Back in 2013, eater.com put together a list of the “25 Hottest Burgers in America and the “secret burger” at Seven Lamps (a newcomer, at the time, to the Atlanta dining scene) made their list.  I had never heard of the restaurant, but I did add it to my list.  Located in the corner of the Around Lenox shopping center, navigation systems will get you ninety-eight percent of the way there, but if you don’t know where you are heading, it is tough to find.  You need to pull into the entrance to Lenox Square, by the Westin, and then into the parking lot behind it.  Tucked back into a corner, we arrived for an 6:30 dinner with our daughter and son-in-law and were shown to a table in the nearly empty inside.   The shelves, below, make up the back wall.

They started us out with pickled okra and squash, along with crema – their alternative to bread service.  I, for one, missed the bread, but my table mates seemed to enjoy the vegetables, particularly the squash.  The first thing I asked when the server came back around was, “Is there really a burger that’s not on the menu?”  Her affirmation was met with sighs of relief.

While we were deciding on dinner, we started out with a charcuterie plate of two meats and three cheeses

(from top left): house-made pimento cheese; Humboldt Fog goat cheese; more of the pickled okra and squash; pepper-scented pork salami (soppressata); 420 beer mustard; Carolina reaper spicy pork salami; toasted baguettes; cocktail nuts; brie and grapes aigre-doux (pickled grapes).  The pimento cheese was excellent (we scraped out the bowl) and the spicy pork salami was really hot.  The pickled grapes with the goat cheese were a really interesting mix.  A nice overall mix of tastes.

My beloved ordered the pumpkin tortellini,

which she really enjoyed.  The rest of us were there for the burger.  Three arrived at the table from Medium Rare to Well.

The burgers are simple – a fifty/fifty patty of brisket and top round, topped with caramelized onions, thousand island dressing, pickles, and cheese gratin.  I added the bacon.  Mine was the Medium Rare and when I sliced into it, it was cooked perfectly.  We all enjoyed them, thoroughly – the house thousand island on them had a nice after bite.   The sweet potato chips were a little thick, but okay.  This was a really good burger (of course, I omitted the pickles).  I see why this made the eater list – it ought to be added to your list.  Everybody keeps one, don’t they?