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| - I'm surprised to see that 56 West hasn't received better reviews. I've been a regular here since it opened, and I have never had a bad experience there.
It's hard to take a simple concept like burgers and salads and make it impressive, but 56 West has given these traditional American staples a new image and feel. A contemporary, yet intimate atmosphere combined with an innovative, inuendo-laced menu make eating burgers and fries seem like the trendy thing to do.
When I have a taste for a burger and I want to go somewhere local, I have a few choices. I can go to 5 Guys Burgers and Fries and read the ultra-positive, self indulgent reviews and newspaper articles they have used as wallpaper while I wait 20 minutes for a greasy burger indistinguishable from the ones they sell at Steak-n-Shake for half the price. I can also go to 56 West, where they offer creative daily and weekly specials using locally purchased and organic ingredients as well as a menu that features a "build your own" concept which ensures that there will always be something new to try. For $7-10, I would go to 56 West every time!
Some of the reviews have mentioned the owner as coming across as "grumpy" or "odd." The truth is he is an experienced restaurateur who has been in the food game a long time, and he always makes time to stop and chat for a few minutes when I see him. He once explained that his service philosophy is to treat your customers like friends, and your employees like family. This helps create a fun, relaxed atmosphere, evidenced by their birthday celebrations for patrons and the pajama brunch.
There are few places where you can get creative, high-concept food for such reasonable prices. The Pure Pleasure is a unique appetizer, and the Friends with Benefits and Beautiful Sunrise are solid burger choices if you're not in a creative mood or can't decide on one of your own. The baguette is usually the best bread choice for the sandwiches. The steak and tuna entrees are good as well, especially with the Caesar salad and Menage-a-Trois potato casserole.
To help ensure quick service and high quality food, try going during off hours. Like some of the other neighborhood restaurants in Lakewood, they have a small kitchen and the place can get a little cramped at times which might affect your experience. Regardless of when you go, you can be sure there is nowhere else offering this many options for burgers with this kind of value.
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