GNV Burger Quest (Stop 3: Loosey’s Downtown)
Amanda and I wandered into Loosey’s Downtown on a Saturday evening with purpose in our hearts and beef on the brain. Despite having lived in Gainesville for a while, I’d only been to Loosey’s twice…and not since Obama’s first term. But it was time to see if this longtime bar could hold its own in the noble burger arena. It has a burger rep and I’m here to see if it’s earned it.
We ordered at 5:28 PM. By 5:39, the food hit the table. The place was chill, friendly service, not too loud, not too crowded. Early evening Loosey’s might just be peak Loosey’s for the non college student set..
The Burger
I asked for medium, though I usually lean medium rare. If I don’t know a place’s track record, I like to ease into the relationship. Turned out, I didn’t need to be cautious. The burger came out just right: juicy, flavorful, and cooked with care.
I kept it classic: lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion. No cheese. (Amanda questioned this decision, but my burger journey is monastic in its simplicity.) I requested the burger sauce on the side so I could let the patty speak for itself. And it did. Loudly. It said, “I am beefy and well seasoned and balanced and you do not need to hide me under condiments.”
The sauce was ketchup-based, tangy, and decent…but unnecessary. This burger held its own. The beef had that rich, slightly crisp sear on the outside, moist center, and just enough fat to make you close your eyes a little after the first bite.
Amanda got the cheesesteak. No notes. No critiques. Just a nod and continued eating.
Final Thoughts
Loosey’s kind of snuck up on me. I went in with modest expectations, it's a bar, right? but came away thinking this may be the best burger I’ve had so far on the GNV quest. It nailed the fundamentals: seasoned meat, solid cook, thoughtful ratio, no gimmicks. Sometimes the best surprises are the ones that don’t announce themselves.
If you're keeping score at home, Loosey’s just took the lead.
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