OnTheTable: Drifter’s Rivals In-&-Out, Wins on Quality

Drifter’s Hamburgers 

Rating: 4.5/5

1485 Jamboree Dr. & 4455 Mark Dabling Blvd.

www.DriftersHamburgers.com

Hours: Mon—Thurs: 6:30am-8pm, Fri-Sat: 6:30am-9am, Sun: Closed

Prices: $2.89-$6.69

What you need to know: High quality, California-style, “fast-food” burgers done right

How far would you drive for the absolute best fast-food burger? Nine hours? Twelve? From the Springs it’s nine hours to the closets In-&-Out Burger joint, and it’s all the way in Centerville, UT. The next closest is Las Vegas, and that’s twelve hours away. You could take a long lunch, but that’s pushing it. So, how about a local alternative that rivals, if not surpasses (gasp!), the famed California chain?

Since their 2008 founding, the California-surfer themed burger-joint, Drifter’s Hamburgers, has been on a mission to “rescue the reputation of the ‘fast-food’ hamburger.” And this is precisely what they have done.

Recall On The Table’s Christmas roast showdown? Recall the tremendous showing of the local Callicrate beef, and how it performed equally as well as the USDA Prime grade? Drifter’s also knows their beef, and they have chosen to partner with Callicrate for all their beef-patty offerings. This means hormone and antibiotic free, local beef, sandwiched between two, chemical and GMO-free wheat buns made without preservatives. It can be guaranteed that you won’t see McDonald’s doing anything of the sort.

Further attention to detail and quality never found in the Burger Kings of the world, include  hand shucked (not shredded) lettuce, house-made sauces, and tomatoes sliced fresh throughout the day.

However, labels and claims are great, but the proof is always in the proverbial pudding. On The Table swung by Drifter’s Mark Dabling location to sample from their limited menu.

Doing a few things well appears to be Drifter’s modus operandi. With a menu void of the frivolous—such as chick-o-nuggets, fish-o-filets, or salads that are mixed via James Bond-esque “shaken, not stirred” methods—Drifter’s maintains their focus on fast-food-redefining burgers, fries and milkshakes.

The Double Cheeseburger ($4.49) boasts two Callicrate patties totaling ⅓ pound and two slices of melty, American cheese (a must for any cheeseburger). There is a smaller cheeseburger on the menu. There is a larger cheeseburger on the menu. But this is the goldilocks and it’s everything you want in an actually good, fast-food burger. True to California form, all burgers are offered with your choice of sliced or grilled onions, and the former adds a depth of flavor you’d have to drive hours to find elsewhere.

We don’t often venture out for a burger and end up ordering a chicken sandwich, but our curiosity took over. Juicy and flavorful, and exhibiting fresh and crunchy lettuce and tomatoes (just like all the burgers), the Grilled Chicken Sandwich ($4.39) would, alone, have us returning.

Burgers (and sandwiches) are better with sakes, and Drifter’s beats most shake-shacks at their own game. These are the real deal, and thick enough you nearly can’t suck them through the straw. Where else can you find a boysenberry shake ($2.59)? With a sweetness not overpowering, and a slight tangy finish, it’s our favorite version.

So, save your gas money and keep local your California-style burger buying.