Is Boston Best Burger at The Oak Room?

Getting back to the ritual Friday Burger with Richard from Boston Burger Blog, we thought we'd kick off the year with a more high end burger (i.e. expensive).  After all, it's the start of a New Year and it also just so happened to be my final day in corporate America.  Clearly an extra good celebratory cheeseburger was in order. That being said, we don't always get what we want and sadly this was the case at The Oak Room.

The Oak Room Cheeseburger 

Located in the luxuriously lavish Fairmont Copley Plaza, there is no doubt about it, The Oak Room is upscale.  Walking through the bright and extravagant hotel lobby, heels click-clicking on the gleaming marble floors to get to The Oak Room, my expectations ran high.  I was then ushered through a dimly lit lounge that seemed straight out the 1920's.  The walls were covered in deep oak (makes sense, doesn't it?) and golden chandeliers hung from the ceilings while deer heads hung on the walls.  Once seated, the staff seemed confused and disorganized.  We were offered a choice of waters on three different occasions and were met with a rather frustrated "as you wish" each time various high end waters were declined in favor of simple tap water.

As we waited for our burgers, we noticed how many other diners had ordered the burger.  In a dining room full of guests, I saw only one item being served that wasn't a burger (it was a lobster roll).  This only amplified the anticipation for a juicy and perfectly cooked cheeseburger.  Maybe they all knew the secret of where Boston's best burger is kept?

When the cheeseburger was presented to us, it even looked sad.  Limp fries laying next to an average looking bar burger.  When I bit into it, the first thing I noticed was how dreadfully over cooked it was.  I had requested medium rare and was presented with well, well, well done.  The meat itself was so over salted I could swear I felt the graduals of salt crunching with each bite.  The bread was stale and there was entirely too much of it and the cheese didn't even participate in the overall flavor of each bite.  When asked by our waiter how everything was, I admitted that things were "just okay" the waiter absently and as if not even paying attention said, "great" and rushed away.  Waitering/Waitressing 101, if customer states that things are less then stellar, especially in a fine dining establishment, things should be made right.  Once the burgers were cleared (I had removed the offending bun after the first bite and only ate about half of my actual burger) we were then asked on two different occasions if we'd care for dessert or coffee and were even questioned "Are you sure you wouldn't enjoy a cappuccino?"  Understood that up-selling is a part of the restaurant business but done without tact and with visible frustration when the offer is declined is rude.

I'd expect things like this from the local watering hole but when coughing up $19 for a burger, I'd expect things to be spot on.  In addition, I'm also looking for an element of surprise to be included to the plate that would warrant such a price tag.  When you compare this pricey burger to others, there is an an extra twist added to them that makes them luxurious.  The Bristol Burger has truffled Parmesan fries and is cooked to perfection and enough to comfortably feed two people.  The Back Bay Social Club utilizes a blend of meats that makes for one of the juiciest burgers I've ever had.  All things considered, sadly, The Oak Room burger has surpassed Cafeteria for the title of worst burger in Boston that I've had to date.