We’re not ashamed to say that we were blown away by a burger bar. Burger, Tap & Shake slays it when it comes to friendly service, perfectly cooked patties (better be some pink!), clever toppings and boozy milkshakes (shaketails) that hit the spot, even on the coldest day in recent DC history. Polar vortex schmortex.

You better be having the trifecta, which shouldn’t be hard to figure out – a burger, a beer AND a shaketail. Buttons were meant to be unbuttoned. So which burger? Which shake? The Best Thing on the Menu is undoubtedly the Southern Comfort Burger with Pimento Cheese, Fried Green Tomato, Vidalia Onions and Bread & Butter Pickles.

Get the Best Thing on the Menu with the Apocalypto shake, a frozen treat made with Fireball Cinnamon Whisky, Homemade Marshmallows and Chocolate Ice Cream. Chocolate haters like myself (dirty little secret) can have it made with vanilla. Their milkshakes bring all the boys to the yard, and DAMN right they’re better than yours. They’re better than anyone’s.

You see that world homemade? You better get used to it. The team behind Burger, Tap and Shake (and District Commons next door) are gluttons for hard work. They make EVERYTHING from scratch in house. So savor every bite because blood, sweat and tears went into it. Well, hopefully not directly into it.

We’ll definitely be back – preferably on the first Monday of every month when they do a $3 keg killer from 6:00pm until they run dry. And they will run dry. One final tip? Ask for Alvin, the guy oozes supreme customer service and beer/burger/shake knowledge.

Southern Comfort not your BTM? Share your favorites in the comments section.

If you liked this, you might also like Ted’s Bulletin or Stoney’s.