Brian K.
Yelp
Take The Trip: Preston's Smash Burgers
I've been reading about Preston's for quite a while now. Back when they were just a food truck, people couldn't stop talking about their smash burgers. So when I heard they had finally opened a brick-and-mortar spot, I knew it was time to take the trip and see what all the hype was about.
Walking in, the place gives off a low-key vibe. The dining room is painted in a calm blue, with just a couple pieces of artwork on the walls. Nothing flashy or overdone--just an unassuming space where the food takes center stage.
The menu? Simple but interesting. You don't have to flip through pages of choices, but what they do offer sounds carefully crafted.
My wife went with the Mushroom Sandwich, and Preston's does it a little differently. Instead of a standard mushroom cap, they use lion's mane mushrooms, cut into pieces, battered, fried, and stacked on a brioche bun. It's topped with lemon thyme mayo, pickled red onions, and house-made pickles. On the side, she had shoestring fries--not fresh-cut, but cooked to a golden-yellow crisp. Her verdict? Short and to the point: "It was tasty."
As for me, I had been waiting a long time to sink my teeth into one of their burgers. I ordered the Spicy Boi Burger ($13.00) and made it a double patty. This one comes topped with Sambal jam, pimento cheese spread, pickled red onions, and house pickles. Like my wife, I upgraded to fries for $2.00 (if you order them on their own, they're $3.00).
The burger did not disappoint. Tender, juicy, and full of flavor. The Sambal jam added a perfect kick, balanced beautifully with the creamy pimento cheese and the tang of the pickles and onions. Everything just worked together. I really enjoyed it.
Now, here's where things slipped a little. As good as the food was, it was served in mini food bags--no plates, no wrappers, no real way to eat comfortably. For a dine-in spot, that felt like a miss. On top of that, while they offered beers, the soda fountain was broken. That left me with only water from a dispenser. It was cool but not cold, no ice, and honestly a little underwhelming. Minus points there.
So while I would love to hand Preston's a glowing 5-star review, a few small misses brought my score down. The food itself was delicious and absolutely worth the visit--but please, consider offering something to eat off of. A simple fix that would make the dining experience so much better.
At the end of the day, Preston's still serves up smash burgers that live up to their reputation. If you're a burger fan, you owe it to yourself to check them out. Just be ready for a little less polish on the dining side.
Take the trip--your taste buds will thank you, even if you wish you had a plate.