TACOMA, Wash — At Radnor's, the South Sound smash burgers are getting all kinds of rave reviews.
"It's pound for pound the best flavored burger you can get," said Chef Lewis Mageo, who is something of a smash master.
"It's basically a hand formed ball that's placed on a really hot griddle," he explained. "And then we just smash it onto the grill. It creates a sear. That sear is flavor. That sear is texture, and once the cheese is melted you should have it done."
When Radnor's opened May 17, the first 253 customers received free South Sound smash burgers.
"We had a line not just down the block, but another block," said Casey Catherwood, creative director of Edison Square which houses the new burger joint. An all girl punk band entertained customers while a ping pong tournament raged in the main hall.
"The winner, who was incredible, won free Radnor's for life," Catherwood said.
It's all part of a new energy at historic Edison Square, an event space with its own industrial kitchen.
"Edison Square is really a place where anything can happen," Catherwood said. "We host Parade, the South Sound premiere drag show race. We have improv comedy from Boy Smooches. We do cultural celebrations."
The in-house restaurant, named for theater owner Radnor Pratsch, features more than smash burgers. Rad fries are covered in cheese and caramelized onions and you can pick up bags of baby beignets.
If taste is any indicator, Radnor's will be a smashing success.
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