There is another new burger in town, and unlike Northern Quest’s Fatburger, this one doesn’t come with a half-a-century franchise history and a Los Angeles pedigree. The burger at CRAZY G’S is simply the juicy, goopy creation of a retired engineer, Gary Swiss.
Gary’s wife Chris is just as involved in the restaurant now, but when he first came up with the idea, she said he was crazy. She wasn’t alone. Her family chimed in. Friends were incredulous. Their kids said it was nuts.
“Everyone told me flat out I was crazy,” Gary says. But rather than discourage Gary, all these comments did was give him an idea for the name.
The menu plays with the name: You can order the “Crazy” burger, the “Super Crazy” burger, or the “Certifiable” burger. All come with Gary’s “crazy” toppings: secret sauce, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions, and your choice of provolone, cheddar or Swiss cheese. The Super adds bacon or pastrami to the 6-ounce Angus patty, and the Certifiable piles on both bacon and pastrami.
You are also welcome to request grilled jalapeños, lettuce, tomato, mustard, ketchup, pickles or sauerkraut to anything on the menu, but I’d suggest you try your first Crazy G’s burger the way Gary intended it and go on from there. Order the Certifiable ($6.25 alone, or $8.75 with a soda and fries or onion tangles) if you like a lot going on as a carnivore. Order the simple Crazy if bacon and pastrami seem like a distraction from the juicy beef at the heart of the char-grilled burger.
East Coast refugees should perk up at the Philly steak sandwich on the menu, even though they will have to settle for provolone rather than the cult classic Cheese Whiz offered in Pennsylvania. Or try the dark horse on the menu: the “Super Crazy Dog” that splits a bulging special-order frank down the middle and jams in bacon and cheddar before wrapping it up in a butter-toasted bun that retains just the right chewy bite. Skip the sweet relish on the dog if you add the bacon and cheese. The Super Crazy Dog is the best in town, and one that could contend nationally. Their hand-dipped vanilla and chocolate shakes made from Columbia Premium hard ice cream ($3.25) also set them above your typical burger-and-dog establishment.
One truth-in-advertising note: Don’t expect fast-food drive-thru timing. “We build everything to order,” Gary says, “including sandwiches without meat.” This takes time. Plan on a 10- to 15-minute wait while they cook your food to order, and use the time to wonder what exactly is in their Crazy sauce.
— KEVIN FINCH
Crazy G’s, 821 N. Division, is open Mon-Sat 10:30 am-9 pm. Call 315-8943.
4 comments:
Ok, I am not sure what the deal is. I ordered a Philly, and it was total and complete mush, would have to say we could not get past the second byte. And for a Philly the peppers should be cooked to have a bit of a crunch left. But instead, they where soggy as if they where soaking in a bath of butter. I am all about seeing local business a great success but maybe they should stick with the burgers. My experience was not to ever go back.
I've been to Crazy G's twice. I can't speak to the Philly, but I loved the Super Crazy burger I had enough to come back only a week later. The fries are excellent, some of the best I have ever had, and the Crazy sauce is unique in an town overrun by fry sauces. My second meal there was the Chicken sandwich, and it was *incredible*. It blew the burger away. The Philly may not be good, but the other items are definitely worth trying.
I love this place. It's a little out of the way and you do have to wait for your burger to cook, but it's worth it. The Certifiable and the new Chili Dog are AWESOME. My two cents...It's the best burger joint in town.
@ the Mush and Soggy comments on the Philly sandwich eater... this is probably more rare then common. I've had Philly Cheese Steaks from Philly and probably some of the best Steak Sandwich makers in all of USA and I keep going back to Crazy G's in Spokane because of his unbelievable Philly Steak Sandwich. NO the peppers are not typically soggy and the meat is never mush.. Its fantastic. I hate the fact that spokane has horrible food in most of its resturaunts but Love the fact that Gary / owner of Crazy G's has stepped it up and made great food! Finally in Spokane!
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