Rosamunde Sausage Grill - San Francisco, CA

The Cheese Burger at Rosamunde Sausage Grill, Lower Haight, San Francisco, CA.

At Rosamunde Sausage Grill the line starts forming early on Tuesday. Only on that day does Rosamunde serve their legendary cheese burger. I got there just before they open at 11:30. There were about fifteen people in line. Many more came behind me. Rosamunde only serves 150 of their 8-ounce masterpiece, and only on this day.

The Grill at Rosamunde.

Legend has it that the original owner, Jeffrey felt that there were no good burgers in San Francisco.  And even though he had quite a reputation for sausage, he felt the void must be filled. So once per week, for the past eight years, the place fires up the charcoal grill for burgers.

The burger itself is quite a deal at $6. It comes with 8 ounces of loosely packed, fresh ground chuck from Weber Quality Meats. The burger comes with cheddar cheese, green leaf lettuce, tomato slice, grilled onions, pickle slices, mustard and ketchup. It is all served on a nicely toasted onion bun.

Brian Berger after finishing off his burger, Rosamunde Sausage Grill, San Francisco, CA.

I waited my turn at the counter and Charlie took my order. I must say that I was one of the few people that Charlie did not already know by name. He patiently answered my tedious questions in between patrons. He told me it would be about 25 minutes. He didn’t take my money. That happened later when my burger was ready. Many people who ordered headed next door to Tornado, a beer bar, where they eat their burger.

Jeff Berger with his namesake.

While I waited, I chatted up the man next to me. Turns out his name is Jeff Berger. As we were talking about his favorite SF burger (Corner Store), another fellow walked up who had overheard us. His name – Brian Berger. I know he was telling the truth, his truck for Berger Design Build, was parked right outside.  

Exactly 25 minutes after I had ordered, my name was called. The burger is served on white paper in a yellow basket. It is an impressive stack with everything looking fresh and tall. They first bite revealed a perfectly cooked medium burger with moist and tasty meat. It was not heavily seasoned, maybe a little salt and pepper, but it was very tasty. The cheese was melted just right. All the vegetables were fresh and crisp. I liked the mix of ketchup and mustard, a classic. The only beef I have with the burger is that the bun fell apart a little on the bottom under all the weight and juice.

The cultural experience of eating here was fantastic. There were so many regulars. It must be like a weekly reunion for Charlie, who politely declined to have his photo taken. I will become a regular myself.

Burger 5 out of 5

No fries or shakes.

Rosamunde Sausage Grill

545 Haight Street

San Francisco, CA 94117

415-437-6851

rosamundesausagegrill.com

Rosamunde and its neighborly bar, Tornado, where you can eat your burger.

All photos by Scott R. Kline on October 2, 2012 at Rosamunde Sausage Grill, San Francisco, CA.