Boca2 Hamilton

"When you go to a concert that you’ve really been looking forward to, there’s always that one song that you need to hear. Elton John has “Tiny Dancer,” at an Adele show, it’s “Hello,” and if you see Dave Matthews Band, it’s “Crash,” albeit a 17 minute version. The same can be said about eating a certain dish at one of your favorite restaurants, and at Bocado in West Midtown, their greatest hit is the burger stack. This Westside mainstay has been around since 2009, which made it one of first places to open up on the Westside. And while it’s always been a great date spot, Bocado has remained a go-to for weeknight dinners and long weekend lunches because of their burger stack. It includes two thin and crispy patties, American cheese, mayo, and pickles, and it’s the burger that you’ll soon measure all others against. photo credit: Gavin Guidry While the rest of the dishes are secondary, much like at a show, you need more than just the one song to round things out. The menu here includes plenty of small plates, like red quinoa with cashew butter and deviled eggs, each of which is great if you just want to graze while you have a drink or two. The other option is getting a second entree to split, and while they’re all good, the roasted chicken with grits is what you should go for. Is Bocado as shiny and new as it once was? Not at all, but with so many restaurants popping up in the area now, it means you can get a reservation here a little easier than you used to. When you add that to the burger stack and their great cocktails, Bocado is still one of our go-tos for everything from an afterwork solo meal at the bar to a big second or third date. Just make sure that either you or whoever you’re with gets the burger, because just like when Radiohead stopped playing “Creep” at their live shows, it’s just not the same experience without it. Food Rundown Bocado Burger Stack This burger might not be why you came to Bocado for the first time, but it’s the reason you’ll come back again and again. It’s the perfect double stack with American cheese, mayo, and pickles, and it’s the first thing you should order here. Red Quinoa This small plate comes with a mix of quinoa, cucumber, avocado, peas, cilantro, radish, and cashew lime butter. It’s fresh, light, and a great way to eat a salad without feeling like you’re just eating a salad. Deviled Eggs A lot of places serve mediocre deviled eggs, but Bocado isn’t one of them. The toppings change from time to time, but they’re always good. Get an order for the table. Herb Fries When you smartly get the burger, opt for the herb fries. They’re tossed with garlic and herbs, and served with aioli, and are an absolute upgrade to the original. Roasted Chicken Only available at dinner, the roasted chicken is a little spicy, with an almost hot sauce-like flavor to it, and it comes with grits and collard greens. If you’re splitting the burger with someone and need a second entree to share, this is a good choice." - Sarah Bailey