You may only know the Rialto Poolroom Bar and Café as the former: a massive pool hall that’s properly lit in the classic fashion (read: dim, with glowing green felt tables). What’s less obvious from the street is a kitchen program that takes great pride in their product. From the labor-intensive, double-fried fresh French fries (fried in carefully-selected soy oil), to the hand-formed, never frozen beef patties, chef Doug Reid surprises the throngs of gamers with well-priced, honestly-portioned comfort food standards.

The Rialto Cheeseburger. Fries not included.

For Burger Week this year, the Rialto has priced their old-school cheeseburger—like all of them—at just $5. It’s the aforementioned hand-packed patty, with extra-sharp white cheddar and all the classic trimmings, on a fresh potato bun. It’s a juicy, fragrant, oversized burger with good char, and with a basket of their fresh, seasoned fries (not included), it makes a solid meal that will set you up Eddie Felson-style for a good twelve hours or more of straight pool.

- * -

Read all the Burger Week details here!

The Portland Mercury would like to thank our partners once again this year, world-class meat provider Nicky USA, Widmer Brothers Brewing, and Jim Beam Kentucky Fire!

Important reminder: THESE BURGERS WILL SELL OUT. Last year’s restaurants had one main issue with the event last year, and that was people getting angry and rude when they found out that they are part of a reality where restaurants that are getting slammed run out of food. We have better forecasting numbers this year, but please: go early, be kind, get a drink, and, most importantly, a $5 burger is a privilege, not a right. You know what someone who acts like a horse’s ass is? Hint: It has two enormous buttocks and large poops fall out of the middle.