"I Found the Best Burger Place in America. And Then I Killed It."

[lester1/2jr]

crazy story

a food critic gave an award to some place for having what he considered to the the best burgers in America. The resulting hype and influx of casual customers ended up forcing the place to close, perhaps permanently.

https://www.thrillist.com/eat/portland/stanichs-closed-will-it-reopen-burger-quest

In the article, Steve Stanich called my burger award a curse, "the worst thing that's ever happened to us.

"Well, we had a great one here," he said, as we drove over the Burnside Bridge. "But then some a***ole from California ruined it." Or the time, while sitting at the bar at Clyde Common, the bartender came up to me and in a soft, friendly voice inquired if I'd planned on closing any more burger restaurants while I was in town.

It's not like he called the dept of health on the place. he did the opposite!

[retrorussell]

Wow, I didn't even know it had closed.  I went there a few years back.  They really are awesome burgers, though the Helvatia Tavern (Hillsboro) burgers are just as good IMHO.  They closed a year ago back but are saying they're definitely planning on re-opening.

[lester1/2jr]

whats so good about the burgers? I think the cheese burger is the one that won

[retrorussell]

whats so good about the burgers? I think the cheese burger is the one that won

The flavor of the meat.  I had a double bacon cheeseburger there.

[lester1/2jr]

hmmm  https://www.wweek.com//news/2018/11/28/did-a-rave-review-really-shut-down-portland-burger-bar-stanichs-maybe-it-was-the-owners-legal-troubles/

In fact, court records show that owner Steve Stanich's personal life had been spiraling into chaos long before his restaurant landed on the national radar.

this is either a refutation of the "killed by good press" story, a pointless defamation of a guy who's restaurant has been ruined, or a potential piece to the puzzle