I’m a stickler about properly cooked burgers. If you’re going to ask me how I want it (medium rare, please), then it should be nice and pink in the middle. Not raw, not grey, but pink and juicy.
Which is why I was pretty bummed on my first visit to Bibi’s Burger Bar in downtown Santa Rosa when my medium rare turned out well-done. The well-done burger we ordered? Medium rare.
![Thai burger at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa (courtesy photo)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bibisburgerbar_thaiburger_courtesy-600x450.jpg)
But on a second, less busy visit the burgers weren’t just properly cooked, they were, as my exacting chef friend described them, solid. And not just solid, in my opinion, but memorable.
![The mega parmesan burger at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa (courtesy photo)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bibisburgerbar_parmesan_courtesy-600x450.jpg)
Bibi’s Burger Bar is the restaurant that should have always existed in this high-traffic downtown space. Stocked with a full bar, creative cocktails, milkshakes and a lengthy list of burgers, fried spuds, salads and a few entrees, Bibi’s Burgers stakes its claim on beefy patties topped with everything under the sun: from Thai coleslaw and portobella mushrooms to a pile of homemade chili or just a plain old bacon and cheddar (or nothing at all).
![S'mores milkshake at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/hi0316_bibisburgerbar_milkshake_lowrez-440x600.jpg)
The restaurant’s consulting chefs seem to have put their stamp on the menu with bun-to-bun care, using toasted Franco American buns, fresh produce and creative twists like smoky Gouda on The Smokey ($12, with chipotle mayo, bbq sauce and bacon), or the towering Parmigiana ($14) that includes a breaded burger, marinara, an onion ring and mozzarella on buttered sourdough bread.
![Nachos at BIbi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bibisburgerbar_nachos-600x440.jpg)
A vegetarian burger is in the works, and we think a turkey alternative would work beautifully as an alternative to some of the heavier burgers. Here are some of our favorites:
• Thai Burger ($11): Chili lemongrass coleslaw, lime mayo, carrots and daikon radish. We’d love this with a turkey or veggie option.
• Cabernet Burger ($13): Local Carmody cheese, portobella mushroom, horseradish sour cream and mustard. Can be made vegetarian without the beef patty.
• Connecticut Style Steamed Cheeseburger ($12): Classic burger taste that’s so juicy you need extra napkins and a trough. Comes with aged white cheddar and needs to be cooked medium-well for consistency.
• Bibi’s Nachos ($9.50): Homemade chili, and the usual fixins surprised us all with just how good nachos could be.
![Fried green beans at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa. (Courtesy photo)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bibisburgers_greenbeans_courtesy-600x450.jpg)
• Crisp Green Beans ($7): Pretend you’re getting your green for the day.
![Rhubarbarian cocktail at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/rhubarbarian_bibisburgerbar-440x600.jpg)
• Rhu-Barbarian cocktail ($8): Sky strawberry vodka, lime, strawberry, rhubarb bitters, cilantr-oh-my-goodness so yummy.
• Smore’s Shake: You will not want to share. Nutella, Graham crackers, torched marshmallow.
![Birdseye view of the Thai Burger at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa. (Heather Irwin)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/bibisburgerbar_topburger_ahi-600x440.jpg)
Our take: A solid Santa Rosa burger.
Bibi’s Burger Bar: 630 Third St., Santa Rosa, bibisr.com. Open for lunch and dinner daily.
![Thai Burger at Bibi's Burger Bar in Santa Rosa (Heather Irwin)](https://www.sonomamag.com/biteclub/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/thaiburger_bibis-440x600.jpg)