Seattle

Secret sauce, American cheese, and iceberg lettuce have never been much of a draw for me, but with lines out the door and friends regularly stopping by to extol the virtues of this place, I had to give Zippy's a try. I don't think mayonnaise is special, nor is it much of a secret. But somehow when a restaurant writes the word "sauce" behind those adjectives and mixes in relish or mustard, it achieves a more hallowed place on the condiment list. Zippy's mayonnaise derivative is of the secret sauce variety, slathered all over their burgers and soaking into the bun, and it's pretty mind-blowing. If you're not into the traditional burger thing, try the No. 11 with mama lil's spicy goat horn peppers, smoky chipotle mayo, iceberg lettuce, and a blend of jack and smoked cheese. The black bean burgers are also phenomenal... perhaps it's that whole made-from-scratch thing. Skip the onion rings--they're mushy and disappointing--but definitely order the fries and wash them down with one of thirty-two kinds of soda.

Photo:  Ingrid Mattson