If there’s one food that can be deemed truly American it’s got to be the cheeseburger.

What was once a ground beef patty and a slice of cheese sandwiched between a bread bun, has evolved into a more gourmet option. Restaurants offer both fresh and fried toppings ranging from lettuce and tomato to onion rings and potato chips to compliment beef, turkey, veggie, and various other kinds patties. In appreciation of these American treats, I’ve embarked on a search for the best burger restaurants around the D.C. metropolitan area.

My first stop was The Burger Joint in Columbia, Maryland. It’s a small franchise, but there are several locations around D.C. and Virginia. I wasn’t expecting much from this 80s rock themed chain, but I ended up being pleasantly surprised.

Album covers from music artists including The Cars, Rod Stewart, Loverboy, and Bruce Springsteen lined the funky, dark purple walls, making the already small restaurant just a little bit cozier. There weren’t very many tables, but there seemed to be just enough for everyone who entered the restaurant. Matching the rock ‘n’ roll  theme were some of the workers, who flaunted tattoos and edgy haircuts.

A short, simple menu was mounted on the wall. It was mostly made up of several different kinds of burgers, but also featured salads, hot dogs, and the most complimentary additions to a burger: milkshakes. In an attempt to order a quite classic cheeseburger, I decided on “The Burger,” a beef patty, to which I added lettuce, tomato, American cheese, and avocado. My burger costed a bit under ten dollars, not including any sides or drink.

The service was quick; I timed the wait for my burger to be about seven minutes. Even around the lunch rush, customers appeared to be quickly seated and served.

Upon receiving our food, a mountainous display of onion rings topped my father’s burger, which rested on a thin paper marked with “BGR,” the logo for The Burger Joint. The heavily breaded side order made the burger look overwhelming, but underneath was a reasonably sized sandwich.

My very first bite popped with flavor, as I watched juice run from the patty onto my plate. It was immediately noticeable that the meat was well seasoned and the patty was neither paper thin nor unbearably thick. Another notable feature of the burger was the fresh toppings. The lettuce and tomato were bright in color, and had the crunch of freshness that’s expected of good produce. The soft sesame seed bun that enveloped the meat and toppings was like the cherry on top.

The Burger Joint’s eclectic vibe, fast service, and delicious burger impressed both me and my father and its claims of “dry-aged burgers,” “fresh baked bread,” and “hand cut tomatoes” all tasted true. Together we decided on a well-deserved rating of 4 out of 5 stars.