Bacon Burger...$12. Tater Tots... $3. Chocolate Peppermint Shake...$3. Heartburn...Priceless

In my continued homage to my friend @stephenspeicher's recent gastro adventures, I decided to visit Lunchbox Laboratory (LL) for lunch today.  Despite it's off-the-beaten-path location north of Ballard and all the ambiance of the Sanford and Son junkyard (yes, I am showing my age here), I do believe this place too has become my favorite Seattle burger, beating out my former love, Zippy's Burgers here in West Seattle.

For those not familiar with LL,

it is basically one of those burger joints where every aspect of the burger (and accoutrements) can be customized, down to the salt you want on your fries or tater tots. 

Upon entry I found the "Daily Experiments" board, LL's version of the specials board.  How could I resist entries like "Burger of the Gods", "Truffle Love", and "Hothead".  But in the end it seems I couldn't resist the "Homage to Dick's Deluxe".  Mmmm.  Bacon,  American Cheese and "Special Sauce"!  And to be honest, it was a picture of tater tots from Steve's trip to LL that got me there in the first place, so I had to order those.  And then the shakes.  They are listed in two columns separating the "chocolate base" from the "vanilla base" and the 15 choices or more you have in each.  I am normally a vanilla kind of guy, but I about had a heart attack when I saw chocolate peppermint shake as an option, so that was going to be my "drink" (or is it dessert?).

Not having been to LL before, it was not clear where to order except for the surly looking staffer standing at the end of the menu board.   I ordered.  She asked me if I wanted 1/4 lb or 1/2 lb.  I thought, why be gluttonous, just get the 1/4 and paid my $18 (I did think to myself this had better be damn good for 18 bucks, but I kept an open mind).  Little did I know.....

Little did I know that my 1/4 lb burger would come with another 1/2 lb of bacon :)  And look at that tin the tater tots come in.  How cool.  And the shake...scrumptious!

The meal was fantastic.  I tried, but could not finish the entire thing.  I also couldn't get my mouth around that burger without some removal of bacon.  I know.  Sacrilegious!

The only downside...the worst food-related heartburn that I have had in a very long time.  Pharmaceuticals could not even combat that pain in my chest.  And now, as dinner punishment for this egregious display of lunchtime greed:  salad greens and cottage cheese.  Num?  Was it worth it?  By all means.  I will be back.

I suggest you go.  And take friends.  It needs to be seen to really be believed.