BIG MOUTH

The Scene
Brightly colored sponge-painted walls and big wooden tables and chairs give this Mission eatery a cheerful do-it-yourself look. The staff behind the counter is friendly, and the place has become a fast favorite among a wide variety of neighborhood locals, from play-dating moms and kids to the tattoo-and-goatee crowd.

The Food
The tasty burgers here are cooked medium, so diners should be sure to ask for meat on the rarer side. Buns (plain, whole wheat, French roll or focaccia) come toasted and squirted with choice of mayo, barbecue sauce, pesto, roasted garlic or teriyaki sauce. Thick-cut fries, served with the burgers, have good potato flavor--a better side choice than the bland coleslaw and baked beans. Vegetarians can dive into the good garden burgers or the piled-high Californian sandwich, a pesto-dosed extravaganza of grilled eggplant, red onions, red and green peppers and melted provolone cheese.