Looks like Obama and Biden have a new hamburger haunt in Washington, DC – Rays Hell-Burger. Obama and Biden had lunch at the hamburger joint recently and it was heavily covered by the media, as always. And you know what that means, free advertisement for Ray’s Hell-Burger and that is very good for business.

But Ray’s Hell-Burger doesn’t really need it. It’s been getting very good reviews from the press ever since it was featured by the Washington Post’s Jane Black as the best burger in DC. In her feature she wrote:

For $6.95, you get a 10-ounce burger made of hand-trimmed prime beef (including juicy scraps from nearby Ray’s the Steaks), corn on the cob, and a slice of watermelon. There are only a few seats and no fries here. But who needs ‘em?

President Obama and VP reportedly came in like ordinary patrons. Well, not exactly. With a coterie of Secret Service Agents in tow, that’s not exactly ordinary. But they reported lined up like all the others, paid for their orders (though the cashier offered to comp Obama and party) and they waited for their numbers to be called.

And what did the two most powerful men in America order? For Biden, it was cheese burger with Jalapeño peppers. And for Obama, “”Just a basic cheddar cheese burger. Medium-well. I just want mustard, no ketchup; do you got like a spicy mustard, or a Dijon mustard or somethin’ like that? Lettuce. Tomato.”

Hamburger Lunch: Obama, Biden at Ray’s Hell-Burger 1

Power Hamburger: Obama & Biden at Ray’s Hell-Burger 1

As you may have guessed, what really caught my attention was the impressive list of cheeses that Ray’s offers. Sure, you can get quality basics like Gruyere, Vermont cheddar, smoked mozzarella and Danish blue for $1, but you can also go all out and top your burger with imported Brie, Italian Taleggio or even Epoisses for $1.50 to $4 each. A hint: make sure to ask about what other cheeses and toppings are available when you get to the counter. Although Epoisses was not listed on the chalkboard when we visited, it was available to anyone who asked.

My burger was delicious, if a bit messy. The size of the patty is a blessing on the grill, allowing it to cook through and develop a dark, meaty crust without sacrificing the juicy, pink interior. Unfortunately, the size becomes a liability on the plate – Ray’s recommends cutting their burgers in half to make them more manageable. I did, but the burger’s juices still turned my bun to mush in minutes. It was a small price to pay for a depth of flavor that I haven’t experienced in any other burger here in Washington. The grilled corn on the cob and fresh sliced watermelon that accompany each burger free of charge gave the whole meal a great cook-out feel.

Read the rest of this review DC Foodies – Ray’s Hell Burger: First Impressions

If you like this post, then please consider subscribing to my RSS feed. You can also subscribe by email and have new posts sent directly to your inbox.

Disclaimer: The author claims full ownership of all articles herein but doesn’t claim ownership of all photos posted on this site. If the respective copyright owners wish for their photos to be taken down, feel free to e-mail me or leave a comment and these will be taken down immediately.