From pasture to plate, Roam Artisan Burgers offers delicious patties, sides, and shakes using fresh, quality ingredients.
Since their debut, Roam has consistently been ranked among the city's best burgers; their juicy turkey burger— featuring melted gruyere cheese, carmelized onions, and cheesy fried atop the meat—was even recently featured on the Food Network's Best.Ever.Burger.
But beyond the meaty glitz, Roam is also dedicated to sustainbility. The interior of each restaurant contains reclaimed and salvaged woods as well as state of the art recycling and composting programs. Fry oil is even recycled and used for bio-fuel to power Muni buses!
We chatted with owners Joshua Spiegelman and Lynn Gorfinkle to ask about their life beyond the grill.
1. What neighborhood do you currently call home? Would you ever move or are you happy in your 'hood?
Josh: Cow Hollow is home for now. It's a perfect area, right between Union, Chestnut, and Polk with lots of great restaurants, bars, and shops. I'm definitely happy there, but could see myself settling down in Marin some day.
Lynn: The Presidio, on the bay side of the park. It feels like country living, but you're still in the city. Within a few minutes walk, I can be at the coast with incredible views or trekking through the forest to Planet Granite for a climbing session. I am extremely happy in my 'hood, though I'm sure there could be other places with awesome beauty.
2. What's your hands-down, absolute favorite thing to eat in SF?
Josh: Birria at Nopalito or lamb riblets at Kokkari. It's a toss-up!
Lynn: Everything organic sold at the local farmers markets.
3. What's your perfect night on the town?
Josh: Starts with a drink at The Battery, dinner at Tosca, then if it's nice out, a night cap on the rooftop at Lolinda.
Lynn: A bike ride or hike until dark, then seeking out an epic meal at one of SF's many great restaurants.
4. When you need a low-key afternoon, where do you go for down time?
Josh: I sneak out to Marin and hit golf balls at Peacock Gap. We actually spent a summer living out on the 11th hole, so it's kind of like going back home.
Lynn: Head over the Golden Gate into Marin for a bike ride plus shopping. Or, if there's swell, a surf out in Bolinas.
6. What's your favorite place to go on a day trip from the city?
Josh: That would have to be Napa. My dad and I often head out on a Thursday night, eat somewhere great like the bar at Bottega in Yountville, then play golf at Silverado on Friday morning, and I'm back in the city before dinner. It's a perfect 24-hour getaway.
Lynn: Either Marin, Sonoma, or Russian River Valley. Really anywhere north of San Francisco for a long bike ride or a hike with coastal views. Tahoe on a powder day is also pretty high up on the list.
Quick-fire round
Burrito or Burger:
Josh: Burger. Come on!
Lynn: Burger.
Presidio or Golden Gate Park?
Josh: Presidio.
Lynn: Presidio.
BiRite or Mitchell's?
Josh: BiRite.
Lynn: BiRite.
Bike or MUNI?
Josh: Uber
Lynn: Bike
Fort Mason or Dolores Park?
Josh: Frat Mason.
Lynn: Fort Mason.
The Independent or the Fillmore?
Josh: The Fillmore.
Lynn: The Independent.
Baker Beach or Ocean Beach?
Josh: Baker Beach.
Lynn: Baker Beach.
Three words that describe your life in SF?
Josh: Hectic, fulfilling, dynamic.
Lynn: Thrilling, adventure-filled, epic.
