars – A completely average eating experience, there is nothing wrong with this burger, but nothing special either.

3.5-4.4 points, 4 Stars – A really good eating experience, this burger is above the ordinary and I would choose it from among several other options.

4.5-5.0 points, 5 Stars – Among the best of burgers, I would make special plans and go out of my way to eat one of these again.