Burger Backlash: Residents Sound Off on Bevy of New Burger Joints

With Weezy's Grass-Fed Shed and Smashburger slated to open this summer, there will be a total of six restaurants in Mill Valley that cater to a patty-loving crowd. It has many residents saying enough already with the burgers, and asking to see some more creative dining options in town.

"Another burger stand!” Rachelle Sarosi wrote in response to our article about Weezy’s opening in June. “Wish it could be something a little different we already have Super Duper and Pearls and both of them are pretty good! At least its not another pizza, yogurt place or salon.”

Along those same lines, “Hair salons, fro-yo and burger joints, oh my,” Christine Hettich del Castillo wrote on Facebook.

Another commenter, Susan, had a similar reaction:

“While I wish the best for Weezy's and Smash, why does Mill Valley need two more burger joints?” she asked. "Aren't Pearls and Super Duper enough for our town of 14,000?”

Indeed, when we asked readers last May “Who Has the Best Burger in Town” 41 percent of you named Pearl’s Phat Burgers as your favorite.

Super Duper Burger came in second place in our poll, with 18 percent of the vote. Let’s not forget about In-N-Out Burger, which ranked third, and McDonald's, of course, was also on that list.

And then there’s all the other restaurants that can certainty hold their own when it comes to serving up delicious meat or vegis on a bun: Buckeye Roadhouse, Bungalow 44, Balboa Café and El Paseo House of Chops, to name a few. 

“[I] Think we need some food diversity in Mill Valley,” Janis Bosenko wrote on Facebook. “Enough with the burgers already.”

Mill Valley residents may be fed up with burger joints, but they were also full of other ideas.

Responding to Weezy’s plan to cater to nearby Tam High students, one of our commenters, Annie said beef and fries don’t cut it for parents trying to reduce the fat in their kids' diets. Instead she suggested “a good old fashioned deli with healthy sandwiches on unique breads, long subs to share, organic salads and healthy case items…”

The deli could provide pre-made selections to deal with the noon crush, and offer affordable Italian food in the evenings, she said.

“We love the Italian restaurants downtown, but they are pricy for families,” she wrote.

Lydia Fabend’s also posted some strong opinions on Facebook:

“Hate to hate on burgers cause they’re yummy, but we do not need another burger joint in Mill Valley” she wrote. “Did they survey the town before coming up with this idea? I know, let's open a restaurant that serves burgers right across the street from a restaurant that serves burgers! Genius!' Here's some free ideas: Spanish tapas, farm fresh Mediterranean comfort food, Cal-Asian, French bistro, wine bar with Napa-inspired nibbles, German-Polish-Irish sausages with all the fixings .... Oh, forget it. I'll just have a burger.”

Are there an excessive number of burger joints in Mill Valley? What other types of restaurants would you like to see in the city? Let us know in the comments section.

Here's what else is happening on Mill Valley Patch:

• Weezy's to Open in Former Hawk's Tavern Space this Summer
• Police Blotter: Stolen Car, Victoria's Secret Shenanigans and More Pricey Bike Thefts
• Tam High Freshman Wins National Honor in Scholastic Writing Contest
• Construction to Start on East Blithedale This Summer
• Judge Denies Max Wade’s Request to Relocate Trial, Sever Lambo Theft and Attempted Murder Charges
• CaffeOggi Closes After 23 Years in Mill Valley – Smash Burger to Open There
• New Tam High Principal to Start on July 1
• VIDEO: From the Marin Coast to the Bay Lights, Take an Ultra-HD Ride Above the Bay Area