Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage

Bartley's facade

I left my apartment last Friday eager to continue my search for the best food trucks in and around Boston. The sun was casting its beautiful rays on a perfect fall day, and I had skipped breakfast that morning to leave as much room as possible for lunch. I had researched a handful of food trucks online and recorded their corresponding addresses, to pinpoint their locations for the day, so, I figured finding them would be a breeze… Or so I thought. Jenna, my fellow food adventurer, and I started the journey on the T and hopped off at the Red Line’s Kendall/MIT stop. On our way to the first address we coincidentally walked by a street with four large and colorful trucks lined up outside of an MIT building. Finding the meals on wheels was even easier than we had hoped! The only problem was the food did absolutely nothing for me and was definitely not something I would recommend. So I did something I rarely do: I threw the food away.

We walked towards Harvard Square with high hopes for the next food truck. A half hour of twists and turns throughout Harvard Square left our stomachs growling and we eventually gave up. Once we began to walk away from Harvard Square, our luck took a turn for the better.

Sitting on Massachusetts Ave across the street from Harvard University is Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage. The place is hard to miss: if you don’t see multiple big red signs, just look for a long line of hungry people.  When Jenna and I got in line we were behind about 30 people and were quickly handed a menu. The menu had many choices, with everything from salads to pasta to fish and chips. While these sound delicious, however, it’s their famous burgers you’ll want to try.

The burgers and sandwiches are all named after famous political figures, athletes, actors and the like. There isn’t much time to decide which one you will have, so if you are indecisive like me you may want to plan ahead and look at their menu online. An older gentleman perched on a stool took our order before handing it off to a runner.  Jenna decided on the “Guy Fieri,” a burger topped with Muenster cheese, tomato, lettuce, red onion and Russian dressing.  I ordered “The Jersey Shore,” a burger with bacon, cheese and grilled mushrooms and onions.About ten minutes later our order was called out and we were brought into the busy restaurant.

Upon entering Mr. Bartley’s, one is immediately and completely distracted. The wood paneled walls are covered in posters, pictures and signs revealing part of the restaurant’s history and the constant praise it has received over the years.  It is a true feast for the eyes. The tables are packed with people seated just inches away from the strangers next to them. Waitresses run from table to kitchen to table frequently calling out “excuse me!” and skillfully maneuvering their way through the narrow aisles.  The open kitchen allows you to watch the busy cooks in action and hear them shouting orders back and forth. This may sound chaotic, but after being in business for a half a century, Mr. Bartley’s has their system down pat, and it is all part of the experience. (I recommend getting take-out if you had a “rough night” before).

Our massive burgers arrived with heaping piles of onion rings and sweet potato fries. There were no words exchanged between Jenna and myself for the next ten minutes or so, only looks of joy while we each devoured the massive mounds of deliciousness in front of us. The burgers are seared so the outside has a thin crispy layer and the inside of the burger is still full of flavor. The combination of the grilled onions and mushrooms with the gooey melted cheese and the crispy bacon on top of the 7 ounces of ground chuck was sinfully delicious. The famous onion rings were a bit plain for me, but with such a flavorful burger it created a good balance for the meal. After finishing you will be ready for a nap, but since there is a line of anxious people outside, be considerate and get up and go for a walk instead (you’ll need some extra help digesting anyways). You don’t want to prevent anyone else from having such a great experience.

So while I am back at square one with the food trucks, I was introduced to one of my favorite burgers and a restaurant that every college student in the Boston area needs to try before they graduate.

For more information on Mr. Bartley’s location, hours and menu visit their website here.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *