Spots to Seek out: Fat Smitty’s

On a long road trip, almost nothing hits the spot like a greasy burger from a roadside joint. This weekend on our way to a camping trip, Nick and I stumbled upon one of the best little burger joints I’ve eaten at in a long time: Fat Smitty’s. For me, good greasy spoons or dives are made great by the quality of both the food and the atmosphere. Fat Smitty’s hit the mark in both categories. To start with, everything about their decor is over-the-top Americana in the best way possible.
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Let’s start with their exterior which boasts a giant hamburger statue, as well as a statues of the owner and a giant soda pop. It’s amazing and is what initially compelled us to stop. Well, compelled me to beg Nick to stop. Who doesn’t want to pose with a 20-foot statue of a burger?

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Once you venture inside, the interior puts those statues to shame. It’s completely wallpapered with dollar bills and armed forces bumper stickers. Note to mention the kitschy collections displayed on shelves and in windows like the M&M figurines seen in the windows here. There is so much awesomeness to look you don’t even know where to start. A few years ago, the restaurant actually took all the money down and donated it to charity. The total came to over $10,000. From what I saw this weekend, those dollars have quickly been replaced. This place has big time character and a big time heart.

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Now it should come as no surprise that their food is large and in charge. The Smitty Burger (pictured) is a straight up behemoth. At three buns and two patties, I think it weighed over a pound. Our server had to guide us through the eating process. We were told to smash it down and then “don’t let go until it’s gone.” I let go about a third of the way through, but it was a damn delicious third of a burger. Good fries and onion rings as well – nothing out of the ordinary in this department but hot, crispy, and salty.

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Here we are with full and satisfied bellies. Well I was satisfied. Nick decided that consuming a root beer float, onion rings, and the entire Smitty Burger was a good idea. Word to the wise, it is not.

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Now, I wouldn’t go as far as saying that the Smitty Burger was THE best burger I’ve ever had, but it came pretty darn close. Of course, like so many good roadside joints, it’s a bit off the beaten path, but for me that’s also part of the charm. There’s a excitement to tracking down a tiny little restaurant in the middle of nowhere – the thrill of the chase, I suppose. If you’re ever in Washington State, you can find them here.
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Do you have favorite burger joint or greasy spoon? Growing up, I used to love going to Red Robin, but that was back when I could drink their milkshakes.
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XOXO,
Jules
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