Conveniently located less than a block away from the Foggy Bottom Metro stop is a cool, casual eatery called Burger Tap & Shake (BTS).

There was nothing particularly eye-catching about the outside or even the inside of the restaurant. It was simple. Metal stools lined a bar that faced the open kitchen and wooden table-tops and metal chairs filled the rest of the small restaurant. A mural of George Washington covered the wall that lead to the cash registers, likely making a reference to the restaurant’s close proximity to George Washington University. The menu was written in a chalkboard font, which gave the restaurant an even more laid-back vibe.

There were several “signature burgers,” which included some peculiar ingredient pairings, but the house burger, called the Six Buck Chuck, sounded the most appealing to me. Almost an identical choice to all of the burgers in my other reviews, this burger had a beef patty, topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions, and AP sauce. Quite obvious from its name, the burger was six dollars. Then, as usual, there was a fun selection of milkshakes. I just couldn’t be bothered to read every flavor, so chocolate was my natural bias.

The food came out quickly. It arrived some time between me ordering and a quick bathroom break, so it probably took around five minutes. Metal trays seem to be an on-going favorite of burger restaurants, as my burger was once again served on top of a metal tray, lined with paper. Bread lovers would rejoice at the sight of this burger, which was encased in a colossal bun. The bun was large, but not dense, and had a shiny, warm brown layer on the outside. It was also toasted, which left a nice safety blanket just in case the burger became slightly soggy.

I was happy to see juice from the meat seeping onto my plate, reassuring me that this burger would be a good one. The patty was a bit thick, but only had a slight peppery taste so as to avoid overwhelming the rest of the flavors. I vividly remember the sweet tang of the pickles that offset the meat.

My brother’s and my own favorite part of the meal, however, was the house-made burger sauce. According to the BTS website, this sauce is a “house blend of mayo, ketchup, mustard, BBQ, and chipotle.”  My expectations of the sauce were not very high after the disappointment of the sauce BurgerFi serves on their burgers, but before I even began to eat my burger my brother had already taken a couple of bites and proceeded to dump more burger sauce onto his sandwich. As I took my first couple of bites I could see why. The creamy sauce tied in perfectly with the meat and cheese, adding a smooth texture to the burger.

We were so busy eating our burgers that the fries were hugely neglected; we picked at the basket of fries only after our burgers were finished, just to feel better that we’d wasted most of it. The milkshake did not grab our attention either. It was blended to medium thickness and had no lumps or bumps, but overall it was just a plain milkshake. Burger Tap & Shake truly meant the burger to be the star of the meal.

In comparison to the previous burgers I’ve reviewed, Burger Tap & Shake is definitely towards the top. There is no doubt that the quality of the ingredients and the seasonings on this burger left me full and satisfied. I can’t decide if it trumps the Burger Joint burger, however, so I’ll give this burger the equivalent rating of 4 stars.