Columbia Inn Restaurant (Kalama WA)
- slurpee
- Apr 23
- 2 min read
Date: April 22, 2025
Location: 698 NE Frontage Road, Kalama WA
Founded in 1955, Columbia Inn Restaurant is the kind of place my daddy would have taken me for pancakes, back in the day, after one of his early morning birding expeditions. A step up from your average diner, this small, family-operated establishment has an appealing mid century modern ambience and an extensive menu of American classics.
I ordered The Jack Benny Burger, made from USDA ground beef, crowned with American cheese, crisp, lean thick bacon, sliced tomato, onion, green leaf lettuce, pickles, and secret sauce, on a sesame seed bun.
1 Aesthetics — One of the most beautiful burger presentations I’ve ever seen. 9.5
2 Flavor — So savory and scrumptious! The beef was perfectly seared and seasoned, and all the veggies were full of flavor, as well. 8
3 Mouthfeel — Outstanding! A harmonious balance of textures and density. 8.5
4 Quality/Freshness — You can’t beat the combination of high quality beef with fresh, ripe, crispy veggies. 8.5
5 Integrity — This burger is tall, with a generous amount of vegetables, and the beef patty is thick and rounded in the middle, not flat, so I decided to cut my sandwich in half to prevent it from falling apart in my hands. It held together well! I also appreciate the care with which it was assembled. All the components were distributed evenly. A great burger build. 8
6 Atmosphere — I love everything about the look of this place, from the arrowhead sign, palm trees and tiki totem at the entrance, to the wall placard commemorating celebrity visits from Jack Benny and Elvis Presley, to the goofy, old-fashioned peg board games on the dining tables. 8
7 Service — Excellent. My waitress was attentive and friendly, with a lovely smile (“what can I get ya, hon?”), and my food arrived quickly. 9
8 Satisfaction — The most satisfying meal I’ve had in a long time. 8
9 Creativity/Uniqueness — Classic dishes, creatively named. Next time I’ll try The Elvis Burger! 7.5
10 Value — At $18.79 including potato salad, this burger cost about ten dollars more than I usually care to spend, but for a special occasion or celebration, it’s absolutely worth the expense. 7
I totally dig this place and will definitely be back. Highly recommended!
Total Score: 82
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