Cook's American Grill

We are on the search for the best burger in Topeka. Here is how we rate the burger joints that we will review. First we put heavy emphasis on where the joint is headquartered, Local (Topeka) will garner an automatic 10 bonus points. Kansas owned chains (headquartered in Lawrence, Wichita, etc) an automatic 5 bonus points and National chains (those headquartered outside the state) will garner an automatic 0 bonus points. The ten categories that we will use in our search for the best burger in Topeka will be 1.Burger Patties Quality, 2. Bun Quality, 3. Customer Service, 4. Garnish Quality, 5. Fries Quality, 6. Atmosphere, 7. Order Accuracy, 8. Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dinning area, Entrance, etc), 9. Building Accessibility and 10. Price. All categories will earn a score between 1 and 10, with 10 being the highest and 1 being the poorest.

Cook's American Grill is a local burger joint that has been one of my favorite places.  Even though, it is much more then a burger joint, we are taking a look at then today in our search for the best burger in Topeka.

Bonus Points: 10

1. Burger Patties Quality: 8
 Here is another place that serves up a thin burger to try to keep costs down as beef prices continue to rise. Even though there was more bun then meat, it had a great texture. Cooked thoroughly and not overdone. I enjoyed the burger for the most part. However, they serve Pepsi™, even though in the opinion of this humble reviewer (as I've said before), Pepsi™ brings the rating down.  Nothing against Pepsi™, but to me it tastes flat in a head to head comparison to Coke™. Pepsi™ is sweeter the Coca-Cola™. That sweet/flatter taste diminishes the taste of the burger, rather then enhancing it, like the Coke™ does.  It's kind of like the old Coke™ ads, "Everything tastes better, with a Coke™".

photographer Kevin Surbaugh

2. Bun Quality: 10
The bun is a Sara Lee bun that is toasted on the grill before being put on the burger.

3. Customer Service: 10
 From the counter help to the grill crew each member of this small local establishment provides excellent service.

4. Garnish Quality: 10
 The garnish was excellent and very fresh as one would expect from a restaurant. 

5. Fries Quality: 9
 Nice crispy fries, could be a little better they weren't quite so crispy, but the home made taste gives them a strong rating in my book. Another huge plus, was being able to bite into the potatoes.

6. Atmosphere: 10
 The atmosphere of  Cook's is that of a small town cafe. A style that I miss from my days of growing up in a small town, so when I get the chance I enjoy stopping in a place like this.

7. Order Accuracy: 10
The counter person was very friendly and attentive, taking our special request order as we requested and the grill crew prepared it exactly as the order was taken.

8. Cleanliness (Restrooms, Dinning area, Entrance, etc): 9

The restrooms were very clean except the trash cans could use a good cleaning.  As for the dinning areas, one can diffidently tell they have done business throughout the day and the carpeted dining room is harder to keep clean.

9. Building Accessibility: 8
The building is fairly accessible to some with limited mobility although with the double door entrance a person in a wheelchair might have some trouble navigating the doors as they come in. Upon exit, with both doors swinging out the exit would be easier.
However, getting down the narrow hall and in and out the restrooms would be next to impossible for someone in a wheelchair.  

10. Price: 9
burger $2.75 x2
Fries $1.69 x2
Soda $1.49 x2
Total price for two meals: $

Total Points:  9.4


Hours:
Mon - Sat: 7:00 am - 8:00 pm
Closed Sunday's
Location:
1936 SW Gage Blvd
Topeka KS 

Phone:
785-271-1415

Website:
 Cook's American Grill