# Yet another burger thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** food-cooking\ **Created:** [June 19, 2023, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752 "2023-06-19T01:49:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/61 "2023-06-21T03:00:39Z")
That’s the only way I’ve heard it. Didn’t realize there was a chain called Smashburger. Not made it to Canada. ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/62 "2023-06-21T04:35:47Z")
Hmm. I’ve never had the need to make the distinction, but if forced I’d probably call it diner-style. Vs. gourmet style for the extra-thick kind. But like I said, I’ve never heard them called smashed, so I wonder if I’ve somehow just missed it or if the term never made it to the west coast. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/63 "2023-06-21T06:01:37Z")
The larger preformed patties are sometimes called pub burgers. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 11:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/64 "2023-06-21T11:45:38Z")
My first encounter with this type of burger was when I was a kid in Anchorage in the 60s. There was a tiny dive where the cab drivers ate. Someone had basically build a roof over a narrow alleyway between two buildings, stuck a counter and stools in there along with a griddle, then put a front/rear wall and door on it. It was called The White Spot Cafe, which originally opened in about 1946, and it was owned by a cranky older woman who only made burgers and fries. But dayum if they weren’t the best I’ve ever eaten. Greasy, salty, and wonderful. The old gal retired, and someone else took over. The old location disappeared (likely condemned), and [a new one](https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/alaska/culinary-masterpiece-restaurant-ak/) opened in another location. The burgers are now in the $15 range, sadly, and they are better known for their halibut sandwiches. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/65 "2023-06-21T13:50:01Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > It was called The White Spot Cafe I suddenly have the feeling I’m missing something. There was that café in Alaska called The White Sport Café. In Blaine, WA, there was Tony’s White Spot. Is there a meaning to ‘White Spot’ that I’m missing? [Incidentally, Tony’s White Spot was changed to Tony’s Just A Bite. He retired, and it’s now Monte’s Just A Bite. Food quality went down, more Trump paraphernalia went up. We don’t go there anymore.] > [@Chefguy](#): > > it was owned by a cranky older woman who only made burgers and fries. But dayum if they weren’t the best I’ve ever eaten. Greasy, salty, and wonderful. The old gal retired, and someone else took over. In the early-'70s in Barstow, CA (actually Lenwood), there was a place called Joy’s. It was little more than a shack with a counter and stools, and a grill. It also had a swamp cooler, and a wooden-framed screen door with a spring that went WHACK-whack-whack when it shut. I loved it when dad took me there. Those were the absolute best cheeseburgers I’ve ever had. And she made macaroni salad with cheese that remains unequalled. I’ve tried to make it myself, and it was never as good. Joy’s mother became ill, so she closed her diner to take care of her. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/66 "2023-06-21T14:11:18Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Is there a meaning to ‘White Spot’ that I’m missing? I’ve never found anything that explains the name. It sounds vaguely racist, but who knows? The original place in Anchorage was behind the cab stand, as I mentioned, but it was also in the middle of the bar district of downtown, and a lot of down-and-out Native folks hung out in that area. I only found it because I used to sell newspapers to the downtown businesses door-to-door. Being cranky became a trademark for the place, and the present owner (as of 2009) is no different. When I asked her if the halibut plate was a sandwich, she said “Does it _say_ it’s a sandwich?” “Well. . .no.” “Bingo!” ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/67 "2023-06-21T14:20:15Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Is there a meaning to ‘White Spot’ that I’m missing? I don’t know the origin of the name but it’s a fairly large restaurant chain in British Columbia > **[Our Story - White Spot Restaurants](https://www.whitespot.ca/about/story/)** > > White Spot spot has gone to great lengths to make you and your family and friends feel at home. Be a part of our story that started in 1928. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/68 "2023-06-21T14:37:15Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > It sounds vaguely racist, but who knows? Brief sidebar please. Would it seem more racist in Alaska than here in the lower 48 where it would be a rather innocuous name on it’s own? There were a lot of imitations of White Castle that incorporated either ‘White’ or ‘Castle’ in the name. However, there would be places here in the US where you might suspect that’s it’s some kind of dog whistle. Just curious if it would seem more racist in Alaska in general. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/69 "2023-06-21T15:33:03Z")
No idea, just speculating on a possible (if improbable) reason for it. Now that I dig a bit deeper, it appears that the original owner’s last name was “White”. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2023, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752/70 "2023-06-21T15:55:58Z")
Ok, nothing more to this then. Thanks for the update. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/yet-another-burger-thread/985752.md?page=3)