Upon entering Father's Office in Santa Monica, California, you're carded as if you can only understand the food once you've reached adulthood.
A favorite burger place for Kendall Jenner, Father's Office doesn't have the hustle and bustle most tourist traps lure with the ocean view.
The menu, comprised of mostly beer, keeps its food simple. There's not eight different burgers to choose from, there's no substitutions for anything on the burger and there's certainly no ketchup.
The inside of the establishment reflects that with little to no service. (You order at the bar.)
However, regulars don't expect much here as a patron walks up to the bar to order "just a burger today."
After hearing about the hype surrounding The Office Burger ($12.50), we didn't hesitate with ordering it.
The melted caramelized onion with applewood bacon, gruyère and Maytag Blue Cheese meld the flavors with the dry-aged beef patty. Although the bun is nothing special other than it's oval shape, the mediocrity helps with soaking the juices from the patty, the garlic butter and that sweetness expected from the caramelized onions. The arugula adds a freshness and texture to it the moment you take the first bite.
As for the sweet potato fries ($7.50) with roasted garlic, this is when the non-modification policy gets patrons riled up. The fries are paired with Cabrales blue cheese aioli. Not ketchup. Not ranch dressing.
While it's not a big deal for some, the seasoned fries don't actually require condiments at all.
Making a trip to Father's Office without trying one of its many (lists of beers) is a blasphemous act, so my friend opted for a dark beer and I, a light one, to sip in between dishes.
While the Anderson Valley Summer Solstice ($8) was subpar with its creamy caramel concoction, the Avery Liliko'i Kepolo ($8) gave off a delightful passion fruit aftertaste before we shared our next course.
The plate of Spicy Stout Ribs ($16) we dug into had an orange blossom glaze to it with a hint of spice. Even though the ribs, under shredded scallions, were cooked to perfection, the thick sauce was reminiscent of Chinese soy sauce glaze. Yes, it was delicious, but was it worth it when you can tend to a Chinese restaurant and grab something similar? We just expected better.
Overall, is Kendall right in saying "this burger goes down in history?"
It's certainly hard to say without a lot of globetrotting burger expertise under our belt, but we'll definitely be making a reoccurring appearance when we want to indulge in more than just In-N-Out.