Retro Burger & Ice Cream

Found this place in our AAA magazine and decided to try it out. Not quite what I expected — thought it would be bigger, but it was near nonetheless. The staff was amazingly friendly and very helpful. I ordered the small «not man enough» mojo burger with Swiss, lettuce, tomato, pickle, BBQ sauce and my son had the mojo burger with cheddar and mushrooms. Both were delicious! We got two order of fries, two burgers, and two drinks for $ 20 and change. Then we topped off our lunch with a yummy mint chocolate chip frappé. I’ll make the 50 min drive again.

The burger was ok, a little spendy for what I received. The décor was enjoyable but the vibe I got from the guy behind the counter was wierd.

With a slew of burger joints around I noticed this place just up the road from my job. Tried one of there burgers, nothing special at all, no flavor, the bun was basic, very minimal flavor, seems they spend more thought into the décor trying to make it hip than the food, the fries were ok, over all very dissapointed.

I ordered Menotomy burger and my husband ordered Godzilla burger. Both of them were very good taste and enough volume. French fries were good too.
The staffs were all kind.
It’s not expensive and we paid only $ 25 including drinks. I love Retro Burger!

What a tasty little burger joint! The atmosphere is fun and it’s a great place for burgers and ice cream. (And hot dogs, but I’ve never had one here.) I enjoy being able to patronize a family owned, family friendly neighborhood joint for lunch!
Food: The burgers are clearly hand packed as advertised — they sometimes fall apart, which is AOK by me, because they are juicy! They have a definite homey feel. My favorite thus far is The Rifleman with provolone, mushrooms and onions. Delicious. The fun local names continue with the «Menotomy Burger». It seems weird that they day ketchup and mustard free on request, until you realize how many tiny humans come into this place. The plain burger/​cheeseburger is perfectly customizable, or, pretty plain, just the way the little lovely weirdos like it. Condiments are free additions for all the burgers.
The prices $ 8 for a BIG burger with toppings) are fine. This is in somewhat sharp contrast to the french fries, which are clearly out of a bag. I mean, I get homemade fries are tough for a family establishment, but an upgrade in the fry department would better justify a premium price. It’s the old, premade is more expensive, so the price has to be higher issue I’ve encountered at similar establishments. The sweet potato fries are good though — crisp and tasty. Regular fries are meh, but if you can’t have a burger without them, they do the job.
The super nice owner and sometimes confused teenager up front adds to the appeal of this place. A number to your table system would not go amiss.
I haven’t tried the ice cream yet, but my 3 year old swears by the chocolate. His grandmother has bought it for him more times than I care to discover. He can’t have his own Unilocal account yet so I’ll go ahead and include that note here.

Let me first say, the burgers were good, not great, but tasty. The place is cheaply done with painted wood instead of plastic laminate (Formica for the lay people). Why is that a big deal? Cleanliness over the long run. Go see the place 6-​months or a year from now and see how yellow everything looks from the grease. Now it’s clean, don’t get me wrong, very clean, just a poor choice of building materials… did I mention I’ve been a builder for 30-​years? What frustrated me a little was that they were charging more for gluten free buns; now I don’t have a problem with gluten but since my girlfriend is I’m more aware of it. When I mentioned that to my server, who could have been a manager or owner, the reaction was less then apologetic and more defensive. Sure the buns might cost more but you can build that into the price of all the burgers based on how many gluten free buns you’ll need per month, year, etc. She was visibly frustrated by my comments, and truth be told I can come across as gruff, but hey I’m the customer. In the end I enjoyed the burger, she was polite to me before left but the whole incident left a bad taste in my mouth… no bun… I mean pun intended. Will I go back? Considering they are only 3−½ stars before my rating I’m not sure. They seem like good people but they need to read the reviews and step up. If they get to a four star rating I’ll give them another shot, and I do hope they get there because this town needs a good burger joint.

It’s great to have a family-​owned place like this in Arlington Center. Overall we were pleased by the mood and friendliness of the restaurant.
I’m a vegetarian and I was pleased to see they offer a vegetarian (actually vegan, without cheese) burger. I think it is a bean-​based type of patty. It was pretty good, though it didn’t knock my socks off.
One thing that skeeved me a little from a vegetarian perspective was my observation that the grilled-​cheese we bought for our kids seemed to be quite «messy» from the grill. It was covered with little bits of what I presumed (based on appearance and smell) was meat residue from the grill.
I didn’t closely inspect my veggie burger, but I worried that it might have been likewise grilled on a surface that was shared with meat production.
If there isn’t already a policy at Retro Burger to prepare non-​meat items in a separate area on the grill, I would recommend establishing one. It’s probably not the kind of thing non-​vegetarians think much about but for those of us who are, it can be a huge difference in how we view a restaurant.
Finally, I realize that vegetarians are not the main target audience for this restaurant, so thanks for thinking of us at all with the veggie burger ;)

Ordered cheese burger and fries last weekend. Fast and friendly service however quality of food was poor. Burger was TINY, gritty and tasteless. The fries were bitty and TINY portion. Wow your ketchup and mustard are free… Clap on the back for that… Will not be returning…

If you’re a burger junkie like myself you need to stuff some of this food in your face.

My daughter and I ate there for lunch today. We both got burgers. I ordered fries counter staff must not of heard me. The burgers were of good quality and cooked to order. If your use to fast food these are an upgrade. I think children would like them also. Retro place with lots of old signs and memorabilia. The place seemed a bit grimy though. Chairs and walls looked dirty.

I love this place! Drop a $ 20 and get enough to even fill my giant appetite. Giant burger, basket of fries and a large ice cream.
The burgers are amazing, I love everything about them; and the meat is perfect. The fries are crisp but also soft: amazing. And the ice cream is very creamy and delicious.
Overall it is an amazing place, and it has an awesome atmosphere. I went in there and threw a dime into the jukebox and played drift away. This place made my day.

Poor service, we ordered cheeseburgers and a plain jane (only meat and bun) they brought out all cheeseburgers. Took about half an hour to get our food and even longer for an order of onion rings. They first brought out a basket of fries that was meant for another table but that table had already received it so they played it off and brought it to us as we waited another half an hour for our burgers. The kids were disappointed and didn’t eat it their food. The adults had heart burn for the rest of the day from eating there. Will never go again and do not recommend it. It was a very unpleasant experience. I would have to say The only good thing were the milkshakes and malts.

I met the family that owns and runs Retro Burger by sheer chance and was extended an invitation to visit the restaurant. My wife and I arrived on Saturday morning (⁰⁵⁄₁₆) at 11:20 (they open at 11:30 on Saturday) to find both children and adults waiting to get in! By 12:30 the restaurant was full!
My first impressions upon entering the restaurant were that it was very clean, welcoming, family oriented, and bright and cheery. My wife and I were welcomed by the owners and later joined by their son with whom I had met previously.
I reviewed the menu and ended up having 2 chili cheese dogs, a bacon cheddar mushroom burger, an order of onion rings and a beverage. My wife had a cheese burger, fries and a drink and a «Turtle» Ice cream for dessert. The chili was fresh and made in house… and it was DELICIOUS. The burger (8oz. Angus) was juicy, perfectly seasoned, and cooked exactly as I had ordered it. My wife was equally impressed with her meal.
I highly recommend «Retro Burger» in Arlington to anyone who is looking for a family atmosphere, great food, and a terrific dining experience… make sure you get a chili dog or two!
And in the immortal words of Arnold Schwarzenegger «I’LL BE BACK!»

My usual complaint about a burger is that it wasn’t cooked to order. Retro Burger suffers from a much bigger problem than being unable to cook their burgers to order, however.
I ordered a burger and it tasted as though it was the poorest quality ground beef I’ve ever received in a restaurant. It was very reminiscent of the school cafeteria burgers I ate decades ago. The beef in a Wendy’s burger would have been an improvement.
Most restaurants — whether burger specialists or not — give some thought to the cuts of beef and amount of fat included in their ground beef. This, on the other hand, tasted as though no one put any thought into the ground beef and just ordered generic ground beef from their supplier.
Their slogan should be «Taste The Hormones.»
The french fries tasted frozen and were mushy, the bun untoasted (and not hearty enough to hold the burger without toasting), and my request for extra mayo was filled with what could only be described as quadruple-​extra mayo.

Burger and fries fresh and tasty. I do agree with one other customer review I saw about the burger being a bit SALTY. Was wondering if the salt was added to the burger by mistake instead of to the fries lol Service was quick. Chocolate milk shake also yummy. Will come here again but would probably get the chicken sandwich instead of a burger hoping it’s not as SALTY.

I have been wanting to try Retro Burger since I first head of it’s opening, but somehow it never seems to be open when I am driving by. But FINALLY the day arrived that I pulled up to a lit building. The décor has a Happy Days meets Woodstock vibe, with a few tables scattered throughout. It was a rainy day so the place was empty, but I am sure it can fill up very quickly.
I really liked that they offer two sizes in their burgers, so if you are not man enough like me, you have a smaller version. I went for a simple burger with LTO and good ol’ ketchup and mustard, nothing fancy. We also grabbed an order of chili cheese fries, because it is my dream to find some killer chili cheese fries in the Arlington city limit (please, someone hear my cry). The food came up quickly and they brought it over to our table.
As a self-​proclaimed burger destination, I was a little let down with the burger. The patty itself wasn’t anything special and could easily have come out of your home kitchen. Just drop a lump of meat on a skillet with barely any seasoning and you are good. The fries were crispy and topped with thin beef chili and nacho cheese sauce. I ate them up, but alas, my search continues. Retro Burger is a cute place to have a quick lunch or dinner if you are feeling nostalgic, but if you are looking for a killer burger, keep on truckin’.

I came in during lunchtime, so there wasn’t much of a crowd. The woman at the counter was very friendly and made a few recommendations, so I ordered the Rifleman Burger with fries and a can of soda. The music was classic ‘70s rock and had even a few songs on that aren’t usually on the playlist. Hell, they even played Alice Cooper’s «Welcome to My Nightmare.» They brought the order to my table and the food wasn’t bad; hot and crisp fries and the burger was alright. It was a bit messy and the patty was waaaay over-​salted. I couldn’t get past how salty it was. Salt is meant to enhance, not dominate the food!
A friend of mine came in about 5 minutes after me and he had asked for a slice of red onion on his burger. When they brought it to him, he showed me the slice and it was this measly, limp paper-​thin cut. He was a little miffed but I thought it was pretty funny.
They could do better instead of slopping the burger around. If you want your customers to have their toppings falling out of the burger, provide a fork for them to eat with.
And if you venture in there, tell them to ease up on the salt or add none at all.

Came in for a late lunch. No one else was there when we first arrived but a couple of other tables filled up before we left.
I ordered the gluten free veggie burger. My husband ordered the Menatomy with fries and a strawberry milk shake. He said the shake was just ok for $ 5.50.
My gluten free veggie burger was served with what looked like the same bun as my husband’s burger. We then found out that even though the description says gluten free (and when we ordered we said «the gluten free veggie burger») you still have to specifically ask that you’d like the gluten free bun… We thought this was a little strange. The veggie burger turned out to be pretty good though.
My husband was not impressed by his burger or the fries. We found it odd that they didn’t serve fountain sodas either, being a retro burger joint and all.
Overall, not extremely impressed. Maybe we’ll try a soft serve dipped ice cream at somepoint in the future but we won’t go back for the burgers. Rating two stars for now.

Any place with «cheeseburger cheeseburger» on the menu is a friend to me. I thoroughly enjoyed mine especially since it came to me cooked medium rare. It was incredibly juicy and smothered in ketchup and mustard. The chili cheese fries I shared with the fella were delicious, though a bit spicy for me. I am curious to try their hot dogs or chicken sandwiches.
I was told at the register but it didn’t «register» (har har) that the «regular» size is actually a half pound of burger. I definitely could have gone with the quarter pound. the prices for the quarter pound burgers are incredibly reasonable ($ 4-​$ 5). Add fries to any sandwich for $ 1.50. All drinks are $ 1.25. You get a whole meal for under a Hamilton with enough moolah leftover for an ice cream, which is from Richardson’s and is so good! I had the Purple Cow — YUM!
The waitstaff was really friendly and the décor is fun, but clean, not overwhelming. Could do with better music!

Great addition to the Arlington dining scene. Retro Burger has a good selection of burgers, hot dogs, and a few other bun based alternatives. The laid back atmosphere is complimented by the old fashioned décor comprised of giant size comic book covers and old school burger ads. food is ordered at the counter but delivered to your table.
Strawberry Frappé — They use Richardson’s ice cream. It was a strawberry frappé, tasting as delicious as you would imagine.
The Rifleman Burger — I went with the «Not man enough» size, which should be plenty if you have a normal appetite. The burger came topped with sauteed onions, sauteed mushrooms, and provolone cheese. I decided to add bacon as well. The burger was perfectly seasoned and was cooked perfectly. My only criticism is that they didn’t toast the bun.
Sweet Potato Fries — Simply some of the best sweet potato fries I’ve ever had. These things were perfectly crispy.