So let me start off with the downside... The service was subpar. The waitresses had little to no interest in helping us and absolutely no enthusiasm for their jobs. That aside... Let's get to the good stuff! The wings are probably the best wings I've had. I love that they put the sauces on the side so you get an ultra crispy chicken wing and it's not drowning in sauce. The wings even have plenty of flavor without the sauce too! And to top it all off you get to pick, not one, but TWO sauces for your wings. I wasn't thrilled with their sliders but they weren't bad. Small beef patty laid on a sweet brioche bun with shredded lettuce (disappointing for such a lovely little burger) and tomato as well as an almost floral sauce to sweeten the deal. I love that they have all natural sodas on hand. I'm such a sucker for a cream soda with NO CORN SYRUP! That alone may have made my week as that's the only soda I'll go out of my way to drink. My friend got the crispy tater tots and root beer float which as she described were "the best she's ever had" Will I be returning? You betcha! read more

Burger Bench - Super Wings! - American Near Me - Escondido, California

Food was outstanding the beer was good, the only thing was the sweat tea, its really really sweat but if you have a sweat tooth have a sweat day! read more

Burger Bench - Chorizo burger and tatter toes covered in cheese and other stuff - American Near Me - Escondido, California

This is one of my Favorite Burger spots in North County. The Burgers are great and always have a good selection of Craft Beer. Recently discovered they have breakfast and really liked the croissant breakfast sandwich. If your in or near Escondido definitely stop here! read more

Found this place on Yelp and it was fabulous. Had the swiss mushroom burger (fabulous garlic aioli) and the classic burger. Great fries and tater tots too. Fast and friendly service. We will be back+! read more

Burger Bench - Swiss mushroom burger - American Near Me - Escondido, California

I think the high rating and plenty of good reviews hyped me up again for this place. We had been here over a year ago and I thought it was ok. This past Monday night, 10/1/18, for my birthday, I decided to give them a shot again. Right when we walked in, it smelled terrible. It was like that terrible sponge smell. Apparently, they have people put their dirty dishes right next to the entrance. Ok, a lot of cheap fast food places do that, too. But Benched Burgers also keeps a little tub of soapy water with a rag in it that they use to wipe down the tables. I'm pretty sure that is what we smelled. Not a good smell when you first walk in. Food was ok. I got the 3 slider sampler. The sliders were ok, meat was on the dry side - both the beef and the bacon. Nothing spectacular. Left a lot to be desired. My daughter got the kids slider meal. The beef also appeared dry and was not even close to uniform in shape - like as if a quarter of the patty was lost. My daughter who absolutely loves hamburgers thought the sliders were eh. I'm talking about a small 45 lb little girl that grazes on everything unless it's a burger, which then she will usually scarf down an adult sized burger easily and ask for more. So, where have I gotten better burgers and sliders? Chile's has better sliders by far. Fuddruckers has way better burgers. Carl's jr has better sliders. Red Robin has way better burgers. Habit has better burgers. Smash Burger has better burgers. And all are reasonably priced for what they offer. I feel like Benched Burgers likes to charge the higher price, but their food doesn't justify the price. I got the Parmesan Truffle Fries that sounded sooooo good and worth $5. Nope. Not only were they side-sized like small fries, they had that slight burnt oil taste and were also dark in color which further proves they were long over due to change the oil. Plus, the seasoning was sparse, barely provided flavor, and barely masked the burnt taste. I was disappointed but not way upset about the sliders, but this crossed the line. Ridiculous and should not happen. At this point, I'm wondering if the owner just gave up and got lazy?! He got so many good reviews that he thinks they can slack off?! Did they hire an incompetent manager? How can so many things be wrong with an order?! Since it was my birthday, I decided to treat myself to a Mud Pie milkshake. Now that was really good. I certainly enjoyed that and would go back for another. I just won't be grabbing any burgers. read more

A great place to stop if you're in the area, we went to the zoo and saw this wasn't too far . Great burger and tater tots]

Really good! Came with a friend for lunch and we were full and happy after. I ordered the fried chicken sandwich, it had apples and a good aioli. The chicken was fresh and it was tasty. My friend ordered the bench burger and she said it was pretty good. We shared the truffle fries. They were good but they are a thick cut fry and I personally like a shoestring, None the less we ate them all. I have to say however the absolute highlight of the meal was the milkshake!! We split the mudpie flavor and it was Devine. I loved they use straws with huge opening so you get a great sip each time. I told my husband we need to go back because I noticed they had a large craft beer section that he would have liked. Still dreaming of that milkshake.... read more

Mmmmmm.. burgers were amazing! Got the smokehouse burger and mahalo burger, both with the waygu beef. So damn good. Also got the parmesan truffle fries and onion rings. Perfectly fried... the best, salted caramel pretzel shake. That was the icing on the cake. Cant wait to come back. read more

Good beer and good burgers. I've gone here several times and have enjoyed each visit. I love their gator tots

The food is amazing! Great atmosphere and very friendly staff. I had the trio of sliders. They let you pick from all the burgers which is great to try new things. I tried the fog slider that was unexpectedly better than I expected haha Mushroom slider and chicken club was delicious. Great pla read more

Burger Bench - American Near Me - Escondido, California

This place is exactly the type of burger joint Escondido needs. It's trendy and cool, with a minimalist interior design and local microbrews on tap. But it's so much more. Try the Classic Burger; the meat is juicy and flavorful, and all the toppings are in perfect proportion to one another. The Bench Sauce is addictive, like a Thousand Island dressing, only way better. The tots are crunchy, and all the side sauces are house made. If you are indecisive on a burger, order the 3 sliders and try three different combinations. The Burger Bench employees are kind and smiling, and offer their suggestions of favorites to try. I came here with 2 coworkers and we had ordered, eaten and left within 45 minutes--great for a quick lunch! We will definitely be coming back, and bring more people with us. read more

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Yummy. Burgers. Yummy. Milk shakes. Yummy. Tater tots. Yummy. Salads, too. YUMMY!!!! A much needed addition to DT Esco read more

Yummmm! We've been here a handful of times and tried several of the burgers. We got the s'mores shake last time and it was SO good. Giving 4 stars because I haven't been consistently impressed. Sometimes the burgers are better than other times. (Still coming back though... and we've brought family from out of town too) I also think the kids meals are small portions, but maybe my kids just eat a lot. Beer selection is awesome & I love how easy it is to customize your order. They do half orders of the sides and you can do 3 different sliders. It's like a burger flight & for someone indecisive like me, its amazing. read more

One of my favorite places on Grand Ave! Golden Rooster hands down is one of my top favorites of Chicken Sandwiches! Great little place for a bite to eat. read more

Went there shortly before the pandemic. The food was "ok", definitely nothing rave about. I got terribly sick, couldn't finish everything. Giving Burger Bench, the benefit of the doubt, maybe they had an "off day."?‍ My "go-to" burger and fries places are Red Robin and In-n-Out. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions! read more

My husband and I went to Burger Bench after much anticipation, and we are so happy to say that it did NOT disappoint. They really took the time to perfect their art before they opened. My husband and I sat at the bar and ordered Bench Burgers, and I asked for mine with a veggie patty which they accommodated. We also got the truffle fries and tots. We probably could have just ordered one since the portions were huge, but I'm not complaining! The fries are a must, they were so delicious, and both of our burgers were huge and so very good. We're both really excited to have a quality burger joint in Escondido! They have a great selection of beers on tap as well. One of the owners took some time to chat with us and she was an absolute peach. The décor was comfortable and very well executed. I think the only issue we will run into in the future is finding a seat. We will be back again and again. read more

Been wanting to go here ever since @youstayhungrysd posted about it. I am obsessed with tater tots! I saw a post on IG and had to try the chilli cheese fries with an egg on top. It was sooo good. They had mud pie milk shake today and it was amazing too. Left happy and full! Thank you for the great service and food! Definitely will be back. read more

obsessed with this place!! the spicy chicken sandwich is to die for, i highly recommend this place to a friend.

Delicious!!! It is a bit pricey though... Which is why I gave it only 4 stars! But definetly worth it on a ""treat yourself" day! The staff is amazing, quick and always smiling! Get the truffle Parmesan tots you can thank me later read more

Burger Bench - American Near Me - Escondido, California

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING! Had the Sunrise burger and this may be my newest favorite burger place! A little gem in downtown Escondido. The tater tots are perfect and crisp and their BENCH sauce is divine. If you don't come try this place you are missing out! Don't be a goof.....get your butt down here. read more

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Hipster type of atmosphere. We ordered the bench burger, a chorizo burger, and truffle tots. The Bench burger was delicious. The chorizo burger was spicy and was just ok. The truffle tots were too salty. We asked for jalapeños and they brought out raw green jalapeño. I prefer the pickled jalapeños. Didn't get a chance to try anything else since we were already from drinking a lot of water to get rid of the saltiness of the tots. read more

This place is awesome! I ordered the burger sampler, onion rings and a beer. The Bench Burger was my favorite! The service was helpful and friendly. Burger Bench was the perfect vibe for a Saturday afternoon after a hike with good friends. read more

Burger Bench - Burger sampler - American Near Me - Escondido, California

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Needed a place for lunch in Escondido last Sunday and selected Burger Bench because of Yelp reviews. It is a great place with so friendly staff and a large variety of burgers and related foods. Had a combo of 3 sliders...fig jam, smokehouse and swiss mushroom...each hot and delicious. Chocolate milkshakes...big and chocolatey with whipped cream on top and a stick cookie. Grand avenue chili...top choice. And onion rings as good as you can find anywhere. All good size servings, so it isn't inexpensive. But left feeling filled and happy. read more

Outstanding service and food! We had a last minute large party (much larger then we initially thought) and the staff went above and beyond to accommodate our needs (even though I'm sure it was a pain to meet the needs of 14 on such a last minute basis). The food was delicious and it came out quick. I'm very happy with our entire experience and not only will I recommend this to friends and family, but we WILL be back! read more

Very yummy, cool vibe, love the decor and the food was cooked to perfection... a little pricey but overall satisfied. Would go again and try something different read more

All of the burgers are yummy! Yield! The burgers are made Medium. (There will be pink in your burger) You must mention when how'd you would like your burger. Otherwise very good food!! read more

The sunrise burger is amazing. Great service. Home brewed soda is on tap as well. Fast friendly service. They get their near from Kennedy's carne so they support local business. Definitely stop in. read more

Second time for me today. First time was on opening day, ate the Classic American burger with truffle fries. Today I wanted the truffle tater tots and grilled cheese sandwich. Was told we are out of sourdough bread but we can use our brioche bun. A winner! The sandwich was delicious and so where the tots. Lucky me, I volunteer at the library and walk to the Burger Bench. read more

My son had his state cup tournament this year on superbowl (again). We were trying to find a place to catch the football game and found this place on yelp. Very pleased with the food and company. Great atmosphere and vibe. The burgers we got were juicy, the truffle parm tots were packed with flavor and the shakes were yummy. So glad we stopped in. read more

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I appreciate that Burger Bench resides in Escondido. Escondido and especially Grand are becoming a rad and interesting place to spend a days adventure. At Burger Bench you order at the counter and they deliver to your table. Solid selection of beers and burgers. I would definitely say that if you leave without ordering the onion rings you're making a mistake. They are delish! The veggie burger is with a black bean patty and I do not like black bean burgers. So I ordered the Fig butter, Apple, and Brie grilled cheese and was underwhelmed. For this being a burger place I was hoping for some other burger options for vegetarians like quinoa but I understand that it's a meat kind of burger place. I'll be back for onion rings and try some Tots next time. The inside is different and manly with cool touches to lighting. The bar area is bright and welcoming. Dog friendly patio! read more

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Really enjoyed our burgers. Perfectly prepared. Had the mushroom Swiss. The garlic aioli sauce was a revelation.

First time here and we will be back. We did sliders. The 2 chicken slider And a chorizo. Did the half and half. With tots and onion rings best. Aly is a great waitress on top of it the whole time. Oreo shake read more

Burger Bench - American Near Me - Escondido, California

I have been here a couple of times and the burgers have always been excellent. They're the perfect size and go great with their tater tots! The space is also clean and relaxing. read more

Cruising down grand ave wandering where to eat and came upon this place. Was almost empty a little after lunch time so not unexpected. Took about 10 minutes to get my bench burger and appetizer of fries. A really neat place to go and chill with some friends and have a burger and a beer, unfortunately I was at lunch from work so couldn't enjoy the tasty selections of beer. The bench burger was amazing and full of flavor. Bacon was cooked perfectly where it didn't crumble but wasn't chewy where you bite in and the whole thing comes out..took no effort to bite right through it. Heaping helping of fries in a bowl that was brought out to me before the burger, typical of an appetizer. Here is an explanation of minus a star... Value is always in the eye of the beholder...and I feel I have a good perception of value in most items...and I was about 89%value compared to almost $14 for a burger and fries. Fries should never be a appetizer with a burger... The burger came out on a plate with a big empty spot on it...I hope they throw some fries in that spot or something if you only order the burger because it just doesn't work. read more

This is my favorite burger place! Everything I've tried is awesome!! Chorizo burger is one of mine and my hubby's favorite. I like to get the sliders so that I can have a little bite of three different burgers. Truffle tots and fries are Delish. My son always gets a desert (which I always have to sample) they're always to die for!! Can't wait to try the rest of the menu haha Always good beer on tap which is an obvious bonus!! read more

We come to the Bench almost weekly. Love all of their menu items and ambiance is excellent!

I thought these burgers were going to be super good. There aren't a lot of options aside from the chains around here. I got the Bench Burger even though I'm not a huge fan of bacon. I got it well done and the patty was dry. I don't know if it was too dry juust because it was well done or not. The bread was kind of chewy, like other people have said. Update: I tried the Sunrise Burger, medium well. Patty was a little bit less dry than last time I went. Not bad, but I still like Slater's better. read more

Excellent food (everything we tried was good; burgers, desserts; hands down THE BEST AFFOGATO) Fantastic & friendly service(cashier took the time to recommend & explain things even though there was a line) Clean restrooms(always a good sign) Great prices(Our family of 5 stuffed our faces for about $40) Amazing ambiance & tasteful decor This spot made our day, will come back without a doubt! read more

I really enjoy burger bench! It's a little hidden gem in Escondido. It's a really busy place so get there before the dinner rush at 530. I would highly suggest getting the strawberry banana shake. It's very good. It has real banana chunks and doesn't have that fake banana taste. I get it w/o whip cream though. I've also had a chocolate banana shake too which was tasty. My goal is too try all the shakes. They are the perfect consistency. Nice and thick. I love the black bean burger. Love it so! It has a good flavor and good amount of beans. I've had a lot of black bean burger and this one doesn't add a lot of fillers like corn and rice which other places do. The arugula on it is perfect. The only thing I'm not crazy about with the burger is the sauce that goes on It. I forgot to get it on the side yesterday. Oh well I still ate some of it. The Parmesan tots are very good. Crispy and not too oily. I like to dip them in ranch the onion rings are also very good. I don't believe I had tried the fries. I mean why have fries when you can have tots!! The parking can be rough so you may have to park a little ways away. Good location though. we will be back to burger bench. read more

Went for a late lunch / early dinner on Wednesday; not too busy, plenty of seating, service right away too. Spilt the trio of sliders ( fig one, southern one, mushroom room) all the cooked perfectly and very flavorful , best though was the truffle tots- yummy! Crisp in the right places and can taste the truffle in every bite with out being too overwhelming, tried the pineapple cream soda which was a delightful treat as well. So many other crafted and different sodas to try , can't wait to go back! Wish I got a pix :( next time! read more