1501 4th St, Santa Rosa CA 95404
(707) 546-4016
Parking: Ample street parking
Hours: Tues to Fri: 11am to 8pm, Saturday 11am to 5pm, Closed Sundays and Mondays
Last Visited: December 6, 2006
Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 2 to 3 stars
Price: $ to $$
From the outside, Gayle’s looks like a small little shop with its white paint and blue trim. The movable sign that says Superburger has a flower bed on top that adds a touch of color. Arthur recommended Superburger as a must try for great burgers and excellent pie. I would agree with the great burgers – more on that later.
Outside is a window to walk up and order for take out. There are a total of twenty seats inside on three sides of a rectangular counter. The swivel chairs are cushioned and comfortable. The seats give a full view of what everyone else is having, what’s taking place behind the counter, and the large bright blue menu hanging at the front of the restaurant.
The counter has the usual chrome napkin holders, ketchup and mustard, and every few stools is a movable container holding mayonnaise, relish, pickles, and onions. When it’s your turn to receive an order, the waitress will move the container to your seat. It’s a simple operation with the cook behind the counter grilling and frying lots of goodies.
The operation is small with at least three people working – one waiting the counter, one cook, and one person prepping food in the back. Seating is self serve upon entering. Sports memorabilia hangs on the far wall – a menu signed by Joe Montana, a champion hockey stick, and more. The regular patrons are called by name when they enter the place.
The menu offers regular size burgers, cheese burgers, king size burgers, onion rings, fries, BLTs, hot dogs, chili, and more. There are also a variety of shakes and malts.
- Cheese King with Fries – 1/3 of a pound of meat is shaped into a patty and grilled. A slice of American cheese tops the burger which is placed on a large bun with tomatoes and lettuce. You add on the additional toppings if you so desire. The fries are skinny, but crunchy. They come out so hot that they burn your fingers. All are placed in a paper lined basket. During my second visit, the fries were not that hot – it took some work to get the salt to stick to them In 2006, the price had gone up to $7.25.
- Homemade Pie – Of all the things I tried, this was probably the most disappointing. It might have been the hype that came when the restaurant was first recommended. I tried a slice of peach pie. Presentation was average with the filling oozing out of the pie. I think what was more shocking was the price versus the quantity and quality. The price is about the same as the cost of a whole pie at the supermarket. Although it’s not the same comparison, the pie was average at best with the filling being okay, but the crust was a bit too soft, and just not to my tastes. I prefer my own homemade pie. $4.15
- Shake – I tried a vanilla shake. Even though they use reduced fat milk, the shake was tall, rich, and creamy. They make it in a stainless cup and let it froth to just the right consistency. Very good. The shake is also offered in classic chocolate, and for a slightly higher price, banana and strawberry. $3.80
Overall, the 2004 experience was good. The people (both staff and patrons) are entertaining to watch. The service is good and fits with the atmosphere. However, in 2006, I found the service to be fair and dropped the 3 to 4 star rating down to 2 to 3. Although the gal asked us if we needed anything fairly frequently, her demeanor could have been improved. Our drinks were plopped on the counter rather than placed and her method seemed to lack that friendliness that I felt before. Gayle’s Superburger indeed offers a great burger and is definitely worth a try.
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