The Grub Hut (Kingston WA)

Date: February 2, 2025

Location: 11130 NE State Highway 104, Kingston WA

Website: peaceloveandgrub.com

According to their website, “The Grub Hut is a laid-back and unpretentious gathering place specializing in classic American eats such as burgers, sandwiches, shakes, salads and of course… tons of fried goodies.” 

Confirmed! And you had me at “burgers.” 

On a chilly winter afternoon in the port town of Kingston, I dove headfirst into The Smoke-N-Fire Burger (one of their weekly specials), a 1/3 LB beef patty topped with bacon, fire roasted red peppers, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, red onion, avocado, mayo, and a little bit of house-made smokey cream cheese.

What this burger lacks in structural integrity, in makes up for in creativity!

1 Aesthetics — Gorgeous! Always lovely to see full leaf lettuce peaking out from under the bun. 7

2 Flavor — Juicy, smokey, delicious. I would prefer it with pickles, but overall, quite a good flavor profile. 6.5

3 Mouthfeel — Not great. Way too mushy due to the slippery roasted pepper, two different cheeses, and goopy avocado. 5

4 Quality/Freshness — Very fresh. Three cheers for all-natural, NW-sourced, grass-fed beef! 8

5 Integrity — Weak. Completely fell apart in my hands. That’s way too many wet ingredients for such a flimsy bun. 4

6 Atmosphere — Very casual, decorated with tiki thatch and nautical carvings. 7

7 Service — Good! Grilled to order, delivered promptly. However, none of the teenage servers look like they enjoy their jobs. 7

8 Satisfaction — Moderately satisfied. A delicious burger, albeit difficult to eat. 6

9 Creativity/Uniqueness — Wonderful! A truly unorthodox combination of ingredients! 8.5

10 Value — A respectable value at $13 including choice of fries, potato salad, coleslaw, homemade soup, veggie chili, or sliced Fuji apple. 7

A bold experiment, not entirely successful, but commendable. It’s easy to understand why this joint consistently wins “Best Burger” honors in the North Kitsap Herald. Recommended.

Total Score: 66