They should have stayed with Steaks

Poor choice of beef cooked to hamburger perfection. Don't go unless you plan to eat there!

meh

Elevation, Ray's. Five Guys, Gimme a double double animal style at in n out. Obviously, it's the sauce. That said, Ray's is a damn fine burger and my "Let's get it on" was downed with gusto. I'm looking forward to taking my out of town beefy cousins. I will be back again and again. It just wasn't the revelation and best burger ever that I was looking for and was half confident that I'd find.

Overpriced and overrated

All in all, not the worst burger I've ever had but surely the most expensive and most overrated! Meat was good and fresh but that was the only highlight. Four of us went and only 1 will be going back voluntarily. The burgers were not cooked evenly, the toppings were too sparse, the sides (coleslaw and tater tots/puffs) were surprisingly bland and very average. To make matters worse, the staff isn't that friendly - esp the pretentious dude taking our orders. Didn't live up to the hype and wasn't worth the hassle (wait for tables, parking, and cash-only) but at least I can say I tried it.

Relentlessly Delicious

Ray's has the best burgers that I have ever had and it will take a mighty challenger indeed to knock Ray's off that pedestal. The burgers are juicy, the meat flavorful, and the the add-ons top notch. The first time I had Ray's I noted with awe that "even the tomato on top is good" - which was something of a minor miracle, since it was the dead of winter.

Lives up to the hype

The hype was high but the burger lived up to it. It's so fresh you can literally see them cutting and packing the beef in front of you. The mushrooms, onions, and bacon were also wonderful. It is really juicy/messy, but you can preserve the bun if you don't let it sit in its grease. Also, no fries is a downer, and the cheesy tater puffs were decent but nothing special. The root beer was good though. The line on a Saturday night (8pm) was really long and the service wasn't especially quick, but it was worth it. Two burgers, tater puffs, and a root beer for under $23.

Greasy Burger

After hearing my wife rave about this place which is a stone's throw from my office, I finally sampled the famous hell burger Is there a third time? PROBABLY NOT. Why Not? It's too greasy!!! I'm not a health nut and I do like the texture and freshness of their burger, but it tastes like it was cooked in lard or butter like a steak at Ruth Chris. Compared to California's IN-N-OUT burger or even Five-Guys, they really ruined it by leaving too much fat in the burger. The aftertaste is so greasy I feel like I needed a head to toe shower.

Best burger in DC

I've spent my whole life in this area and I can say that Ray's has the best burger in the metro area bar none. I cannot understand all these negative reviews. The beef is top quality, the toppings interesting and original (e.g. peppercorn) and the dive atmosphere is a nice touch. Forget fries, I don't go to a burger joint for fries. Keep your overrated Five Guys, I'll take my Ray's thank you and apparently so will President Obama.

Micky's Review

See my review here: http://whatmickyeats.blogspot.com/2009/02/rays-hell-burger.html

Awesome Burger!

Best burger in DC! These burgers are huge, well seasoned, well cooked, and delicious. My favorite is the blackened with smoked mozzarella and bacon but the regular and au poivre are great too. And, they've changed the buns so they don't fall apart anymore. Before going you need to be prepared: - They just have burgers and some sides--no salads or chicken sandwiches - There are no fries, just chips or these cheesy tater puffs (they're ok but need more flavor) - They only take cash - They will probably be busy, sometimes even a line almost out the door - There's no Coke or Pepsi but the root beer is really good - There's no sign out front so it can be tough to find If you like a REAL burger then this place is for you.

To hell and back

I've wnated to try this place for months. Finally got the chance this past weekend and 2 things, Still no sign. If you are not familiar with the area its hard to find, especially with the sun blaring in your face. #2 They only take cash and I never carry cash anymore so we had a long, hungry ride home thinking about what could have been. Food looked wonderful, staff seemed very attentive. It would have been nice to know no credit cards.

Best burger in dc

The meat is perfect, yes my bun falls apart but only on the last few bites, the taste & quality make up for it the bun has both sesame & poppy on it for a unique taste. I went twice this weekend, saturday was so good (my 1st time there) I went back sunday & will go back again soon. Also there is no more corn & it comes with an orange slice. The root beer is from dominion brewery they also have some deli type of bottle sodas Boylan's brand I think. The mushrooms are the tastiest I've had, the cheeses are very good too, get the pepper jack. And as far as being too big I saw many couples splitting the burgers.

Perfect.

No BS - just the best burgers around.

Good meat. Bad everything else.

I was excited to try this joint but ended up disappointed. The burger meat was top quality and cooked to order. My main complaint (echoing others) is the bun. Some call it a brioche bun. I have no idea because my bun was quickly falling apart due to meat juice saturation. IMO a burger of this thickness and juiciness needs a crusty roll of some sort. To make matters worse, the bun was clearly not fresh and already had a slightly stale taste. Bakery FRESH crusty buns with center hollowed out (to hold meat in place) would really make this place better. Finally minor complaints: swiss cheese was melted at too high a temp and therefore rubbery. also sauteed 'shrooms and peppers were overly oiled and over cooked.

Not what I ever want.

Wayyyy too much meat. I mean, way too much. 10 oz is almost three regular burgers. I felt awful afterward without even finishing it. The sides are fine, the place crowded. The meat itself was ok, but the charring on the outside destroyed the good taste of the pink center. And, the physical act of eating this thing requires etiquette skills Emily Post doesn't cover -- the juice-soaked, falling apart concoction is like eating chili with your bare hands.

Overrated and Undercooked

Ordered medium, but got very rare with a very thin charred layer. Very greasy. Mealy tomato. Bun fell apart, but difficult to eat with a knife and fork. Limited and quirky selection of side orders. Other Rosslyn restaurants offer much better burgers with better ambiance.

overratted and overcooked

I like my hamburger black and blue, but the one I got was cooked all the way through and tasteless. All that effort and they cook it to death. Ugh.

Average

Try Ray's the other night with my wife. Not bad, but not great either. Too little seasoning in the meat it was good, but bland. Had it grilled, cooked all the way through which left the surface burnt black, but not in a tasty way. The center, however, was moist and well cooked. Miss the fries. Don't care much for potato chips. Not really kid friendly menu-wise. While the gourmet mac-n-cheese may be a hit with adults, it was too strange for my 2 year old. Nothing like the traditional Kraft Mac-n-cheese.

Fast done right

Ray's is a welcomed addition to the neighborhood, and deals with crowds very well. Though you have to box up your own order to take it to-go, their speed and the burgers make up for the trouble. One thing to note...the burgers no longer come with corn and watermelon anymore. The melon is out of season and has been replaced by orange slices, and the corn now costs additional $$. One of my favorite burgers around, nonetheless!

Rah

Best burger and one of the best meals I ever had period (I know I'm ending with an exclamation)! I was stuffed half way through but I forced it down anyways determined not to leave a bite. The watermelon and float were nice compliments as well! Great experience.

Far from John Blaze

Less than impressed with Hell-Burger. I was so pumped to try this place, but it let me down, jonk less than vicious. Maybe it was because my burger was a little overcooked or maybe it was the we could care less if you eat here because we are gonna get business anyways even though it is five and there are three people here other than you attitude, I don't know. I do know that I would prefer a Five Guys over this any day of the week. No fries, what the funk?

Best burger in DC-- if not, in the U.S.

I know my burgers and this is the best burger I've ever had. I'm originally from Indiana, but I'll go to New Orleans for my second fave burger any day, I'm happy that my first fave is nearer. The meat tastes so good, which accounts for about 90% of the burger experience for me. I got the dijon gouda and bacon as toppings. I wasn't thrilled with the gouda, I think I should have stuck with cheddar (personal preference), but the bacon was the BEST! It was crispy and flavorful. I did not like the potato salad or the mac 'n' cheese, I'll go with chips next time, and the hundreds of times after that. Oh, and the root beer rocked as well.

Delish!!!!!

Wow!What a burger experience!The portions are huge, the meat is amazing (get it pink instead of medium..trust me!) and the cheeses are orgasmic! The only down side is that there is not much space so get their early and watch everyone drool over your delicious plate of meat and cheese and grease and bread and corn and it goes on and on!

Awesome burgers

The Fat Joe was unbelievable. Also, loved the au poivre burger. Both were juicy and flavorful. Will return many times!

Ray's crack burgers

The competition for tables at 1pm on a Sunday is worth the annoyance for Ray's crack burgers. Mine had truffle oil, topped with fois gras and crispy shallots. The beef is so good, however, it can stand alone w/out the myriad fab toppings. With better iced tea and fresher corn on the cob, it would have been a perfect lunch. FYI--not a good place for a large group--it's hard enough to get a table for 2, much less 4.

Five Guys is Better IMO

The burger was good but not fantastic. I prefer Five Guys to this place but each their own.

Amazing burger, at a great price

I'd have to disagree that Five Guys is better- when it comes to actual burger meat, this one can't be beat. It's 10 ounces of deliciousness- so big, I've had to split it with a friend. And the actual flavor of the beef is amazing- as are all the lovely toppings, most of which are gratis. You will not find a better burger in the area for the price- I've been gushing about this place to anyone who'll listen since we tried it opening week!

Best.. Burger.. Ever

It's a bold statement to say this is the best ever, but for the price its truly unbeatable. This is in a league way above Five Guys and Good Stuff Eatery, if even for the sheer fact that you're receiving a burger on a plate, rather than a wad of wrapper. The ground beef is made on-site and just by looking at the raw burgers ready to hit the grill, you can tell that they are the highest quality. The only problem with a fantastic burger like this is waiting in line to get it. Try to get there for an early lunch during the week or a late lunch on the weekends.

Ok Burger

The burger was ok. I got a blackened media cheeseburger. The spices with the blackened burger were good. Cheese wasn't melted all the way and the bun tasted stale. I would give the burger an overall grade of a "C". It does not compare to Five Guys which has a much better burger. And since the main item that the place rests its reputation on is just ok I give the place a "D". Pretty much a "fad" burger joint.

I heart Michael Landrum

Go. Try. You'll thank me.

Walks the walk...

This is not some faux casual (overpriced) restaurant (i.e., Tacklebox), this is the real deal. A kicka** burger at a bargain price. Real, actual "good stuff".

maybe hell-burger should be called "best stuff eatery"

ray's is the answer to my prayers, and the prayers of burger lovers who were sorely disappointed by spike's 'good stuff eatery' which is inconsistent and over-hyped at best. it's interesting to find that ray's does a much better job at accentuating natural flavors by using organic and seasonal foods and staying simple, which seemed to have been spike's main goal all through top chef (but not apparently at good stuff where everything except the milkshakes was over dressed). ray's is perfect though; well-seasoned, well cooked, and perfectly portioned to avoid the 'post-5 guys hangover' and keep customers coming back for more. the best burger in town by a landslide.

Great Burger

Large grilled burger, great toppings, amazing beef. Less is more here though, don't go too crazy with the toppings. Also no choice on sides, they are seasonal and included. Best burger I have had in a while.

Now THIS is a tasty burger!

People, if you want a real gourmet burger, this is where you should go. Juicy, perfectly cooked to order, quality ingredients and toppings--my only regret is that I have not yet tried all the variations on a burger that Ray's has to offer. Sunday is burger night in our household, and Ray's is where we'll be taking burger business for the foreseeable future.