Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers, San Francisco

"If you're on a perpetual quest for a good burger," insists Frommer's, "a mandatory stop is Barney's Gourmet Hamburgers." The Bay Area institution's 20-plus specialty burgers start with a choice of five patties, including garden, wild Alaskan salmon, and all-natural, humanely raised Angus beef ground chuck delivered daily from Niman Ranch. Grill masters crown each patty with preservative-free ingredients that range from sprouts and grilled chili to garlic-basil pesto and spicy voodoo sauce.

Though burgers dominate Barney's menu, salads are a close second. The eatery's more than 15 specialties include an organic mix with roasted beets, caramelized walnuts, fennel, and goat cheese. All are drizzled with dressings made in-house from secret recipes handed down through generations via song. The rest of what Frommer's calls a "mind-boggling menu" due to its extensive choices includes shakes and floats, kosher beef hot dogs, and steak-cut fries.