How to Have a Good Time at El Cap
The writers of MetroPete are on a quest to discover and talk about all the great people, places and things found in the heart of St. Petersburg. One task we really enjoy is reviewing award winning eateries like El Cap, 3500 4th St N. During the course of our research, we were surprised to discover that more than a third of the El Cap reviews on one popular ratings site are critical of the iconic burger joint...
We immediately wondered about the negative comments. After all, the 45 year old establishment is a frequently-crowded, local legend that has received several "Best Burger" awards over the years. In fact, just this year (2009), El Cap hamburgers were ranked among the top 27 burgers in the nation by DigitalCity(dot)com. So what's with the inconsistency between customer reviews and El Cap's outward signs of success? Well, readers, that is exactly what we set out to discover.
First, we invited an out-of-town vacationer to El Cap...let's call her Judy (because that is her name). She was a perfect subject for our experiment, a virtual clean slate and as close to a scientific control as we get folks. Judy had neither been to El Cap nor had she even heard of it (gasp). Her order consisted of a hamburger, fries and cola. Afterward, she told us she did not like the restaurant and would not go back the next time she visited St. Pete. In the immortal words of South Park Kyle's mom we said: "Wha-wha-wha-a-a-t?!"
Confused by her response, we ordered several burgers to go and whisked Judy away to our secret headquarters. There, we seated her at a table in a dark room with a single light-bulb hanging just above eye level. We demanded details, and after what seemed like tens of seconds, our formidable powers of persuasion had Judy confessing her reasons for not liking El Cap. The information was enlightening. When we combined Judy's perspective with our own appreciation for El Cap, we solved the mystery of the bad reviews.
Of course, we are sticking with our uber-positive philosophy, and so we're not going share Judy's criticisms. However, we processed all the data and created a guide to having a good time at El Cap.
It is easy to enjoy an El Cap experience. The trick is in managing one's expectations. Here are 7 things to keep in mind when visiting:
1. It is a very casual burger joint / sports bar. Jeans, ball caps, t-shirts, shorts...you get the idea. If you are looking for more, you are looking for disappointment.
2. The menu has more than burgers...but this place is all about the burgers.
3. The burgers are fresh, hot, juicy and tasty, but they are not big. They have a homemade quality that reminds us of summer meals around a picnic table. We recommend you get two. Seriously, two burgers are the standard order for many patrons.
4. Ordering burgers is an à la carte experience. You pay individually for extras like lettuce, tomato and onion. Also, like most places, there is an additional charge for cheese.
5. Refills on soft drinks are not free. This seems odd to many people, but we skip the issue altogether by going straight for a pitcher of beer. There's plenty to drink and fewer trips for the server, everybody wins.
6. Vegetarians beware, there are no salads on the menu except the chicken kind.
7. Visiting El Cap is a St Petersburg tradition. When you eat here you are participating in something residents have been sharing for over 40 years.
In summary, El Cap is a bar and grill with a lot of TV's playing sports. Most aspects of this establishment are consistent with this type of venue. However, its long-standing presence and the citizenry's love of the burgers are what combine to make El Cap more than the sum of its parts. Keep our words in mind while visiting El Cap and you will enjoy one of the best burgers in town.
