‘You don’t have to be the best’: Gee defends Dick’s Drive-In in Seattle’s greatest burger debate

Seattle Times food critic Tan Vinh is making the case for the thick, old-school burger in a city overtaken by smash patties, and Gee Scott, co-host of “The Gee and Ursula Show” on KIRO Newsradio, turned it into a full segment.

Vinh’s article named four of Seattle’s best big burgers: the Butcher Burger at FlintCreek Cattle Co. in Greenwood, the cheeseburger at Little Beast in Ballard, the Shamburger at The Shambles in Roosevelt, and the burger at L’Oursin in the Central District.

“Finally, somebody stood up for the thick burger,” Gee said. “Somewhere along the way, Seattle and really America, I know a lot of us love the smash burgers. But sometimes you just want the burger, that old-school thick. When you put it to your mouth, you know you just had a burger.”

Gee and Ursula crew pick their favorites

KIRO Producer Andrew Lanier went straight to Red Mill, a local favorite in Phinney Ridge and Interbay.

“I am a simple burger man,” Andrew said. “Everything is executed impeccably. The bun is not too thick, not too complex. Beautifully butter-toasted, great meat, fresh lettuce, tomato, crispy bacon. Love me some Red Mill.”

Board operator Michael chose Uneeda Burger in Fremont.

“If I had someone here that was visiting Seattle and they wanted to get a burger, my recommendation is a place called Uneeda Burger,” he said. “Every time I’ve gone there, I’ve been pretty happy.”

The Dick’s Drive-In question

Gee raised the question that no one in Seattle wants to answer honestly.

“Why every time we have the conversation about which burger place is the best, why does Dick’s Drive-In never be in the conversation?” Gee asked. “Is that because sometimes you don’t have to be the best? Sometimes you can just be the most consistent?”

Andrew offered what may be the definitive Dick’s Drive-In take.

“Dick’s is the friend that, you know, they’re a little messy, but you’ve been through it with them,” Andrew said. “If it’s 2 a.m. and you need somebody to sit down and have a drink with, Dick’s is the burger you go to; it’s its own category. It has such nostalgic memory attached to it. But it’s not fine dining; it’s not the best. It’s fast, it’s cheap, it’s good, it’s hot, it’s consistent.”

“You know what Dick’s Drive-In reminds me of?” Gee responded. “I think our love, like we’re at the point with Dick’s where looks don’t matter anymore. There’s other places that look better than you, they taste better, but there’s such a love, we’ve been together so long, that it’s always going to be love.”

Gee’s three rules for a great burger

Gee closed the segment with his criteria for what separates a good burger from a great one:

“You can’t just throw a dry bun out there,” Gee said. “You got to put some work in. You can’t make a great burger and then just slap some bread on top. If you got people at the house, make it fresh to order.”

Gee’s personal pick: Secret Burger.

“If y’all ain’t been to Secret Burger, I’m telling you right now, that burger is amazing.”

Other listener recommendations included The Mill Steakhouse in Edgewood, Spanky Burger and Frisko Freeze in Tacoma, and Prima Bistro on Whidbey Island.

Watch the full discussion in the video above.

Listen to Gee and Ursula on “The Gee and Ursula Show” weekday mornings from 9 am to 12 pm on KIRO Newsradio.