Chef Gator’s Rustic Burger and His Creole Friends
Before Chef Gator’s Rustic Burger and His Creole Friends opened, I would walk by the store front and think, “Hmmmm, I don’t like the name, and I don’t know how creole food is going to go over here in Petaluma.” Petaluma is very focused on farm to table dining regardless of cuisine, and I was curious and skeptical to see how Chef Gator would pull it off. Before heading to the movie, Won’t You Be My Neighbor (highly recommend) on Saturday, in my pajamas BTW, Meghan, my mom, and I decided to satisfy my curiosity and check it out. Let me tell you, I was impressed! The casual space is well decorated; bright and rustic with many seating options including community tables, which I love. Orders are placed at the register, which we did have to wait a bit, but the hostess was pleasant and informative, where you receive your number and head to the table. My mom, Janet, and I split a cheeseburger and planned on sharing Meghan’s fries, who also ordered a cheeseburger. Now the menu is extensive, and unfortunately I didn’t review it thoroughly since I wasn’t planning on reviewing this restaurant, but I recall there were some southern classics like chicken and waffles and jambalaya. Our food was brought quickly (good thing because we were on a time crunch!), and I couldn’t wait to dive in. The burger was not large, which Meghan pointed out was nice. Portions have gotten SO out of control and wasteful! The burger had a ton of flavor, was juicy, and still tasted fresh and of high quality. The aioli spread, obviously a mayo base, was delicious and flavorful. Only thing I would change would be the bun; I loved it, but I wish it was toasted on the flat top a bit to give some it some ability to stand up to aioli and juicy burger. As far as the fries go, I was not blown away, but not unsatisfied, which is not Chef Gator’s fault in any way, it’s just that my when it comes to fries, my heart will always belong to McDonald’s (I know I know, what can I say).
Final verdict: While the name is slightly unappealing, the burgers are anything but! The staff was nice and the service was fast. The environment was casual and accepting of my attire, and the vibe was family friendly. I definitely plan on exploring more of the menu and I would recommend it to anyone in the area looking to get a taste of the south with the quality Petaluman diners have come to expect.
Note: Like I said, I didn’t plan on reviewing this experience, and unfortunately I have NO PICTURES! Ugh, lesson learned...WIP