Mike's at the Crossroads - Burgers, Cotati

7665 Old Redwood Highway, Cotati, CA 94931
(707) 665-9999
Parking: in shopping center parking lot
http://mikesatthecrossroads.com/

Last Visited: June 18, 2005

Food: 3 to 4 stars
Atmosphere: 3 to 4 stars
Service: 3 stars
Price: $ to $$

Mike Condrin first opened Mike’s at the Yard (the Petaluma branch) in 1991. Since then, Mike’s has been a local favorite for his burgers and his ‘No Fries’ attitude. Mike’s at the Crossroads expanded the business to Cotati.

Each burger is made with half a pound of Harris Ranch Beef on a toasted bun and cooked until medium. All burgers come with cheese (because Mike thinks it should be there), and there’s no extra charge for it. All burgers come with a choice of macaroni salad, red potato salad, tossed green salad with vinaigrette, or chips. Under no circumstances will you find fries. You can read his eleven reasons why Mike doesn’t have French fries. I personally like reason number 9: ‘The burger is greasy by itself.’

Besides the Mike’s burger, you’ll also find a variety of additions that can be made to make your burger meet your tastebuds. Other burgers include: the “Go Jets” burger, Stinky Breath burger, and the Pesty Pesto Burger.

Walk into Mike’s and you’ll see the bar and the tables. The kitchen is located in the back corner on the right side. The television was on during our visit, and for your viewing pleasure are the In and Out burger t-shirts stuck to the ceiling. Each one contains a statement written in black marker about trading in the shirt for a Mike’s burger.

Upon our arrival, we were told to sit anywhere we liked, and a waitress promptly came and brought us menus. The girls were efficient and though a bit overwhelmed, they did a great job.

- Mike’s Burger – Available with bacon for an additional cost, the Mike’s burger is the most basic with a slice of cheese melted on top of the burger over a toasted bun. The top half of the toasted bun contains a mixture of chopped fresh tomatoes and pickles. A slice of lettuce, two slices of tomato, and a slice of red onion are placed upon the top half ready for you to assemble. The burger is juicy and delicious. The meat is cooked to a perfect medium, and is packed loose enough to feel soft and retain its juices. The bun is a bit on the soft side despite the toasting. For the side, I selected the tossed green salad. The kitchen gave me macaroni salad instead, but the waitress promptly brought me a large side of tossed green salad. I was disappointed by the green salad since all of it seemed to have rust on the edges. The macaroni salad wasn’t particularly exciting. I should have gone for the bag of chips. Great burger patty, and fresh fixings. $6.95

The place is not about ambiance, but it is about a good burger. Having been there only twice so far, it’s hard to tell if the bun can get toasted more, but if you like soft buns, then it’s just right as it is. I would suggest getting the bag of chips when you select your side. Great burger and great place to check out – even just to read the reasons for no fries.