Roam, a staple restaurant of the San Francisco culinary scene, provides all that burger enthusiasts search for +more with the ability to customize and order menu items ranging from wild boar burgers to springtime chimichurri and arugula veggie burgers.
I had the pleasure of visiting their welcoming, street-side location on Fillmore St. in downtown San Francisco, CA. Bordering restaurants such as Woodhouse Fish Co., The Grove, & SPQR, it’s certainly located amongst some stellar local spots.
Roam maintains the simple over-the-counter burger stand idea with order numbers, but also offers self-seating and kitchen to table meal delivery by their hip and friendly staff. The woman behind the counter was friendly, inviting, and knowledgeable of the menu, offering me advice on my drink order by suggesting that I try one of Roam’s homemade sodas. The soda list includes: Meyer lemon, ginger lime, prickly pear, & caramelized pineapple, from which I chose the least risky option of Meyer lemon. It tasted very refreshing, with a sour tang that just perfectly overpowered a hint of sugary sweetness.
The 6 to 8 minute wait for food was justified by the beauty of The Heritage burger. What the dish lacked in plate presentation, it made up for in taste! Exploding with a juicy flavor combination of applewood smoked bacon, fontina, butter lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions, & herb mayo, the burger was far better than anything I could have possibly anticipated to eat that afternoon. I recommend that, no matter what entree you decide to order, you add caramelized onions as an extra…they were that good!
Roam has, without a doubt, been added to my regular restaurant list. With a trendy, relaxing atmosphere, good-looking and passionate employees, and a long menu of different burger combinations, it is impossible to not love this place.
3 Tips:
- Japantown is very close by and a provider for great post-burger desserts. The local indoor market is home to many of San Francisco’s best boba and mochi cake cafes.
- Roam is a great place for friendly get-togethers or group family outings, my roommate and I met up with a couple that went to our high school and felt very comfortable with the volume in the restaurant.
- Drinks and burgers are both very pricey. Do not miss out on the homemade beverages, but make sure that you come prepared to throw down a few more dollars than you would at a typical Bay Area burger restaurant.
“The French & Fries Burger came with truffle parmesan fries, gruyere, avocado, caramelized onions, watercress, piquant sauce, & whole grain mustard. Great meal size, stellar seasoning, and the perfect amount of fries…it was filling” – Matthew Kerfoot, my roommate.
Roam Artisan Burgers is located at:
1923 Fillmore Street (between Bush and Pine)
San Francisco, CA 94115
Open daily from 11:30 am – 10 pm
Phone: (415) 800-7801
San Francisco's Best Burger Joints 