Lunchbox Laboratory
989 112th Ave NE,Ste 105, Bellevue, WA, 98004
Lunchbox Laboratory Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Bellevue for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant cholesterol menu details.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
989 112th Ave NE,Ste 105
Bellevue, WA, 98004 - Phone (425) 505-2676
- Website https://lunchboxlaboratory.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 11
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Garage
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Drive-Thru : No
Caters : No
Categories
Burgers
Burger or Hamburger is savored as the most desired fast food meal in the United States. A hamburger is basically a sandwich prepared by stuffing ground meat patty, generally beef, between two slices of a bun cut in half. Hamburger is also famous for its seasoning. Most popular condiments used in hamburgers in the United States are mustard, mayonnaise, and ketchup. Besides ground meat patty, hamburgers are also stuffed with lettuce, onions, tomato slices, pickles, and cheese.
Hamburgers are also categorized into two types in the United States. Fast food hamburger and individual hamburgers served at restaurants are two basic types of burgers served in the United States. The individual hamburgers served at restaurants are prepared using everything including lettuce, onion, tomato, and sliced pickles as well as melted cheese on the patty or crumbled on top. American restaurants also serve veggie burgers for those who don't relish meat. Cheeseburgers are also hot favorite in the United States.
McDonalds is the most popular fast food burger restaurant serving different types of burgers in the United States. On the other hand, there are several restaurants such as Burger King are famous for serving the best hamburgers in the United States. Most burger restaurants in the United States often serve hamburgers with French fries and other condiments. If you have a liking for burgers in the United States, then you won't be disappointed. You can easily find the best burger restaurants in your city on our Restaurants Listings directory. Check the reviews and ratings of the top burger restaurants and savor yourself with the best hamburger in the city.
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Song K.
I am a fan of this place! The food is very abundant and I should have not eaten so much of it. I guess I can't blame Lunchbox Labs for that issue. I just couldn't stop stuffing my face hole! I attended this establishment with 2 of my co-workers. One had the Dork, one had the hot head, but I had the tear jerker and that was at my level of flavor and spice! The buns were soft and flavorful, the sauces were abundant, the pickle crispy, and the fry options variant. We were served and seated by our waitress who was very friendly, professional, knowledgeable, attentive, and energetic. As for the price that people have told me about before I tried this place out, it isn't that bad actually. I have been going to Red Robin's for some years now and Lunchbox labs charge about a dollar or 2 more than the typical Red Robin burger. Not that bad overall since it's still cheaper than a plate of rice, beans, and a little meat at some bland Texican joints. In conclusion: I gave it 5 stars because I initially gave it 4 for overall score and then recalled how awesome our waitress was as I was typing this review. So.. * Great Service * Good food * Clean place and well lit with friendly atmos * Fairly priced 4 stars with an extra star kicker for my last experience with the service provided.
(5)Charlee S.
This place is fun, it's my 2nd time coming here. Just wish their entrance sign was located somewhere easy located. #loveit #yummy #delicious #foodporn #foodie #awesomeness #food #thankyou #goodcompany
(4)Pui L.
First time here after they opened the two new locations. I brought my brother here for his birthday. We arrived shortly after they opened on Saturday. There were already a few tables filled. I like that they had a parking garage so I don't have to worry about parking. We were seated right as we entered. The host gave us the code for the bathroom just in case we need to use it. We sat by the window. The waitress was super nice and attentive. They had a special menu she said they rotate the specials every other week, I believe. We ordered the horchata shake. OMG BEST SHAKE EVER! We also ordered the Tatchos. My bro wanted to try. He can't eat anything spicy so I asked for the satan's tears on the side. It wasn't very spicy though. He liked it a lot. We then ordered the churken and the dork with mac du jour which was beechers mac and cheese and the loaded mac and cheese. We were half way full with the tatchos before the burgers came. We ate half the burgers and a couple of bites of the mac and cheese. The dork is SUPER delicious! It's tender and the flavor is amazing! The Beecher's mac and cheese was good too. My brother enjoyed the churken and the loaded mac and cheese too. It's a lot of food and the only thing we were able to finish was the small horchata shake we both got lol!We had enough leftovers for another full meal. I saw they have happy hour so might try that next time. It is a little spendy but it's not like you can get the dork or churken or tatchos just anywhere! Good service + good food = YAY!! Will be back again!
(4)Hamy N.
Burgers were alright. Nothing outstanding. The tater tots were alright as well. I wasn't so impressed. The only two things that I really liked were the almond joy shake and the pork rind. Yummy!
(3)Josh H.
Great burgers. Many many choices. Fresh pork rinds that crackle at your table. Killer tater tots too!
(4)Nicholas H.
Experimental burgers without pretensions, delightfully boozy milkshakes and the best homemade pork rinds you'll likely every taste.
(4)Mika K.
This was my first visit to this restaurant, but definitely won't be my last! Chill atmosphere for any occasion. The reason I gave it 5 stars is because of my 5 Star server Melanie!! She was so attentive and friendly and had great suggestions on everything from dipping sauce to milkshake flavors. The place had great food, my fav the dog stick appetizer with Dijon mayo! All I can say is Melanie made my dining experience a fun and ideal time! I will make sure to sit in her section when I return. Thanks again to you girl, see you soon ! Xo Mikayla
(5)Troy D.
I stopped in for happy hour after hearing about the barrel root beer and adult milkshakes. The food was okay but the tots were great. The adult root beer didn't look like the picture but was still good.
(3)Paul H.
Delicious burgers with quality ingredients and interesting (yet very sweet) drink list. Only downside is the fries which are shoestring cut, which means that they get cold right away. I like this place and would eat here often if I didn't value my health so much.
(5)Kat M.
Definitely not diet food. But if you're looking for a truly great burger & beer this is the place! Perfect place to bring the kids too. It's casual and there are sooooo many burgers & sandwiches to choose from. 7-days a week Happy Hour too (aka: Kick Ass Hour).
(4)Michael G.
Finally decided to go back when a coworker suggested it. Had a much better experience this time, fortunately. Although I avoided coming back for so long because of the experience last time, I also don't live close enough I'd drive for burgers either. Got the "dork" (duck and pork) without bun and the fresh fried pork rinds. Both were good but the pork rind experience was especially cool. They come out still crackling from being fried and this was pretty unique after a life of eating them out of the bag. The aole's that accompany them are delicious too but watch out for the tapatio option if you're heat adverse like me. It's a pretty big order so I recommend sharing. The dork was also good and I enjoyed having something different then the normal beef patty. Juicy, flavorful and I enjoyed mine with bacon on top. All in all, I'm glad I went back. I still don't live any closer so I'm not sure when I'll come back but from the service to atmosphere to food, I can't go lower then 4 stars.
(4)Jessica B.
Excellent food and service! Came here with my sister, brother in law, niece and fiance and kept saying over and over again "Man, I really like this place!"..... Every little detail of the restaurant is so neat and unique. Fun for any kind of age... whether you are with your family or a group of friends. Milkshakes, beer, tator tots, burgers and even pork/duck sandwiches! And the food was as good as it seemed in the menu. I ordered the buff poppers and the dork to split with my sister. We loved all of it. Maybe a little too much cream cheese in the poppers, but still sooo good!!! And "The Dork" was a tasty duck/pork sandwich served with garlic aoli and we got tots on the side. Everything was all so tasty and made for a really enjoyable experience! Kudos to the owner/managers of this establishment who accommodate both foodies and the "meat & potato" eaters. You guys rock! I can't wait to come back!!
(5)Dhawal P.
Sweet Place ! Nice burgers, the shakes are just awesome, the staff is friendly, the place is neat and clean ! Will go back soon for one of those yummy shakes !
(4)Carmen V.
Cool, childish looking burger place. I like the name of luchbox lab, very original and fun. Easy to park on a Sunday, lots of parking spots on the street, but during the week I guess next time I will use the free parking for customers at the Elements building. Friendly service (handsome black guy with caramel colored eyes!) and fast too (we were very hungry after a long hike, so waiting too much was not in out plans). We were during an odd hour, around 3pm, so not many other customers around. I guess this place can get really busy. Burgers...I did not want to venture to build my own one (normally I end up with something that tastes awful or the wrong combo of ingredients). So I opted for the blue cheese burger with sweet potato fries and my companion for the mega spicy tear jerker burger with tater tots (indeed, he almost cry of pain although that is what a food masochist is looking for!). We liked a lot as we were very hungry, but I like my burger very well done and this wasn't (then I realized I wasn't asked how well I wanted by burger done, as in other places) and overall was more expensive than other burger places.
(3)Tirzah M.
Drinks are created like kindergartener's funland. Not sophisticated even though they are downplaying their image to like like a playground for adults. Service is atrocious. Was not greeted in a timely manner. They left me hangin', cuz I suppose they made the assumption that I wanted that much time to decide. No intro to any menu I had to ask myself. this is my first time there, but treated like a janitor -look at me but dont talk to me- Ha what a joke of a restaurant. I would never recommend not even to young adults. The food is mediocre. Drinks are in no way worth any cent to pay for. My kindergartner could do better.
(1)Franklin H.
Lunchbox Laboratory, I've been here on multiple occasions, specifically for trivia night. The food here is quite good - although I haven't tried everything. I mainly stick with their Happy Hour menu - as I'm here to play trivia. I haven't specifically tried any of their experimentation, but I did have the house salad (good), dork balls (meat balls of duck and pork, not to my liking), Mac and Cheese, Totchos (way too much cheese, and overly high in sodium) and fries. I even had a Key West Pie Milk shake - although it was a bit much for me to finish. It was good shake, though I think the Vanilla was overpowering the Key Lime juice. The bar area is large for hosting a small party, but during trivia night, every single seat in the bar area will be taken. And it can be a very competitive atmosphere as each team is playing for prizes, bragging rights, or competing in a Trivia Bowl. Service during trivia night is always excellent during my visits, water, drinks always kept full; food is served on respectable interval considering how crowded it is. Anyway, I'm always happy to attend trivia night when my schedule allows me to do so, it's always a fun way of ending the work day.
(4)Hoc P.
Burger of the Gods was just OK. I guess I had better burger with lower price (think In-Out). For $13, this might not get me to go back unless it is group party / happy hours kinda thing. The burger bun was a little dry and felt kinda old to be honest. Tots were just standard. Fries are also typical, nothing special. Parking is a b!tch though. So there is no way I am coming back to figure out the hassle in parking. One thing that is GOOD: Shake! I am a shake lover. Make sure to try their Boston Creme Donut Shake. It was so good, sweet, tasty and extreme high in calories. Go to the gym after getting the shake here!!
(3)Charlene L.
I've been here a few times, and today's experience motivated me to write my review. What can I say... Lunchbox Lab always sounds better than it is. Sure, I can appreciate the fact that they use fresh ingredients and twist the classic burger into a gourmet treat. However, there are a few things that lack here: -Greasy: although the bun is buttery, you can definitely see the grease that drips onto the plate as you pick up the burger. And no, I'm not mistaken for the juice of a burger... it's grease! -Sauces: Sure, they promote variety by offering a million different flavored sauces. But, why would you charge for every single one? It seems like it should come standard at least for 1. I noticed that when they "recommend" the sauces when you order, they typically pick a 2 sauce combo, and then don't tell you it's extra -Service: Yes, the servers are nice. But the service is SLOW. Given, I come here typically during lunch hour, but it definitely takes at LEAST 1.5 hours for a two person dining experience.. that is just 2 burgers, not including apps or shakes. Today, my group sat at the table starting at 11:55am and did not leave our table until 1:45pm. A few tables got their after, but somehow managed to get their meals before us. It was especially irritating that the server did acknowledged the situation, but didn't do anything to correct the problem until I proposed a solution. He also admitted that another big party came in after us and the kitchen was therefor backed up. But shouldn't our orders have gone before that table? Overall, I keep coming back because I have the passport unlimited dining card which gives a buy 1 get 1 free discount. However, lately they haven't made any positive memorable experiences.
(1)Tricia M.
After reading yelp reviews, went in there knowing some sides cost more, and that they are moderately inflexible with substitutions and was fine with that. That is the biggest complaint I read, so if that is cool with you, please read on! Best Black Bean burger I have ever had. Kind of crunch on the outside, smooth inside, stays together...Ummm (I order the 'Merican with no bacon) Chocolate Oreo Milkshake was OMG fabulous. Seriously, I want one NOW Great outdoor patio (dogs allowed!) Cool vibe Nice servers Yummy fries Loved their tater tot appetizer Easy and free parking. Park by the elevator, go to the first floor, and there's the door! Generally not too busy, so have never waited for a table. Uses some local products like Snoqualmie Ice Cream Sometimes they can fry their sides (fries, tots etc) in a separate fryer so they are not cooked with animal products Great email coupons. My husband said the Dork (duck+pork) burger was fantastic.
(4)Jonathan C.
Overall couldn't really come up with anything really all that bad about the place. The burger is solid and tastes amazing, the skinny fries are super good and come out hot and fresh. The mac and cheese was amazing, I read that some might argue that it is the best in Washington state and though I wouldn't go that far it is pretty dang good. The Mimosa my girlfriend ordered wasn't bad either and so overall just a solid place to go and all the cool lunchboxes really added to the vibe of the restaurant. It is a little pricey and if you can't sit in the bar you might have to wait a little bit but it is very much worth it. Highly recommend people to coming and at least trying it out because I don't think you'll regret it.
(5)Franz L.
overpricedgreesyfood . com called and...... Ok, the mini corn doggies were good, but the burger was was like the Hindenberg filled with grease crashing into my belly. They offered some bad tasting dipping sauces with fancy names to try and mask the failure... The staff was up to some shinanigans when I was there, they wanted me to pay cash for some reason and to get me to do it, they gave me a lunchbox that was on display and said I can bring it in anytime, they'll fill it with as much food as they can cram in there and also knock 10% off.... WTF??? Too bad the food sucks, otherwise I'd go back. I almost think I'd rather eat a Denny's burger than this place.
(2)Emma F.
This is an average burger that they try and cover up with a ton of toppings. The burgers are nothing special and it really just seems like a gimmick. If you want a good burger, go to Quinn's in cap hill and get the burger rare. THAT is a great burger.
(2)Samantha L.
Came in here a little after 4pm and it was almost empty. Had one of their happy hour specials ( 2 cheeseburgers and a side of tater tots) for about $6.00. Wasn't bad, wasn't great either. Filling and reasonable for the price! BF had the Sante Fe Slammer and said it was a pretty heavy burger...it was filled with a bit too much bacon (if that's a good or bad thing). Overall, a decent place for a burger joint. My favorite thing about this place would be the tots, and the variety of shakers they had on the table (garlic pepper, habanero, etc.)
(3)Jamie R.
A friend and I went here on a busy Saturday around lunchtime. This was our first trip to any Lunchbox Laboratory, and our expectations were high because we've been meaning to check them out for quite some time. Imagine our excitement when we heard one had opened in Bellevue :) I wouldn't consider this location convenient, it was kind a pain to get too but I appreciated the sandwich board signs pointing you in the right direction to find parking for LBL. I didn't know LBL was a diner type deal where you get seated and served on, I imagined a walk up counter etc. I really liked that it was a diner. We opted to sit in the lounge so we wouldn't have to wait for seating. The high tables with stools were comfy! Service was pretty quick and good, I got my water refilled many times. For food we got an appetizer, the buff pops, which as their menu describes were "Jalapeno and cream cheese fritters with Lunchbox buffalo sauce and sour cream drizzle" there were only 3 for $5.99, I like even numbers so I would have liked four. They were very tasty, spicy, but woah that was a lot of cream cheese... you can't be worrying about the waist line if you choose to eat these suckers. Four our main we split the Bleu Marble burger, yes these burgers are large enough to split. It was muy excellente!! The bacon, man the bacon, it was almost melty or something. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. We got tots on the side which I think could have been crispier but they were good. We chose a dip of polynesian pineapple, but meh I didn't taste the pineapple so it wasn't really worth .50. I was tempted to order a koolaid, mainly because I've never been to a restaurant that serves koolaid, they served tang too! :) Next time I gotta try the hard milkshakes, they sounded so good!!!!!
(4)Emma S.
The only reason this place does not get 5 stars is because of the SLOW service, horribly understaffed @ lunchtime! Took 15 min to be acknowledged and then 25 more min to get our food!! Jen, bartender, very unfriendly too. Food was excellent, though, flavors wonderful.
(3)Lesley D.
Any place with a "Kick Ass Hour" is a winner in my book...a vintage Knight Rider lunchbox doesn't hurt either! I spent all of my time in the bar with $2 tall boys of PBR or Rainier (3-6 and 9-close) and tons of flat screens to watch NCAA basketball. Would be a great spot to grab some drinks with friends. The food is all very heavy but extremely tasty. The service is so/so, but the decor and the burgers/beer selection make up for it. Tang + Champagne...need I say more? Pros: PBR and Vitamin R tall boys Killer tater tots Vintage lunchboxes to make you smirk Imaginative cocktails that don't break the bank Good Happy "Kick Ass" Hour Tons of TVs in the bar for sports viewing Cons: Sleepy service Slightly weird parking/access
(4)agari n.
Had the 2 burger + skinny fries happy hour deal...wasn't impressed ...perhaps I'll try their real burger
(3)Jarod M.
Now I want you all to know, that my review here is completely based on the fact that my friends are butthole burger snobs.... I have been to LBL several times in both the Bellevue and Seattle location. I have never experienced "good" or "bad" service at either location. My sole purpose for reviewing this venue is to set some of my less burger educated friends straight. This place is a TREND. I guarantee that there are better burgers out there. You do not need to eat a +$15 dollar burger that has a sexy name to have the heavenly experience of "burger climax" I understand that many of you can be fooled by the swank appearance, hip looking menu, and the always popular "kick ass hour" aka happy hour to us norms. But beware!!! The plate of burger mess, fries, tots, cliche potato crisps is not worth the hassle of the after lunch shower you will need after you dive into this swamp of calories. I am not saying the food does not taste good here. But if you would rather have a burger that doesn't empty your wallet, and give your face more zits than the unnamed pox faced teen from the Simpson's, skip LBL. Aside from the things I don't like, they do a few things right. 1. they do have a good tasting burger (it's just not the best} 2. they have a good selection of beer on tap from local places. 3. they do amazing things with tater tots. Quick tip: Try Redmill, or Teddy's, or Blue Moon, or Brave Horse, or Red Robin..... you get the idea here..... Just so you get my pain here, my friend told me Lunchbox was the best burger out there. I disagreed and argued that Red Mill was tits... He told me that Red Mill tasted just like Dicks Drive In........ Burger education is scarce in these parts......
(2)Anne N.
This place would get 4 stars if it was a tad cheaper. $20/person for a burger + shake is too expensive! I had the Dork burger - a mixture of duck & pork patty with Monterey jack cheese, onions and garlic mayonnaise. I couldn't taste the duck but it was extremely moist (even on day 2). The bun (kaiser bun from Essential Bakery) was delicious (I especially loved how it didn't become a soggy mess the day after)..and Ooo! So were the tater tots!! Now...if only they had the option of drowning those suckers in some chili....oh snap... My friend had the Santa Fe Slammer (beef, bacon, cheese, onion, Anaheim green chilies, etc.) and thought it was pretty good. He also ordered a chocolate shake ($6.50) -- which was "way overpriced for what it was". Service was great and I like this location much more than the SLU one (better parking!)
(3)Robin B.
I'm a little surprised by some of the bad and mediocre reviews. Of course, this is not a place you come for fine dining, but if you want a good burger, awesome drinks and a fun environment, then this is the place for you. Especially if you're looking for something original that's also a throwback to childhood. I indulged in two drinks here (a rarity for me), including the Root Beer Barrels (which was amazing) and the Snapplicious. I also had a burger that was so good that I ate the whole thing, even though it was massive. I also know the fries were good because I didn't pour ketchup on them, something I've been known to do when fries are just okay. The service was great and the entire evening was a good experience.
(4)Joe M.
I've been to the Bellevue Lunchbox Laboratory 7 times now (apparently, I've neglected to check-in on Yelp during 3 of those visits). The food is still great, but so is the wait. I'll share some experiences from some visits since my first review, and close with some recommendations about how one might best prepare for lunchbox laboratory experiments. I've already written about the time when we first visited the laboratory, and were warned by the hostess about the long wait, and decided to come back another day at an earlier time. My experience has still generally been that waits are short early in the week or early in the lunchtime period later in the week. However, waits can still be longish anytime between 12 and 1 on a Thursday or Friday ... and once you are seated, additional waiting may await you. During one visit, there was a private party, and we waited 45 minutes for our food after we'd been seated. During another visit, a large take-out order resulted in a 30+ minute wait for our food. Today (a Friday), six of us arrived shortly after noon, and were warned there was a private party, and there would be a 15-20 minute wait. We asked how long it would take if we placed a take-out order instead, and were told it probably would be the same length of time. We decided to place a take-out order. We had to wait an additional 5 minutes for the waiter to come out, and after we placed the order - and paid for it - we waited another 15 minutes before the waiter came out to inform us that our order had gone in just after they started the 50 burgers they were cooking for the private party, and so we'd be looking at _another_ 15-20 minute wait. We asked to cancel the order and get a refund. He came back out and said they were able to squeeze our order in and it would only be another 8 minutes, and he would send a manager out to speak with us. By this point, we could only imagine how long it would take to process all 6 credit card refunds, so we acquiesced, but ended up waiting the previously estimated 15-20 minutes before the burgers came out, and then it was only 5 out of 6. After another 5 minutes, the 6th burger came out. The manager had not come out during this entire time, so I asked the hostess if we could speak with the manager. She eventually did come out, and as several people started telling our story, in what seemed to me to be relatively calm voices, she asked that we calm down or she wouldn't be able to help us (which further irritated some in our party). She said she was sorry, but that waits like this are just a part of the restaurant business, especially on a Friday at lunch, and especially when there is a private party. She offered to give us coupons, and we received two $25 coupons (and then another $25 coupon when the 6th burger came out after an additional wait). We left at 1:05, an hour after we'd arrived, in a highly disgruntled state. We were even more disgruntled when we arrived back at the office to eat our lunches. 3 of the 6 orders were wrong: either the wrong toppings on burgers or wrong sides, or both. All the sides were cold, and the burgers were only luke warm by the time we arrived back at the office (10 minutes away). As others have noted, the prices here are not cheap. I estimate our total bill was probably around $105, not including tip. As we were using credit cards, we paid the tips when we first placed the order ... the amounts would have most surely been different had we waited to give tips until the orders came out. With the 3 coupons, the six of us may go one more / last time, if we choose our day and time appropriately. Meanwhile, I would recommend the following guidelines for anyone considering experimenting with lunch at the laboratory: 1. Do not go between 12 and 1 (or perhaps 1:30 on a Thursday or Friday). 2. Call ahead of time and find out if there is any private party that day; if so, do not go. 3. When you arrive, ask the hostess if there are any large take-out orders in the queue. 4. If / when the waiter arrives to take your order, ask [again] whether there are any large take-out orders in the queue. 5. Do not place a take-out order, but if you decide to place an order for take-out, do not include any tip when you pay for the order - waiting until the order comes out to decide how much to tip - and do not use a credit card, in case you decide to cancel the order. It saddens me to downgrade my rating from a 4 to a 2, given how much I [still] like the food, but this was my 2nd most frustrating dining experience, and to me, a "3" still represents a positive recommendation ... which I do not feel is justified at this time.
(2)Nathan H.
So...I don't care how good the food is..waiting almost an hour for a burger is rediculous. I get it that they were busy...not my problem. I still expect my food to be delivered to me in a timely manner. The food: I ordered one of their specialty burgers. It had the balsamic vinegar glazed onions on it. The onions were amazing...the rest of the burger was just so so. My milkshake was great but WAAAAY over priced for how much I got. Sorry LL but, $8 for a little bitty milkshake....not cool at all. The staff: Inattentive is the best description I can give them. We had to wait over an hour for our burgers. During that wait, I was constantly having to flag down the waiter and ask for refills on our waters. He never once came over without being flagged down. He never once came over an apologized for how long our food was taking or even to mention that he was looking into what was taking so long. The only thing he did do right was give us a 25% discount on our meal because of the wait..but even that was only after I complained about the wait. Ambiance: I would call it industrial. The larger the crowd, the higher the volume level...not a good date location, IMO. Final Talley... To be honest...I found it overpriced...at nearly $25 for a burger and milkshake. The service was crummy and the ambiance non existent. I just came here for lunch with some friends...so I wasn't expecting a lot...the fact that they couldn't even live up to my low expectations...is sad.
(2)Melissa N.
I've only been here for happy hour and they offer pretty cheap eats and drinks. You always have to order a drink for happy hour, which hasn't really been a problem because I always get a milkshake. It's a little pricy though, for $3.99 but they have some good flavors - vanilla, Reese's, Boston, Nutella, Oreo, etc. I've had the Reese's and Nutella ones. They're really rich in flavor and sometimes a little too much for me.. but they can definitely split them for you! My first experience with the milkshake was great but it's been slightly declining each time. They offer a really cheap mac & cheese for only $1.99 for a decent portion and you can get it loaded with bacon, sour cream, & green onions for 2 extra bucks. I've also had the "Nacho's" but they're not really nachos, they were tater tots with "devil sauce" aka siracha sauce. It's loaded with cheese, bacon and some other goodies. Huge portion you can share with 3 other people. Other than that, I haven't really tried anything else. During normal hours - the food seems a little too pricy for what you get. I don't really mean intend to try it after happy hour. I do like the theme of this place being a nerdy person but the milkshakes aren't in beakers anymore (the water is) and so the shakes seem like they're a smaller portion.
(3)Parul S.
one of the best veg burgers I have had around.I have the flying frijole which has black bean patty,cheese,onion, with salad and sweet potato fries,tastes wonderful,the staff is very friendly....And its one of our favorite as it lets you take your pet on patio....:)
(4)Alice K.
The only other burgers I prefer over this place are 8 oz and The Counter which closed in Ballard and crushed my soul. Mainly because those two joints get me to that satisfactory ill feeling with the amount of burger they provide (I'm drooling just thinking about a burger now..) My friends swear by this place and I concur it is delicious. I can't speak to service as I eat at 3pm or other crazy times so it's pretty chill. Even then though it did take a bit to get a few burgers. And, like that Sally M gal mentioned, stick to the real burgers. I've never been a fan of silly happy hour sized portions. I always get the black bean patty, which is basically a bean, soy protein blob full of buttery goodness.. Can't be healthy at all as your fingers will get all greasy but every bite is worth it. I really couldn't tell you what it is but it has a zest that even a religious meat-eater would like (as tested by my anti-vegan friend). Best part they have sweet potato fries, one simply cannot refuse sweet potato fries. Oh, and enough sauce options to keep a variety eater satisfied for quite some time. Lastly, their alcoholic smoothies are crazy. They give you these colored shots in plastic lab-looking tubes. My friend got 3. That was a lot of alcohol.. If you just lost 10 pounds from some ridiculous camping trip / outing adventure, come here to gain it back.
(4)Veronica S.
Very yummy. Better not be counting calories, the nutella shake was insane!!!! Be ready to wait for food...perfection takes time!! Have not returned since July but think of them often :-) Pretty pricey but you get what you pay for!! This is NOT red robins and their burgers are GREAT!!
(4)Carly A.
Me and my boyfriend came here for a late night meal after a movie and were pleasantly surprised. Their happy hour has great deals, including two burgers and fries or tater tots for $5.99. The create your own burger was also awesome. Next time I want to try the dork (duck and pork) or churken (chicken and turkey).
(4)Jessica W.
2 words. The dork. This burger was amazing, it just melted in my mouth. I still remember the texture and the flavors... just great!! My coworker insisted that their skinny fries are amazing but they tasted normal to me. There were, however, a great variety of salts to put on them (bacon, cinnamon, malt, etc). I'll definitely come back again - looking forward to trying the truffle burger as well as some shakes next time. Only complaint was that the service was quite slow during lunch on a weekday even though they were fully staffed and not very busy.
(4)Celeste A.
Funky, hip little spot in Bellevue. Attentive staff and tasty offerings. We had a couple of appetizers and drinks then split a burger all for around $50...not too bad I thought. The burger was MESSY! And when we said that in laughter to the staff they said that they are ALL like that. HAHAHA Probably not a place to take a date ;) All in all I had a good time but I probably won't be back as that was about all they had to offer so I can check it off my bucket list. Every should try it at least once.
(3)alex s.
I have now been to Lunchbox Laboratory twice and had a mixed experience both times. On my first trip, My girlfriend had gotten me a $50 gift certificate for christmas. I got a burger topped with caramelized onions (forget the name) and it was OK. My gf ordered the hot house burger which came with a jalepeno ranch sauce on it and was delicious. The service was slow and when it was time to check out our server informed us that we were $5 under our gift card value and asked if we would like to get a drink to use up the whole card because he could not give us cash back. We told him to surprise us with a drink and it turned out that the drink that he brought us cost $8 which isnt a huge deal but it seems obvious to me that we wanted to use up the gift card not spend more money. This didnt seem like a big deal to me until the second time we came back. On my second visit, I ordered the hot house burger which was once again delicious and my girlfriend ordered the greek burger which had a lamb patty. I was very happy with my burger and my gf said that hers was pretty good. The problem came when we got our bill. Our waitress had asked us when we ordered the burger if we would like fries, sweet potato fries or a salad. We figured that they were all interchangeable but found that the salads cost $3 extra. We also ordered a mac and cheese happy hour appetizer and when asked if we wanted it plain or loaded we chose loaded only to find out that the $1.99 mac and cheese doubled in price when loaded. Ultimately $8 extra is not a big deal but I get a little irked when the extra charges are not presented up front. I will not be returning to lunchbox laboratory because there are other good burger places in the area that have good service and dont try to nickel and dime you.
(2)Derrik J.
Need a solid, high quality hamburger? Look no further. Came here last night with my parents. It was their first experience with Lunchbox Laboratory and they loved it. It was my pleasure to introduce them to it. I'm definitely a fan of the Burger of the Gods or the Santa Fe Slammer. I don't think that you can go wrong with any of their options. I'll be back again soon.
(4)Pooja V.
This was my second time at Lunchbox Lab. I found myself here with family visiting as I had a Groupon and it is great for kids. I ordered a lamb burger and the meat and toppings were good but I found the bun to be way too big and greasy and the fries were too thin for my liking. I liked the salt however and my family enjoyed their meals, and the novelty milkshakes. The service was not the best - our waiter didn't bring one of the shakes we ordered and brought a couple in large sizes when we clearly said those were for the kids. It was also difficult to get his attention. I would not be a regular here.
(3)Thomas L.
Yes it is expensive for burgers. So let's put that out of the way. Is it worth it for some people? Definitely. Why? Because the burgers here are nicely crafted, big, juicy and taste damn good. Plus you get some tatter tots as I side if you wish! Tried the Dork (duck/pork blend) which is delicious. The tear jerker had a REALLY nice kick and the Truffle love was decent. They also have a variety of salt flavor at the table. I wouldn't recommend their jalapeno poppers aka buff pops because for $6 you get 3 double size jalapeno poppers... The sauce that came with it was good though.
(4)Jennifer G.
The food itself would have rated four stars for me--fantastic artisan burgers, creamy shakes, greasy delicious tots. The loaded mac-and-cheese was ahmazing. It's not a cheap meal, but I don't think the prices are at all out of line with the quality of the food you get. I've docked a star for ambiance, which I realize makes me a giant snob. But the kitsch factor seems a bit labored (I don't hate kitsch but it really seems like they've tried to emulate an Applebee's or a Chili's or whatever). The 70s and 80s classic rock they blast at stentorian levels give the place a slightly douchey vibe. This is a local business and has the possibility to be an interesting, genuinely quirky place--but as it stands it feels a little contrived and bland. That said, we had a great meal--the food was awesome. If my appetite weren't negatively affected by Bad Company and pieces of flair, the review would be glowing.
(3)Dan P.
Came in on Sunday afternoon and the place was not busy at all - BUT it still took MUCH longer than it should to get a burger! Took too long to even meet our server! Burgers were overcooked which we did not expect. Do not get the Truffle Love - it should be called Bacon Cheeseburger as truffle is not even detectable. Won't be coming back to this location!
(2)Robert K.
Amazing food, just be clear its not healthy. I've been here probably a half dozen times. Each one has been great - consistently good and that's something I like. If you go, I recomend the Dork.
(5)Avivos S.
Probably the worst lunch place you can find in Bellevue. We got there in 12pm, ordered food (just burgers, nothing fancy) around 12:10. After 20 minutes the server came and said they are sorry it is taking so long and it should be just 10 more minutes. 20 minutes after that she came again with the same story. We ended up getting our food at 1pm, yes **1 hour later!** and quite frankly it wasn't even that good, because.. and it's a huge because: the burger was completely overcooked and dry like the desert in Arizona. should i mention the fact that the average price of their burgers is $15? yes. So bottom line: $15 for waiting over 1 hour for an dull, dry, overcooked burger. worth it? in one word: NO.
(1)Jessica B.
Yes, it lives up to the hype. We live in Seattle but were visiting some friends in Bellevue. They told us to drop everything and eat lunch at Lunchbox Labaratory. It helped us to have friends suggest menu items since I found the menu a bit overwhelming. I tried the Dork and a Nutella milkshake. Husband had a Rootbeer Barrel drink much to the amusement of our server (and he drank the whole thing too!). He enjoyed his burger although I don't know which he ordered as I was fully concentrating on getting through my Dork. Our friends were happy with their selections and all was well. I can't wait to go back and try something else!
(5)Jenn O.
A really fun place. I tacked on another star because of the service we got. The waiters were awesome and the manager (or owner, I'm not sure) did their best to make us happy. We hadn't had breakfast yet and it was going on lunch time. There was nobody else in the restaurant at first and then two more tables came in after us. We ordered our burgers and waited. And waited. And waited some more. The manager did come and tell us that there was a hold up in the kitchen and apologized for the wait. After a few more minutes he brought us a complimentary shake since we were obviously about to eat the table and had been waiting well over 30 minutes for a couple of burgers to cook. A table that came in after us got their food and we still had nada. The super tasty shake was very helpful in appeasing our moodiness about the wait but I didn't want to spoil my appetite so I let my husband have most of it. The burger I ordered was a dork burger with some ultra rich toppings. By the time it came I was ravenous. I devoured the first half too quickly and then could only manage a few bites of the next half. It was extremely delicious but so hard to eat that much food all at once. Even my husband who usually finishes all of his meal and then whatever of mine that is left over, couldn't finish his whole burger and tots. I felt really bad for leaving that much good food to go to waste after such a long wait. We weren't offered a to go box but then again, we spent the whole day out and about and I wasn't hungry again until very late. It would've sat in the back of my car all day getting soggy and then gotten thrown out by the time we got home later in the evening. Because of the cost I don't think this is place we could frequent often. After tip our 2 burgers and cokes put us at over $43 on the bill. Wow. My burger alone was over $12.99 because I wanted to taste the duck+pork patty. It was a very delicious novelty but too rich to have all of the time.
(5)Angela B.
Not understanding what all the hype is about this place. Not saying there's anything wrong or bad about the Lunchbox Lab, but it was just such a blah experience, I really don't know if I will go back. We went for happy hour and ordered many items. I'd have to say the best was the $1.99 mac n cheese. They have a different mac n cheese everyday!!! I'm a huge mac n cheese, fan so am quite impressed with this. Today's was Roasted Garlic & Bleu Cheese Mac. I'd have to say it was the best thing I ate & quite good, but not enough to fill me. Also tried a burger and one of the shakes (Butterfinger). Tried some of the Kool Aid mixology drinks, Toxic Tang and Grape Ade. Both seemed totally watered down to me and had little flavor. Oh yeah, and we wanted to try the famous tots that I'd heard so much about. So naturally when we got there we ordered the "tots". When they arrived, they were just normal looking. I went back and studied the menu, and then realized that the famous tots are called nachos on the menu. Since we'd already ordered a lot of drinks and food at this point, we decided to forgo ordering the nachos. Prices are pretty well..pricey. But there is free parking in the garage.
(3)K S.
Never got to eat - saw waiter once - milkshake was melted - and 30 minutes later - we left. LBL - you have got it going on in Freelard - why so messed up on the eastside?
(2)Dana D.
I have decided to review as I have heard that the burgers are amazing. The first impression is good. The restaurant seems a little noisy for the middle of the afternoon. I believe its the fans and other equipment. At first impression. The prices are high for a burger place, but then it is "Kobe style" beef. I am really not sure what that means. I order what I call the purist. A simple bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo. I figured that was the fairest way to get a true sense of the food. The portion size is good. in this bloggers opinion, the size food portions should be. Not a truck load. Presentation- good Tots- hot and crunchy Condiments- all good w- the exception of the lettuce. Needs to be cold. Not warmed and limp from the heat of the plate ( condiments served on the side ) Bun- toasted nicely Bacon- cooked to appeal to all ( not over not under). Not the best quality I've had. I taste more salt then honey which it was supposed to be cured in. Now for taste, not good. There was a overwhelming taste of salt and seasoning. They use seasoning on the burgers. Here's my question? If you have the QUALITY OF MEAT that you say you have then why on earth would you ever need to add that much seasoning? ( or an at all ) As for service, it was the basics - took the order, brought the food, dropped the check. No excitement and friendliness, just basic. Overall. Not above average and definitely not for the $15.00 price. I still don't get what "Kobe style" beef means I guess.
(1)Aunt L.
Hubs and I came here on a Saturday night for our anniversary dinner. We were in the mood for something good and just a bit exciting. We got what we came for, but at those prices, we probably won't come back very often. We started off with deep fried dork balls (duck + pork). They were really rich, but very tasty! The flavors were great. For dinner, I had a grilled portabello burger with goat cheese and balsamic grilled onions. It was tasty, but by the end, the flavors were pretty overwhelming. There were two portabello steaks on the bun, and I wasn't able to keep them contained - I ended up deconstructing the whole thing and eating it with a knife and fork. The sweet potato fries I asked for were delicious - crunchy and just sweet enough. I wasn't crazy about the sweet chili sauce they added to my order, though. It was $.50, I think, and was mayo mixed sweet chili sauce. Pretty heavy. The absolute highlight of the dinner? My key lime shake. It tasted exactly like the real thing, and was worth every calorie. Yum! The service was incredibly friendly and helpful. A+ there!
(4)Fred B.
Excellent.....Great food and service, I will be back. Highly recommend the tots and spicy burger.
(5)Yat G.
Not Cool. 1. Prices are super-high, which may be ok but then I expect a certain level of service even if the restaurant is empty. Employees are mostly chatting up each other and eating/drinking while customers await service. 2. It pisses me off, when I have to ask for Happy Hour Menu during the middle of the Happy Hour. Even after this - you cannot charge me full menu prices. This is just stupid. 3. Food is average at best, certainly a step over Wendy's - McDonalds. 4. Some really good alternatives - get the Burger at the bar @ John Howie, Goto Tap House Grill, Get the Burger at Ruth Chris' Steakhouse. All of the comparable (even cheaper) & super nice Service. Can deal w/ everything but not really pathetic poor service when the employees standing free won't come serve you - but will SMS on their phones.
(1)Christopher S.
After looking at the reviews here, you'd think that this place was responsible for murdering the reviewers family and got off on a technicality. A friend of mine was a fan of the original location and when the moved to more convenient location to me, I had to give it a whirl. I'm glad I trusted them more than Yelp on this matter. The service was friendly and attentive. The decor was really slick in the retro-geek style of their choosing. The music was fine, the noise level was right and the space was full of people without feeling overly crowded. My girlfriend at the Dork Burger, I had the Scotty's Classic Drive in, both were fantastic, though the dork patty was really outstanding while the Classic was simply a good burger executed well. We also shared some Mac and Cheese, which was delicious enough to ignore the pool of cheese grease that welled up at the bottom of the cup. Milkshakes were by far the best I've had, period, end story. Pork rinds off of the menu were overflowing and still literally crackling as they got to the table. The tater tots are better than Teddy's, and I was formerly a big fan of those. In fact, the only thing in the entire meal to disappoint were the skinny fries that came with my burger, in that they were only Okay. Everything else more than made up for it and the check was quite reasonable, particularly considering how much food we got for it.
(5)C Monster D.
OVERPRICED Just had two basic cheeseburgers and split a chocolate malt with a friend - no other appetizers or drinks were ordered. All in - after the tip, it was $40 out the door. The burger was good, but way too expensive. I also feel like being forced to get fries or tots is a gimmick to make people think they're getting more than they really are.
(2)Karen Y.
This would be my Good, the Bad and the Ugly review of Lunchbox Laboratory. The Good : The location was great only a short walk from the Bravern and the menu does look really very yummy. While it took a while to get someone to seat us the waiter was very polite. I will be honest I don't mind the food prices I understand that some people would not be happy with them but the bun did taste great and I could tell what the ingredients were - onions, lettuce, cheese etc. You could tell that they were trying to be high end to justify the prices and it kind of did look expensive on the plate when served The Bad : The time it took to get our food over 30 minutes (it is quicker to get a steak sandwich from John Howie than a burger at the LL and they are roughly the same price!) The waiter then dropped a fork and we had to wait 10 minutes to get a fork to eat the salad so we spilt the burger - which was massive and started munching. Now don't get me wrong the burger was not disgusting like some fast food joints but at the same time it was not as good some other places. I will be honest I think 5 guys is better, I think the Four Seasons burger is better and I would say John Howie does a better burger. I would say I think their burger is better than the Scottish guy, the King and Peter Pan's GF, the Windmill place and the place everyone goes to on the hill when they are drunk on a Friday night. Hence I gave it 2 stars. The Ugly : Cold Fries - just yuk ! I honestly didn't care that they weren't massive in sizes because I like small portions but don't serve them cold. I will be honest I won't be going back for a while. Sorry LL!
(2)Ken R.
Just had lunch there with a friend. I had the "Tribute to a Dick's Deluxe" burger with "Skinny Fries". My friend had Santa Fe Burger. Both were a fat piece of over cooked burger (supposedly some good quality meat, however they refused to cook it anything other than "medium-well") topped with a fat stack of tasteless bacon (my fat stack of bacon was actually cold in the middle) and covered with cheese. The bun reminded me of bread made with pretzel dough. The fries were cold. The "Dick's Deluxe" was absolutely nothing like a Dick's and was a virtual insult to the institution of Dick's Drive In. The Santa Fe burger was the same burger I had but with different cheese. This is the 2nd time I have been there. The first was on their opening day so I gave them a break. This visit is my last.
(1)Brad C.
OH man,the only reason why this place gets one star is because you can't give zero. After all the hype about this place the sober reality is a total drag. First of all ,parking is a total hassle. Second , the staff here is the worst in downtown Bellevue and that says a lot. We have a 14 month and lets say this place IS NOT family friendly. We ordered the Rinds of Life appetizer. Yeah, a plat of microwaved pork rinds from a bag for $7.00. YAY. We ordered a chocolate malt that was served in a lab beaker. Cute, but half Read-Y-Whip for $6.00, Yeah, big fail. The burgers came and the server sat down the plate including the knife directly in front of our toddler. When my wife expressed concern the server said "You could have moved it" are you serious? We asked for the manager, he pretended to listen and did nothing, On to the food. I ordered the famous Dork burger. Yeah, flavorless patty smothered in plain cheese with limp onions. My wife did a super beef with bacon.Hers at least had some flavor, basically Kroger bacon served on a pre frozen patty. So , $62.00 for two people and a baby, the worlds worst service and sub standard food. Fail. Will never go back. Want an OK burger in Downtown Bellevue ? Go to Red Robin. Want a great burger, go to John Howie or Daniel's. Lunchbox Laboratory is only if you want to take your money and flush it down the toilet.
(1)Heath P.
This was my first experience. It was a sunny Friday afternoon at lunch and the place was jamming. Luckily we were able to get a table. Our waiter was great, he explained the menu very well. The menu was enticing with some really snazzy descriptions of the burgers. I was excited, I thought I was in for a treat. Here's the bottom line. $14 burger and fries. The burger was good but also a sloppy mess. No exaggeration, I used about 25 napkins. There was nothing that made the burger stand apart from the $10 burger and fries I get at The Pumphouse or anywhere else for that matter. The fries were the little shoestring variety that I normally really like but they weren't as fresh and hot as I would have preferred and they were nothing special. The place is trendy and they have neat shakes like Nutella as well as unique Kool-Aid and Tang drinks. I am willing to pay a little more to get a little more but this place didn't deliver that little extra I want for the price. Sorry Lunchbox Laboratory, I'm sure you'll do well in your little corner of Bellevue but there are too many places to get the same thing, quicker service and a better price.
(3)M R.
Sweet Jesus. First of all, before anything else, I have to tell you to quit your fucking bitching about the prices. If you go to Jules Maes, Teddy's, Uneeda or Red Mill, you will be paying what you do at the Lunchbox after you have to purchase your side. I've eaten here several times and I have noticed that they have even dropped their prices recently. As for the "slow service"...No one is forcing you to wait 30 minutes for a table. That choice is yours. If you go at peak hours, you will be waiting 25-35 minutes for your food and the server has nothing to do with that. People chronically pissing and moaning about the slow service....Christ, give them a fucking break. Do you think they like having to offer up apologies for delayed food every 10 minutes? I doubt it. The perfect scenario for a server is to get you your food in a timely manner so they don't have to listen to you bitch, have you eat it , pay the bill and get the fuck out so they can 'turn' that table. I'll put their burgers up against most anyone's in the area. The place is in my top 3 for sure. If you want to do it on the cheep, go to Burger King. You'll still end up paying $7 for a burger and fries, but it's shit. I will admit that they do have quality control issues. Sometimes the burgers are nice and pink, sometimes they are well done. It depends on what time of day you are there. If you come in after the lunch rush, I guarantee you will have a better quality burger and you'll get it in 10 minutes. The one thing I do have a problem with is the prices for the milkshakes are astronomical. They are good, but not $6.99-$7.99 good.
(4)Pammie N.
I've heard great things about this place and wanted to finally locate one of the "Laboratories" and try it out. The Bellevue location is pretty convenient and has a parking garage below it. I got The Smoker and side of tater tots. My friend got a side of skinny fries for his order. I tried both sides and they both were great. The burgers were greasy but deliciously greasy. It is a tad on the pricey side but well worth it due to the quality of the ingredients. Be sure to test out all their seasoning options on the tiny spin rack. Me and my friend also got their shakes cause that's also what they're known for. We ordered vanilla and oreo. They were so good.
(4)Mimi L.
I had been hearing a lot about this place so was excited to finally check it out. We came here after 9 so were able to take advantage of their happy hour menu. They didn't have their "Scotty's Classic Drive In" which was 2 burgers and skinny fries or tots for $5.99. The waiter said something about them still testing it out and will eventually have it available. So we ordered the burger of the gods and the tearjerker off the regular menu. The burgers were pretty good, but very very messy and I couldn't eat too much of it. From the happy hour menu, we got the hong kong hot wings, nachos (which are actually tator tots topped with cheese), dogsticks, and the mac n cheese. The hot wings were pretty good, they were chicken stuffed in a wonton that came with a good sauce. The nachos were a little too much for us, we could only eat about half. The dogsticks were pretty much like the average corndog and the mac n cheese was probably the most rich mac n cheese I've ever had. It was good but hard to eat too much of it. We also got an oreo milkshake that was really good and only $3.99 during happy hour! They also have a huge variety of sauces that you can order for 50 cents each. We got the jalapeno ranch and the truffle mayo which were both really good! I really like that they have so many sauces to choose from, but I don't think they should charge for it. Everything here was not bad, but very greasy. It's also pretty expensive for some burgers, one of the burgers alone was $15. We decided that we might give this place another chance, but only come during happy hour.
(3)Andrew W.
I have been to this location almost ten times. The food was yummy every time. Service is a bit less but it's OK. I have tried the dork, santa fe and the truffle love among others. it's so good though be forewarned their portion is huge. the corn dogs were good too according to friends. I think they take reservations too for lunch. Good thing if you are in a group.
(4)Mel A.
I have had so much better and the fact that you pimp out the plethora of squirts of flavored mayo that you charge...not a fan. The burger that arrived at my table was over cooked to my dismay and complete disrespect to the cow. So sad, I was looking forward to enjoy this experience but it just did not happen,
(2)Scott G.
I have heard a lot about the Lunchbox Laboratory (being from the UK, we don't have any locally) and I made a point of grabbing a burger for lunch. The burger was awesome, but I thought that the meat itself, could have had a little more flavour. A great burger none the less and well worth the visit. I do intend on visiting the Lunchbox Laboratory when I next visit Seattle (Bellevue) and will ensure that I visit on a (very) empty stomach!
(4)Bill W.
Still a favorite and we figured out that there's more parking down below than we saw the first time. We've also tried some of the shakes and a couple of 'Stimulus' cocktails. The shakes were all great and the 'Boozie' shakes are extra fun. A Stimulus cocktail is what you'd expect when you use Kool-aid and Tang as mixers - worth trying once.
(4)Millie F.
I had high hopes for their burgers. They had looked so big and scrumptious in photos, but for $12-$15 apiece, they came out to be smaller than I had expected. I would have been able to overlook this shortcoming if my burger was more flavorful, but salty was the only thing I really tasted. I ordered the Burger of the Gods, but could not taste the bleu cheese at all. The burger also came out lukewarm, which was a huge turn-off. When I order hot foods, they should be HOT. Unfortunately, Lunchbox in Bellevue doesn't seem to grasp this concept. I had also ordered the Mac du Jour that day, and it also came out lukewarm. My tastebuds were not happy... The only food item I enjoyed that night was the Gabacho's Nachos, which were tots topped with cheese, sour cream, and ketchup. It was the only dish that seemed to have come out fresh from the kitchen, but good tots can't be the only thing to keep me coming back. Even though the food was a little disappointing, their shakes will bring me back from time to time. Happy hour (or "Kick Ass Hour," as they call it) shakes are $3.99, and they come in these awesome 400 ml beakers. I have yet to try their drinks, but $4 cocktails? Count me in! Final verdict: Come and grab drinks for happy hour, but the burgers are less than memorable.
(3)Sin T.
This place is pretty good. I'd give it 4 stars if it wasn't so pricey and so damn greasy! I couldn't even pick up my burger since it was drenched in grease and onion juice. I could only eat half of my burger since I tried one of their Mac n cheese...wayyyyyy to cheesy!!! Made my sister and I feel sick. Service is okay nothing WOW.
(3)Jessie C.
Pretty disappointing! The only good thing I had was the Skagit Valley strawberry milkshake - that was really yummy. Otherwise, my Homage to Dick's Deluxe was meh and messy. Although they gave me a plethora of bacon (whee!), it was dry and the sauce was boring. The prices are pretty high. The tator tots were yummy and my friend enjoyed his Beecher's mac 'n cheese. Service was pretty spotty, I guess because we were the only ones sitting outside that day.
(2)Craig V.
Expensive, way too salty, all hype. We won't be going back. If I want a Dick's tribute, I'll just go to Dick's tho I'd prefer an In and Out, but then again, who wouldn't?
(2)Dan E.
The burger was good but the service was a bit slow. I don't know if I would put that on the service or the kitchen.
(4)Seann S.
Not bad. The service is friendly, the theme is fun, and the choices are great. I've ordered the truffle burger and the smoker burger. Both very tasty, but a bit too greasy and sloppy. One thing that makes this place stand out is their staggering choices of sauces and interesting food combos. I will definitely be back to try happy hour. They lose a star for the price. $13 a burger is steep. Even if it is pretty big.
(3)Liana B.
I went here about a month ago with my boyfriend ...it was like 5pm on a sunday... so it was not crowded like the reviews all say. I loved the Dork burger and my boyfriend and I both really enjoyes the awsome build your own options -YUM! tang and champagne was delicious! service ws also good... our server was VERYYY VERY helpful in giving me advice on what to build on my burger since there are so many options. Cant wait to go back...Thinking about checking out their new years eve specials (2 burgers and 2 glasses oc chamagne for 19.99). MMM!
(5)Shannon B.
I actually ended up eating at this place twice in two days. My teenaged daughter insisted on going. We had lunch on a Saturday the first time and we started with the Chips n Dip Classique which were very delicious. The chips were thick cut and very crispy and held up well in the thick garlicky bacon kissed onion dip. My daughter enjoyed the Buff Pops which are little fried fritters of hot dog batter with a Jalapeno and cream cheese filling. We both decided to build our own burgers and I chose the gluten-free bun with Zoe's All Natural honey ham, Havarti cheese, brown sugar kissed marsala onions and black truffle mayo. The gluten-free bun was the BEST bun I have found so far!!! The ham was way too salty and I could not taste any truffle essence in the mayo. My daughter was pleased with her burger. She ordered the Skinny fries which were good, but my crispy tots were not so good. They tasted like they were cooked in oil that needed to be changed...YESTERDAY!!! The next day I took some friends for dinner and I actually ordered the same exact burger but this time they forgot the brown sugar kissed marsala onions and my gluten-free bun was not toasted and was crumbly and cold. The crispy tots were still gross and I was mad at myself for ordering them again! My friend ordered the South Lake Caesar and the waitress informs us about 15 minutes later that they are out of Caesar dressing but could put a different dressing on it. Out came a sloppy bunch of Romaine hearts tossed in too much dressing without the parmesan crisp. I think the place is cool and retro with all the vintage lunchboxes displayed on the wall and that they tried to make the menu offerings cool and unique by inventing things like Dork meat which is pork and duck, and Churken which is chicken and turkey, but to me this just sounds gross and too Dr. Moreau-ish. Their prices are decent. You have to walk out of the restaurant with a bathroom key attached to a huge spoon if you want to use the bathroom which is down the hallway and I was not a fan of carrying back the germ-infested spoon at all. I think I enjoyed myself more just looking at their clever menu on their website than I did actually eating their food.
(2)Wyatt H.
Burger was great. Had a 2fur1, but otherwise it would be a bit spendy (-1star) -- but it is bellevue though. I'd go back. Staff was cool.
(4)Julia Z.
tl;dr: Should have looked at the three-star average here and then avoided it. I've always wanted to try this place, ever since someone raved to me years ago about the Ballard location shortly after Scott opened it. I never did make it over there, but now LL has made it over here, of course, sadly, without Scott. The menu is interesting but confusing and it set me on edge right away with their high-attitude "no substitutions" rule. Screw that.... at $15 for a burger, I DON'T WANT MAYONNAISE even if it's your FANCY mayonnaise. We are not seeing eye to eye from the get-go because I don't want mayonnaise on my food at any price, even if you pay ME! So since the substitution rule prohibits choosing ANY of their pre-configured burgers, we go to Build Your Own. At $10.99, it's steep. Add $2 for special meat, $2 for bacon (really good bacon), $1.50 for cheese (REALLY? Cheddar was $2.50/lb at Safeway this weekend!!), $1.50 for each topping like grilled onions, and $0.50 for each sauce after two, it's very easy to build a $16 or $17 burger. I'm sorry, but that's ridiculous. The only upcharges there that I think are reasonable are the $2 for each meat upgrade. The burgers should then include your choice of one cheese, one topping, and two sauces "for free" because you have already purchased two burgers anywhere else!! They WILL NOT leave off the lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickle from the plate, even if you ask and tell them you do not want to waste food. That is shitty! And those veggies were not even of high quality; definitely not the caliber I'd expect to go with a $16 burger. As Gordon Ramsay would say, "What a shame." Don't get me started on the fries. We had tater tots and skinny fries... neither was hot, and the tater tots (standard issue, nothing fancy) were dry and hard, almost inedible. Even good sauce couldn't save them!! That is basic incompetence and there's no excuse. Charging extra for sweet potato fries at these entree prices is also an insult. As is often the case, my son's kids' meal of homemade beef corn dogs and tater tots was the best thing on the table, especially at $4.99. He didn't like the tots. Do you hear me, Lunchbox Labs??? This is a three year old who will whine for TWO HOURS to get tater tots, and he didn't eat them. They sucked. The kids had "barrels of fun" to drink, which was fine, but they brought my son his drink in a giant regular glass, causing stress and inviting disaster -- did I mention that he's 3? A covered cup is still a GOOD idea for him unless you don't mind spills. We were also overcharged for these beverages if the menu is right. My husband got a $2.75 iced tea, no lemon, which of course, came with lemon anyway, and was so overfull that the waiter spilled it on the table and menus, and then he did nothing about it. I got a Diet Coke. NONE of these drinks were refilled even though we ran out and waited around for refills, though the waiter offered to get me more as he delivered the check for me to sign. Seriously. By the way, shakes were not an option for us. We have peanut allergies and they won't clean the machines down specifically between shakes to make sure there's no cross-contamination, even if you ask. BE WARNED. I think this is yucky even if you DON'T have allergies. We were charged an EXTRA $0.50 for a sauce even though my daughter and I were each entitled to two free sauces with our $17 burgers and didn't order any. That is bullshit. The service was slow and not very attentive, full of "style" and "attitude". Save it for someone else. I honestly missed the sweet earnest 20-somethings of Red Robin... at least they will not let your Diet Coke run dry! So was ANY part of the meal good? - The dork meat patty was really interesting; greasy as hell, but that's what I expected from a duck/pork combo, and the flavor was great - The rolls were really good - My husband liked his Sunny in Seattle sans mayo just fine - The restaurant seemed clean enough The bill was $70.86 and I left a 15% tip (nearly on the nose, and I used my phone to calculate it)... that's a high sign that I am pissed off, since I usually double the tax and round UP, often resulting in a 23-25% tip. At $80, we could have eaten at Red Robin and could have had appetizers, entrees, AND dessert for $20 less. Sure, Red Robin doesn't have dork but you don't need to eat that crap all the time anyway! At Red Robin, you can get a healthier turkey patty (no upcharge), good bacon ($1), cheese (free), and a whole-wheat or gluten-free bun (free), and you will still enjoy it. Parking was free and there was enough of it in the garage downstairs and the building itself is nice, though needing a key to traipse across the lobby to use the restrooms is tacky at best. I doubt we're going back. Too bad. It's a GREAT idea, and I always LOVE a great burger. Lunchbox Laboratories did NOT do it for me. :-(
(1)Leslie C.
In my experience (and I've been here 4 times), once for dinner, twice for happy hour and once for lunch, the food is pretty good but the service is awful. Service is slow, servers seem like they don't know what they're doing. I haven't yet had a cocktail that I really liked there yet. I think the burgers on the regular menu are overpriced. I'd much rather get a five guys burger or the bacon cheese at John Howie. Happy hour is a good value. Get the drive in burgers (small burgers, bigger than sliders) with tator tots. My other favorite are the dogsticks (mini corn dogs). Caesar is okay, nothing special.
(2)Amanda V.
Lunchbox Lab is in a cool location in Bellevue, right off the freeway. I was told that the food here is expensive, but I still wasn't ready when I saw their most basic burger was $13, and a milkshake is $6.50! That being said, the food was pretty good, and VERY messy--be ready to use a lot of napkins and potentially resorting to eating your burger with a knife and fork. I think I would much rather come here for happy hour instead of ordering a burger though. I didn't get a chance to try a shake, but they looked tasty, and can become alcoholic for just $3 more!
(3)Phily B.
Call me a yuppie if you want... but some of the prices still had me raising an eyebrow. Ugh, but the burgers are soooooo goooooooooooooooooood! PROs: * Burgers are DELICIOUS! The bread is light and fluffy with a slight crisp, burger is juicy and tasty, and they do a nice spin on the onions and bacon they add! Om nom nom nom nom * Variety! They have your classic burgers as well as nice variety of burgers you've probably never had! Burgers with mac n cheese? Lamb burger? Yah they got it! They also have a number of different spices and seasonings at every table! Garlic power, bacon salt, all kinds of stuff! * Service was attentive and friendly. * Free parking (like most of Bellevue :D) in the parking garage right below the restaurant * Full bar plus a decent selection of beers. And some cocktails come in beakers! Stylish! :p CONs: * Omgz the price T_T. It will certainly cost you more than Red Robin, but keep in mind the quality will be much better! * The appetizers... NOT WORTH THE PRICE. We got the "Buff Pops." They are basically deep fried jalapeno cream cheese balls. Cost is $6 for THREE freakin balls. That's right... I paid $2 per cheese ball. Tasty sure... but not worth it! And think about it... most people come in a group of TWO, but the app comes with an ODD number. What's up with that? * Other appetizers we've had: pork rinds, corn dogs, siracha tots. They were ok. * Despite their creative burgers.. the sides were typical. Fries, tots, sweet potato fries... they're solid, but it's basically what you can get anywhere. Deep fried with nothing special. Maybe ask for a special dipping sauce? I dunno. * Sometimes good food takes time... on a busy night get ready to wait! 15+ minutes for our entrees RECOMMENDATION: * Stay away from the appetizers! Not worth the price! OTHER COMMENTs: * The burger + side entrée is deceiving. At first glance I thought it was rather small, but by the time I finished I was quite full! FINAL THOUGHTS: Lunchbox laboratory changed me. Now when I crave burgers, I crave lunchbox! The BURGERs is where this place shines. Appetizers... yah I won't be ordering an appetizer from here again sorry. I can happily pay a premium for amazing food; the burgers are, the appetizers are not.
(4)Tom H.
Two burgers and one milkshake came out to $43 and change, before the tip. We knew the place was a bit more expensive than your average burger joint, but hoped the prices would be justified. All in all, it's just another burger joint. I had the Dork and while it was decent, it wasn't anything earth shattering. In fact, it was so salty that it was hard to distinguish other flavors. The wait time... nearly 40 minutes after we ordered. Unacceptable for a mediocre burger. Our water glasses were refilled once in the hour plus we spent there and that was when we got the bill. I will not be back.
(2)Sam H.
Very expensive for a burger ~$14 average. Burger was darned good though I'd rather walk next door to John Howie where the service is stellar and they don't compromise on food. The lettuce next to my burger came in a pool of water. Service was awful at lunch time. It took us almost an hour for a salad. One of our of party had to give up and skip lunch. The restaurant didn't comp it. They seemed generally incompetent. It was also super loud in there. Very difficult to have a conversation. Parking is free in the underground garage. Fries were good apparently.
(2)Jenevie S.
After reading some of the reviews, I recently had the opportunity to finally try this place out and see what all the fuss was about. Would I say it's expensive? Yes! Will I come back! Yes! Regardless of what others may say about the prices, I personally think it's worth it based on the quality of ingredients, the area, and the Nutella milkshake alone. (I'm not even a fan of milkshakes!) Would I make it a habit? Definitely Not, especially if I value my wallet and waistline! Since I have yet to venture into bovine territory, I opted to build my own burger with turkey. The variety of ingredients was a tad overwhelming, but allows one to unleash his or her inner gourmet mad scientist with marsala onions, bacon, chipotle mayo, etc... And it was fun too! My concoction was delicious, my sweet potato fries perfectly executed--my Nutella milkshake divine!--for what more can a hungry chick ask?!
(4)Brian P.
Wow so many people whining on yelp. This place is as amazing as south lake union one by rei. Not a cheap burger but so worth it. I've had 6 different burgers from here now and they were all delicious. Expect a hundred dollar meal for 2 if you drink. Banana cream pie shake is the truth. Their cocktails are good too. Actually planning to go there tonight now. Heh.
(5)Timothy H.
My first (attempted) experience with Lunchbox Laboratory was an outright failure. I called to make a reservation, but was informed that they do not take reservations for parties of less than six. I then inquired to see if it was usual to have to wait for a table on a Sunday evening, and was informed that, at most, I would likely only have to wait a maximum of 10 to 15 minutes. When I arrived at this establishment, to my horror I discovered that I would be required to wait one and a half hours for a table. Needless to say, I left immediately in an effort to locate another establishment where I would not need to wait to be seated. Moral of the story: take reservations!!! Due to a considerable amount of questionable judgement, I was not to be thwarted in my attempts to eat here. I came back mid-afternoon several weeks later and was seated immediately (well, actually I seated myself, but let's not split hairs). There was no menu on my table, nor was there one readily accessible, so I sat there twiddling my thumbs for slightly less than 5 minutes before the waitstaff decided it was a good time to bring me one. As a decisive individual, I selected my food and beverage choices within 25 seconds, but our waitress had wandered off to play croquet or something and didn't come back to take our order for about 10 minutes. I was getting very hungry by this point! The menu is pretty straightforward. The beer selection is, shall we say, interesting. It seems that their focus is selecting a variety of shitty tall boy cans instead of quality beer. This displeases me greatly. Does anyone ever actually order a Rainier tall boy? Or do they just keep it on the menu to attract hipsters? We finally ordered our food, and once it arrived, our waitress dashed past our table and dropped our hors d'oeuvres off and left immediately. Suddenly, I noticed that we did not have any cutlery on our table. This was a problem - as a member of a civilized society, I eat my food using utensils. Since our waitress had gone off to play frisbee golf or something, I was left to my own devices and was forced into the uncomfortable position of eating with my hands. This would have been slightly more successful had my food not been scalding hot! It baffles me why anyone would serve food so hot. I had to wait about 5 minutes before it had cooled off enough to allow me to eat it. As a result, my main course arrived before I'd even finished half my hors d'oeuvres. The main course was another disappointment. The garnishes on the burger were reasonably good, but the burger and bun weren't at all memorable. I think I would have enjoyed my meal just as much if they had forgotten my burger and bun, and just brought my the various toppings and tater-tots. This could be partially my fault, but I didn't specify how I wanted my burger to be cooked. I had mistakenly expected that in a burger place, they would cook it somewhere in the neighborhood of medium rare to medium well. It turns out I was wrong, and my burger was burned to a crisp. I suppose I should have been explicit when ordering. Lesson learned. The atmosphere was... eclectic. There appeared to be a lot of bowling memorabilia about, but in keeping with the "laboratory" theme, my wife's cocktail was served in a beaker. Additionally, there were a lot of hipsters here. If I wanted hipster I would go to Capitol Hill or something. What are hipsters doing in Bellevue anyway? The layout of this place baffles me. They really need to move the entrance so it's on the outside of the building rather than from an inside hallway. I just found this to be somewhat awkward. I don't think this place is a good value for the money you pay. Basically, it amounts to paying somewhere around $15 for a mediocre piece of dead cow and some frozen tater-tots. $15 is not altogether unreasonable for a good burger but this certainly didn't come close to qualifying. It is highly likely that I will never come back here again.
(2)Nicola G.
I don't get the hype. Really, I can't understand why people are so enthralled with Lunchbox Laboratory? It was mediocre, at best. I had their Homage to Dick's burger and sweet potato fries. My hubs had the Hawaiian burger and tots. Yeah... So. The Homage to Dick's burger did not, in the slightest, have any resemblance to Dick's. Dick's sauce is tarter and mustard mixed together. They use shredded lettuce and tomato and American cheese. The "Homage to Dick's" burger had some weird bbq-y sauce with a monster patty, a bunch of sauteed onions and what seemed like, at least, a pound of bacon cooked. There was too much bacon. Yes. You can have too much bacon. Dick's burgers don't have bacon. I don't know why they called this sandwich an homage to Dick's? My sweet potato fries were fine. Nothing out of this world. You know what, Lunchbox Lab? You could make those sweet potatoes more awesome by inventing an amazing sauce for dipping. My hubs thought his Hawaiian burger was, "a bit much." That means there was a lot of fuss but it wasn't worth it. He ate all his tots so I'm assuming he liked them. I would have given them two stars if it weren't for the fact that the hostess went out of her way to help me track my lost phone. The customer service was awesome and a lot of people left smiling.
(3)Mary L.
I really expected something more. So many good reviews and almost all of them are about cost of burgers - so I decided to see it myself. You know, what if it's expensive but very tasty burger? And I say you - not, it's not SO tasty. it's OK. By the way, my burger contained more onion than beef. And fries was hard and cold. I expected WAY more from lunch for 20-something dollars. Don't think I go once more time there.
(2)Mina M.
Ok people, please do not go to Lunchbox Laboratory if you are expecting fast food quality, sizes, or prices. If that's your thing, you won't be happy here, per the dozens of whiny reviews below. I think Lunchbox served the best burgers in the area and I have tried a lot. They are expensive, but they use high quality ingredients. A bun baked fresh every morning is going to cost you a little more but you will taste the difference. And yes, the burgers are ginormous, but I usually starve myself all day in preparation or split a meal with a friend. I have tried a bunch of different burgers here and my faves are the Dick's Drive In and the Hawaiian and my fave sides are the tots and chips. (I don't eat bacon, so I can't speak to that.) They also have a ton of well priced and yummy cocktails and I love the Astronaut's Mimosa and the weekly experiments. The staff at lunchbox are reliably great. They are always knowledgeable about the menu and usually good looking and a little snarky, which I love!
(5)Chee R.
I was excited to learn there was such a restaurant in town. Upon going there for dinner, as suggested by a friend, i was immediately disappointed by the poor service we had. Our waitress did not ask how we wanted our burger cooked, she was not friendly or explained the menu at all. My burger, the "homage to dick's deluxe" was awful. The only good thing about it was the bun. The burger was too pink, the bacon was cold, the onions were cold, add by cold i mean chilled, as in NOT HEATED AT ALL. it was disgusting. I took those pieces off. My waitress was no where to be found. So i ate the burger. When i complained, she Said "why didnt you tell me when you got the burger?" really!? Are you kidding? Terrible service. I was appalled. She didn't even give me a discount or apologize. I was so upset. I will not go back. This place isn't even worth the cute theme. I hope they go out of business.
(1)Will P.
Food was ok nothing to write home about just had a bacon cheese burger and the meat was just... odd. Service was ok nothing special. Has some nice decor and a good view in spots, just over priced for what it is.
(3)Yichuan Z.
Decided to come here for dinner tonight, since we've heard good things about it. We were prompted seated and the waiter was very nice about explaining everything. I got the Tear Jerker burger and my wife got the smoker. The Tear Jerker was spicy but nothing crazy or over the top. The food was ok, it wasn't all the special to me. It didn't taste bad, but it wasn't great, it was about the quality of a Red Robin's burger. My wife loved her burger and she really enjoyed it. The portion size was small, not so small that you'd be disappointed but nobody will have leftovers that's for sure. Overall it was a ok place, not somewhere that I would want to go again though. There are a lot better resturants in the area and this is one that you can miss.
(2)Kimberly G.
Friends treated me to lunch here and I was blown away. I'm not a burger person, but I promised myself that I would try new things this year (2012). Since I'm on this kick to try new things, I got a burger (can't remember which one, but it had BBQ sauce) and it was amazing. First they look like there were made by Chef Gordon Ramsey and they are delicious. I will never order another burger at a restaurant again. The wait to sit down was short, but the wait for the food was a little longer so don't go when you're starving, but definitely go. I live in Marysville and plan to take my boyfriend here as a treat, because it'll be worth the drive. Plus the waitstaff is amazing. Great group of people.
(5)Jon D.
Firstoff - how the heck do you get into this place??? I think I walked all of the way around this fishbowl of a layout before I finally found a door that didn't say "exit only" on it. Seems a little confusing if you ask me. Or maybe I'm just an idiot. Who knows. I guess it depends on whom you talk to... Anyway, I digress. Been hearing about "The Lab" for a while now. Well, mostly the Seattle location. And figured it was time to give it a shot. Gotta give these guys mad props for the creativity of their menu. I like having all of these options. Different kinds of meat, different kinds of cheese, all sorts of sauces, salts - and even a gluten free bun option. gotta love that they've got tots on the menu (a personal favorite) and the sweet-potato fries were a nice touch. Very cool. Big props for the choices The problem? Holy crap this place is expensive!!! The cheapest burger you're going to be able to "build" on your own is still going to put you back at least 12 bucks. Now don't get me wrong, without question, it's a great burger. But geezus - 16 bucks for one of their signature burgers? Even their "homage" to the Dick's deluxe is 13 bucks! Why would you buy that when you can get an ACTUAL deluxe for a mere 2.70? I don't get it. Best part had to be the shake we had. Oh My Maroni that's a good milkshake. We had one that was infused with a little baileys and kahula. So good. But again - price was an issue. Remember that line in Pulp Fiction where Vincent Vega looks at Mia Wallace in amazement when she orders a five dolla' shake? And then says, "for 5 dollas' that better be a pretty f'n good milkshake." Indeed it was and quite possibly worth 5 dollars. But c'mon - The Lab's shake is DOUBLE THAT! Overall, I liked The Laboratory. And if it weren't so expensive, I'd probably go back more often. But as it stands, I'm afraid that it will be the very rare event that I'm getting a burger at the Lab. Not because they're bad - because they're definitely not - they're just way too overpriced.
(3)Amy B.
Just had the best strawberry shake ever. Burger was great but messy. Food is yummy, staff is helpful and friendly but price tag is high.
(3)Carolyn W.
Alright, if i'm being honest these are some seriously overpriced burgers. Good but way too expensive for a burger. The burgers are also dripping in whatever sauce you happen to order on it. Just oozing and truthfully a bit of a turnoff. Found it to be fine but for what you pay for i was hoping for out of this world, mind bendingly awesome burgers. Lunch for two was $40 and i personally prefer Five Guys. Just eh
(3)Jule G.
The weekend weather was unusually nice, so I decided it was the right setting to have a juicy burger and a shake. Unfortunately, I don't think Lunchbox Lab is for me. Call me an old-fashioned Southern girl, but I like my food less trendy and more....something. Maybe genuine? We ordered one of the boozie shakes (served in a beaker), and got a tropical colada shake that had a shot of stuff that included Midori. The shake was good, but for $10 it was a little on the steep side. Basically, normal shakes are $6.50 and adding one shot of anything is an extra $3.50. I ordered a Hothead burger, which was a little too rich for me because it came drowned in creamy jalepeno sauce, and the buns were also rather greasy. It was definitely a hearty-sized portion, so you should make sure to come with an appetite--this isn't for the nibblers or pick-at-your-food type of eater. My boyfriend ordered the Burger of the Gods, the name of which to me seems like setting a diner up for massive disappointment. The flavor is overwhelmed by a crazy amount of balsamic pickled onions, to the point where you will probably throw out more than half of them. One kind of cool thing was their collection of salts. They have about 10ish seasoned salts, such as bacon salt (very bacon-y), habanero salt (this is pretty spicy), rosemary salt, garlic salt, etc. You may want to do what I did, which is sprinkle a tiny bit elsewhere to taste first before going nuts with it. In some cases (habanero), you may really live to regret not trying it before jumping in. Bring your hunger and your wallet, because a meal here isn't going to be on the cheaper end, seeing as how the burgers (they come with a side of fries, etc.) are $15 on average. Add-ons like drinks or extra sides will have you at $20 per person easily. Also, be prepared to wait awhile if it looks busy. We went at the height of the lunch hour, around 12:30, and we had to wait over 20 minutes to get our food.
(3)J H.
Went for the first time with my wife and another couple. The food was pretty good. The jalapeno fritter app was really good and a favorite at the table. Everyone liked their burgers, the mac and cheese was good, and we had fun sampling the drinks and boozy shakes. Yeah it was pricey. $150 total for 4 burgers. But we had apps and 3-4 drinks per person, and got 2 shakes to go. We had great service, and it was fun. Not sure it will be a regular stop for us as Bellevue is a drive, but it was a good experience. For those complaining about price. If you open a menu, see a price you don't like, and still order...you give up your right to complain about cost in my opinion. If the menu prices are too high, at any place, get up and leave. Just because you sit down and open a menu does not mean you have to commit to staying and spending more than you want.
(3)Gina X.
Went here at 10:40pm, right before they closed, and here I was expecting bad customer service because it was so close to closing time, but nope! Their service was great, and the food to top it was even better! The dicks deluxe there is amazing, and it will cure all burger cravings! Definitely a must try burger place!
(4)Stu H.
The food is very good and the milk shakes are amazing, but there is just something missing for the price. I've tried a few of their signature burgers and wasn't very impressed. It tasted good, just didn't have the "pop" I was expecting. Get on their mailing list and wait for a coupon...you'll be happier.
(3)Derek M.
I loved this place so much, I went back BUT with both parents and my sister. I decided to stray from my usual bacon cheeseburger and be a dork. By that, I mean order the worlds greatest burger known as the dork. Whoever thought of combining duck and pork PLUS bacon should become the god of burgers. Also, I decided to try mac fries. Now your probably saying right now, "Derek! What are these mac fries you speak of?!" Well, I'll tell you. Mac fries are regular fries DROWNED in house made macaroni and cheese sauce. Once again, whoever thought of this should become the god of fries and be BFF with the god of burgers. I had my shake from last review and that my fellow yelpers, is why this place had inched out Red Mill Burgers BUT IT WAS VERY CLOSE!!! Sorry Red Mill, become a food scientist and then maybe I shall see you again...
(5)Shelby W.
I came here with a friend for lunch because I heard so much about the place. It's definitely in a weird spot that doesn't get a lot of foot traffic. Our bartender/waiter (George) was the most friendly, helpful and informational bartender/waiter I've ever had. I told him I was looking for a good burger and I took his suggestion of getting the Santa Fe Burger. Boy was I glad I took his suggestion. That Santa Fe Burger was one of the best burgers I've ever had. I was so juicy, well seasoned and loaded up (not skimpy). I noticed on my receipt it said I could use my receipt to get a drink for $1. So I decided to use it the same day and I got a double vodka pineapple ($2 add.). All in all I had a great experience and will probably be back at some point.
(5)Andrew K.
A great, fun restaurant! If you are diabetic or on a diet, this is not a place for you. The foods are super rich, and desserts full of extra sugar. I don't know of any place that adds tang & cream to root beer, it's so wrong but so good! I tried a couple of the burgers and my favorite is the Truffle Love burger with tater tots. The burgers are very juicy and they pan fry them and finish them off in the oven. When you baconize a burger, it's not just a couple of strips, it's actually like another meat patty built with bacon! The shakes are great too, but portions are a bit small for the price. Their sauces are great, but they cost extra (I think this is a new trend...) This place is one of those places you have to take friends that are visiting from out of state/country. + Juicy burgers with unique toppings + Fairly large portions + Free parking! + Flexible hours (11am-11pm) - Shakes are a bit small for the price Tip At the time I went, you can buy a $5 lunch box that gives your 25% off an item, and every time you bring it in afterwards you get 10% off an item.
(4)Emma P.
Food sounded interesting but it was really nothing special at all. Service was okay during the meal but our server became really rude after HE accidentally double charged me for my food. He was dressed pretty silly too for being at work, and for his age. Won't go back. It was completely unremarkable.
(1)Dwayne J.
Lunchbox Labs has quite the following. They have almost three thousand fans on facebook. Their South Lake Union location (the "original" location in Lunchbox's current incarnation, though not their original original location) is packed full during lunch and dinner hours. When they announced they were opening a Bellevue location, many devoted fans made plans to visit the Bellevue location on opening day. I was one of those fans. And even on opening day, in a brand new building with only 2 other shops and virtually no pedestrian traffic, Lunchbox Labs of Bellevue was still packed full. Yes, Lunchbox Labs has quite the following. So I don't need to tell you how good their burgers are. You can read rave reviews about Lunchbox Labs in their Yelp for their SLU location. What I will tell you is that their Bellevue location lives up to their name and serves the same quality burgers. It's not too surprising, given that they set out to replicate their SLU success in Bellevue, and even had some of the SLU staff working in the Bellevue location. If you don't already know how awesome Lunchbox Labs is, well now you no longer have an excuse. Whether you live on Eastside or in Seattle, there's a Lunchbox there, and they're both awesome.
(5)Nathan C.
I was craving a burger and had plans to meet a friend downtown for lunch anyway, so we decided to check out Lunchbox Lab. My first impression was that this was going to be pricey. But, I didn't mind enough to walk away - the burgers all sounded so delicious! We started with the Garlic and Blue Cheese Mac. Now I am a fan of good mac and cheese once in a while and this was amazing. The sauce was rich and creamy without being super heavy and was very flavorful but not overpowering, which was surprising given the title ingredients. Totally impressed and ready for the burger round. We both ordered the "Homage to Dick's Deluxe," a $14 option which I thought was funny considering a Dicks Deluxe is about $2.50. I opted for tots, my friend for sweet potato fires (+.50 additional). Both were just OK - nothing special, and the side sauces (another .50 each) were again, OK. One thing to note here is that they offer lots on patty, topping, and sauce options so that you can customize your own burger to suit your tastes. This can get costly, however, as almost everything is an upcharge from the plain burger base. The burger was very tasty, albeit really messy (saucy!) - its good they stock the table with lots of napkins. Patty was flavorful and cooked perfectly and the toppings (grilled onions, cheese, bacon) were fresh and well prepared. The bun from Essential baking Company was great and managed to hold together through the sauciness. At the end of the meal we were satisfied, but not overly impressed. For the Mac, 2 burgers, and 2 Coke's our bill was close to $50 - not lovin' it. I would not be opposed to coming back here, but I would not make a concerted effort to until they lower their pricing. An afterthought - the service here was great, attentive but not intrusive and always timely.
(3)Candy W.
The Nutella shake was awesome, tater tots were perfectly crispy, but burger was a huge let down. The meal was probably only worth it during happy hours anyways. Again, disappointed with the burger because the beef patty was just .... not very good =(
(2)Hao Z.
Be aware that this place is definately on the high side of burgers, and burgers alone will run you $12-15. For this price, I expect the best burgers in town, and Lunchbox Laboratory doesn't really deliver on that. I have to say, despite using Kobe-style beef (which is just the cows used to make Kobe beef but raised in America), the burgers are just ok here. It's good, but not better than much cheaper places like Red Mill. They are "fancier", with flashy, Bellevue style toppings like truffles sauce, but it doesn't really add to the flavor of the burger in my opinion. The burger felt less juicy than the "premium" quality Kobe beef suggested, and again I feel like they are just not the best burgers in Seattle, just the pricest. I will note, though, if you are feeling adventurous, the dork, made of duck and pork, is really good. It's not really a burger at that point, as it lacks beef, but the unqiue combination was very juicy and very tasty. The milkshakes very good, but running at around $5-6, I'm not sure it's "better" than less expensive milkshakes. I find milkshakes to be great at pretty much all burger places, so certainly don't come here just for the milkshakes!
(3)Ce'Nedra M.
A friend and I went during happy hour on a Saturday. I really didnt have any expectations, except I hear the mac & cheese is to die and they have adult milkshakes. Ummm....Lunchbox Laboratory is so much fun! They have cocktails made with Kool-aid and Tang. My adult milkshake came in a beaker! I told my friend it spoke to my scientist heart. We shared two burgers our server recommended: Burger of the Gods and The Smoker. They both were delish!
(4)Kirstin H.
If you want a hipster burger place, this is it!! I've been a fan of Lunchbox Lab for about a year now, and couldn't be more pleased that they've opened a branch in Bellevue. I went during their opening night, and both service and food were on point. Brightly decorated with throwback lunchboxes and pop art on the walls, this is a fun place no matter what the occasion. Their burgers are yummy - friendly to vegetarians as well as carnivores, side dishes are fun (hello, tater tots!!), and their milkshakes are killer. They even have spiked milkshakes if you want a little sumthin' sumthin' to bring the boys to the yard! I would definitely recommend the Homage to Dick's Deluxe, if you're a bacon fan like me, and the Caramel Macchiato shake, because it will change your life. The nice thing about Lunchbox is that you get to customize your meal to a great extent, which is fun if you already have favorites on the menu but want to spice things up a bit. Banana Creme Pie shake with chocolate instead of vanilla, burger sauce on the side, extra test tube of booze in your drink...the list goes on.
(4)Diana C.
Food is pretty good, kind of gimicky, but the sauces are good and the choice of fries/tots/sweet potato/etc was nice. The service could use a little work. When we were looking for help they were never around but they would hover and try to take our plates prematurely. If there is food on my plate, don't touch it! It's not cheap for a burger place and the lack of bathrooms on site is kind of a pain (gotta go down the hall). The appetizers were pretty good and the mac and cheese was delicious. I'd have to say that after eating here I was ready to drop into a food coma, that's for sure. I'd give this place a solid 3.5. Good service that doesn't try to rush you out and possibly small price adjustments would bump it to the 4* category IMHO.
(3)Gina K.
Holy crap, this was delicious!! Most of the burger joints we've been to as a group at least one of us felt pretty "eh" about it but this time all 3 of us loved our meals. My daughter and I both had the "burger of the Gods" - super beef patty w/balsamic grilled onions, crumbled blue cheese, and Gorgonzola sauce. Sooooo good. Neither of us could finish the burger so we each had half for breakfast this morning. Bonus! She had mac n cheese for her side - they change that up daily - yesterday's was 4 cheese and she said it was awesome. I had tater tots - they were perfectly done, crispy and golden outside, perfect and warm and soft on the inside. They do charge .50 for dipping sauces (which they make in house). I got "Satan's tears ketchup" and black truffle mayonnaise. They are not lying when they warn you about the Satan's tears being spicy. Good lord you notice it right away!!! It's still tasty though. And the truffle mayonnaise. Ahhhh!!! If they didn't have so many other options I'd say that's the only sauce I'd ever order there. It was fantastic. My husband had the tearjerker burger (he's a spicy loving type!) and it was adequately spicy for him. It had him sweating a bit and he had to take a break. He had the skinny fries and horseradish sauce for dipping (see, spicy freak) - he said the sauce was excellent and fresh tasting. Their milkshakes and cocktails come in beakers which I think is really cool. It's neat to see something served in a glass that fits their theme. I've seen some reviews that complain about the shakes being too small. I have to disagree. They are perfect. I don't think you need a super sized shake when you're having a decedent meal like what you get here. They do encourage adults to booze up the shakes and the shot comes in a test tube inside the beaker. Lots of fun. Our server was on top of it. Offered suggestions, answered all of our questions, and educated us on some menu oddities. A bonus - he carded me!!! Ha! Oh! Bonus #2 - if you check in on Yelp, Foursquare, Facebook, or any of those other "look at how cool I am, I leave the house" social networking sites you get happy hour prices on the drinks no matter what time it is. It is a little pricey - about $15 a meal without drinks when it comes down to it when you include the sauces and everything but this isn't McDonald's or something you should be eating everyday. It's so worth it. We will definitely be going back - my 17 year old daughter said while we were there that's what she wants for her birthday meal this year.
(5)Charissa C.
Only good thing was the Oreo Shake and tater tots. Not impressed wth the burger for that price. Other location in Seattle is better.
(3)John E.
Not too bad, not too great. Here's what you should know: - I tried the Santa Fe Slammer. Awesome toppings, pretty good flavor, but an extremely messy burger. I can't stand a burger that falls apart in my hands as I take a bite. The onions were slimy, and there was waaayy too much BBQ sauce. I used more napkins while eating than for any food I've ever tried. BBQ sauce was everywhere by the time I finished. - The tatter tots are crispy and delicious. - Great atmosphere at night. They have cool, old-school lunchboxes on display, lit with neon signs. - The staff was extremely friendly and helpful.
(3)Samantha S.
The only thing that I really enjoy about this place is the burger itself. Really good meat, cheese and sauce. I've been here twice and liked the burger both times. Milkshakes are good too, but small- not worth the $7. Unfortunately, the server was slow and inattentive. We went on a really slow night, there were two other tables and a few people in the bar and for some reason it took forever to be noticed. The server didn't know we hadn't had our orders taken and we kept being visited by two different servers- each needed updating every time. The price is outrageous. If your whole shtick is that I get to build my own burger, why on earth would you make it more expensive to do so? Also, if you like an idea from a finished product on the menu, you can't do any substitutions, so I couldn't switch out the lamb patty for beef even if I like everything else on the burger. For two burgers, a milkshake and soda, our dinner was almost $50. I don't know. The Counter in Ballard has better service and better prices.
(2)The J.
Not as good as the Seattle location, and definitely not like the original but decent. The bread always seems to be soggy when it arrives, and the staff was forgetful the multiple times I've eaten there. First time eating here, the roof was leaking, but the place is clean and nice enough for a burger place. They had just opened, so I'll gave this a pass. Bugermaster, Fatburger are better options for a decent burger in Bellevue. But if you want to pig out, this would be the place.
(3)Andrew R.
Great food. Fun to sit in the bar. The dark and stormy, whatever they call it here, is really good. Burgers are pretty ginormo and leave me wanting a nap. Sometimes I prefer to get some chips or the pork rinds instead. Sweet potato fries with their fancy salt are tasty. Get a side of the tapatio sauce that comes with the rinds for your fries. You will not be disappointed.
(4)Alice C.
I knew about this place before it started to franchise into different stores but I have to say, they still have really good burgers. Its amazing! they use the best kind of beef and their tots are to die for. Gotta say this place is definitely a place to go back to once in awhile.
(4)T S.
Being a vegetarian, good burgers are hard to come by. But this place puts together a great veggie burger! Also, their milkshakes are delicious, but pack about 2000 calories a piece. Remember to eat a salad lunch if you're stopping by here for dinner.
(4)Jenn N.
Ok burgers for $13? Hmmm. The shakes were good but they were expensive too and far TOO sweet! ! Not as many choices as I was lead to believe by past eaters. First time and last time only because they really aren't as unique as people make them out to be. Maybe it's just me.
(2)Bill G.
We looked at the menu prior to going, and understood the prices. It's not rocket science people. Yes, the burgers cost more than your average burger joint. That's because the beef patties are a mixture of grass-fed sirloin, prime rib and ribeye. If that tastes the same to you as Dick's, you should stick with Dick's. I had the Burger of the Gods, and added bacon to it. It was nothing short of fantastic. The bacon was thick cut and added a nice smoky flavor to the caramelized onions, blue cheese and Gorgonzola spread. The bread was a kaiser roll and was a good compliment to the rest of the burger, which featured a good sized beef patty that was perfectly cooked. The lettuce/tomato/onion that came with it was nothing special, but the other ingredients and the beef were the show. I had the tater tots with the burger. They were crispy, but otherwise run of the mill tots. But once you season them with one or more of the many flavored salts they offer, it's much better. It's a busy place, so either get there at non-peak times, or expect a wait. We waited about 20 minutes for a table at lunch time and it was well worth it.
(4)Katy B.
I really enjoy going to Lunchbox Lab. I like the adult milkshakes (boston cream donut with a shot of baileys and vanilla vodka!), the burger of the gods, and the sweet potato fries with the variety of salts they offer at the table. The corn dogs I could do without, and the tator tot nachos didn't really hit the spot like I thought they would (not that it stopped me from eating them). If the Mac & Cheese of the day strikes your fancy, it's certainly worth a try. It's very creamy, cafeteria style mac. The service has always been acceptable here, I've been for both happy hour and dinner and never had a problem.
(4)Chelsea P.
5+ stars. Food was amazing we tried the blue and Parmesan Mac and cheese. My fiancé tried the homage to dicks burger and I had the Santa Fe slammer. Aaron served us and treated us like celebrities despite the fact that the place was slammed, talk about exceptional service. They run a special, buy 1 burger for dinner get a second for $5. Our entire bill was just $37 and it included a soda and two shakes as well. We will definitely be back when in the Bellevue area. Thanks Aaron!
(5)Vic L.
OMG! Can I say yum! First time here , ordered the Le truffle burger and banana creme shake... Delish! 4 hours later.. can I have another?
(4)Carol W.
Came here a couple of weeks ago and I was really excited to try it, however my husband and I were both underwhelmed. I am totally willing to pay more money for a good burger, but I just thought this place was way overpriced. The most disappointing part of the meal was our corndog appetizer - $9 for three little corndogs. Big mistake in order that. I had the "Homage to Dick's Deluxe" which was good and the shake was really good too. The shake was probably the best part of the meal. Okay meal - just not worth the $40+ bill. I would maybe come back to try happy hour, but not for a full dinner.
(3)John V.
Pretty solid! Good choice of burgers and meat. Like the ability to create your own, plus the adult milkshakes. overall pretty good place.
(3)Kristin C.
My feelings about this place are all over the place, and really, a visit to Lunchbox Labs leaves me super confused on a regular basis. But, I think after my last visit, it's going to be a regular Happy Hour/Trivia spot for me. As mentioned by other reviewers(Chelsea J and Riss J), we had some pretty shitty service from the bartender. He made us the wrong drinks, and then argued with us that somehow it was our fault. Well, it wasn't. I simply told him not to argue, that it was bad form. It made all of us weirded out. One of my friends though, did the smart thing and mentioned the incident to the Manager. Who immiedietely comped our entire bill(for a table of 5 drunks), apologized AND had the Bartender in question apologize. And you know what? His apology was sincere, and he was honestly super nice to us the rest of the night. I get it, sometimes you have an off night, people don't show up to work, you are slammed, tired, etc. Arguing with your customers is a big no-no though, like, seriously, NO, don't EVER do that. BUT, in the end, I think they did everything they possibly could to make the situation right. The bartender in question did a great job with it, and I really do appreciate the Customer Service. The burgers here are good too, my favorite is the Bleu Marble, all my favorite things: Bleu Cheese, grilled onions, and bacon. I love the fact that they have fries, tots and sweet potato fries to choose from, and you can sub Mac N Cheese for $2. My favorite thing here though, is seriously the Mac N Cheese. They have different "experiments" of flavors, and I have never been disappointed in any of them. During Happy Hour it's only $2, and for like $1.50 more you can get it "loaded" with bacon, etc. I also really love the tots, some of the best I've ever had. The cocktails are a bit too sweet for my liking, but are interesting, and I like to get at least one. I also think the Milkshakes are good too, but I am usually way too full for that(their burgers are HUGE). Overall, this place can get a bit expensive, and fattening, but their Happy Hour offerings are good. We did the Geeks who Drink pub Quiz night here too, and LOVED it. Not too crowded, fun questions, and an awesome QuizMaster. We will definitely be back for Quiz Night, and hopefully the bartender in question and us can come to a truce and just have fun!
(4)Erin P.
Although I love the burgers, we've had terrible service the last 3 times coming here. I'm not picky about service, but there are just too many great restaurants in this area to waste a meal out somewhere that's not really that enjoyable.
(2)Lisa U.
The service was great, the Nutella milkshake was delicious, but why do they charge you $0.50 to split a milkshake? Am I paying for the beaker that I don't get to keep? Word of advice, just ask for 2 straws if you're splitting a shake with a friend. Lunchbox Lab is great place to dine every once and awhile. The Santa Fe burger was good...I expected it to be spicy but there was no extra kick. Sweet potato fries were good too. Emphasis on good.
(3)Samuel F.
Ah the Lunchbox Laboratory.. A wonderful burger joint with a whole lot of character. This was my second time dining at the Bellevue location and it was just as excellent as the first. I went with two other people and we were immediately seated once we got in. There's plenty of space inside and outside so you don't have to worry about being crammed in around other random people who may smell stronger than the burger you're trying to enjoy. The restaurant itself is totally rad as it is filled with funky art and a plethora of vintage lunch-boxes that every generation can identify with. The service was excellent. Our waiter was really cool and helpful with any questions we had even if they were really just a matter of personal preference. Also, our water glasses stayed filled throughout the whole meal, which just happens to mean a lot to me when it comes to eating out. The burger itself was a work of art. I got the Homage to the Dick's Deluxe, which is a tribute to a burger from the famous Seattle burger chain "Dick's." It was just as I expected, an incredibly magnificent and gourmet version of what is normally just a $2.75 burger. It was done perfectly. A true burger for a true burger lover. As an avid consumer of the Dick's Deluxe I was more than impressed with the tribute. The beef was cooked just right, the bacon crispy, the "top-secret" sauce perfectly accompanied the burger, and the special "lunchbox onions" were nearly divine. To top it off I can honestly say the banana cream pie milkshake I had was the second best milkshake I've ever had in my 17 years of life. (The first best was at Spud Fish and Chips on Alki beach). Anyway, if you're feeling a little extravagant and won't settle for a cheap burger, The Lunchbox Laboratory is the place to go.
(4)Tina G.
This place is fun and they really enjoy what they do. Every week there's a slew of new burger and shake experiments...which I think is great. If you're wanting to eat light and count your calories, this isn't the place for you. The portions are large and in charge...I had enough food left over for lunch the next day. The price is a bit more than I expected but it was well worth it. My burger (I can't remember which one it was but it had gruyere) was juicy and delicious. The fries were also good. I didn't have room for a shake this time so I'll have to get one next time.
(4)R C.
I think the burgers here are really delicious. the shakes are also hand-dipped and very good. I had them add baileys to mine last time and that was even better! I like the happy hour because you can get three little burgers and its a nice portion. I really like the little flavoring carts they have -- so you can season your own fries? Yum yum! Good stuff, I would go back!
(4)Gayle B.
I think this place is fun, and I really enjoyed my experience there. I got the veg blk bean patty and it was great, the onions were awesome and the pineapple mayo was spectacular. I chose tater tots for my side and they were soooo good. My husband got the dork burger and it was really good as well. The setting is fun, they serve their drinks in beakers and if i'm going to dine in a gimmick this kind I don't mind.
(4)Emaleigh C.
i came here in search of what all the hype was about for this chain restaurant. it's located in a lonely building where you have to walk down the hall, and unlock a bathroom door with a key - really inconvenient. Anyway, i had a Santa Fe Slammer. There was nothing special about the burger besides it was a sloppy eat. the green chillies were sliding out of my burger, but i didnt mind it that much. the burger itself was dressed in a BBQ sauce, and that was the only thing i tasted. i wish they had more of a variety to their menu. Service was fair. But I dont think that this is my burger joint.
(3)Ken Y.
A first timer and followed the recommendation from the waitress. The Capt' John's Flyin' Hawaiian was cooked to perfection and the special birthday shake was delicious even I wasn't a big milk shake fan. The staffs were nice and it really found a new home in Bellevue judging by the eaters. They offered gluten-free bun for a dollar more.
(4)Jeremy C.
I wanted to write an update to this review since Lunchbox Laboratory has quickly become my favorite happy hour location. After 9pm the bar winds down a bit, so it's usually pretty easy to grab a seat. Also, the service is now much more consistent and attentive since they've been open a few months and have gotten the hang of things. I usually get the Hong Kong Hot Wings, which are more like spicy, chicken-filled wontons than chicken wings. They're served with a side of blue cheese dressing that pairs very well with the wings/wontons. The pork skins are good as well since they're freshly made so they're usually still crackling from the fryer when they bring them to your table. I also want to correct my earlier post indicating that the salads are $1.99, since they're actually $2.99. Still a great deal. And as always, save room for their happy hour shakes. You can't go wrong with the Nutella shake!
(5)Grant T.
If I had to describe Lunchbox Lab in Bellevue in two words, I'd have to say: -Loud -Expensive I really liked my "Burger of the Gods" a lot, and thought the potato salad was tasty. (It's amazing how many places manage to mess up potato salad.) The "Dork" was okay. The Chocolate Cherry shake tasted like a chocolate shake with some maraschino cherry juice thrown in - neither inspiring nor particularly appetizing. The hostess and waiter were both very friendly and our waiter was fast and attentive. High marks there. The place was incredibly loud. Part of the problem was that the bus-staff seemed to like to throw dirty dishes into the bus trays. Every few moments, "CRASH!" Also, for what is essentially two burgers with fries and potato salad and drinks... $40? Really? We probably won't be going back. Glad we tried it, though.
(2)Kevin S.
I was excited to finally try Lunchbox Laboratory, I meant to try it last time I was working in Ballard but it disappeared on me! The place is hip...probably too hip for me. Burgers are unique and nicely varied, not huge but nicely sized. The burger was delicious, I would have happily eaten another. They have gluten free buns which is nice, though they didn't know what they were made of. I had the sweet potato fries which were surprisingly pedestrian for a place priding itself on being anything but, being lukewarm didn't help. In the end I left thinking...I spent $16 for a burger!?! (plus tax and tip)
(3)Christina G.
The food was greasy, but good. The salad was not so great, but who goes there for a salad, anyway? What you really want there is a gourmet burger. I have been to this place twice, & both times the service was absolutely terrible. The 1st time we went there the guy who waited on us was okay, but pretty neglectful and douchey. The 2nd time we had the day waitress who was clearly almost done with her lunch shift & probably trying to get out of there. She was a total butt hole to us in every way - totally took forever taking our order, was rude when she took it, forgot to bring my son's drink (the busser told another server to deliver the drink when the busser dropped our food off), our salad came out after the burgers, and she didn't check back with us at all or make eye contact with me ever. I had to flag her down to get a box. I ended up leaving the hostess who bussed our table & ran my credit card a $5 tip. I left the waitress a generous $2 with a note that said, "Try being nice next time. I was a server for 10 years, and I would have tipped you on the total if you were just nice!" And I underlined "nice." If the service was better and people who worked there cared a bit more, it would be a lot more comfortable to eat the comfort food the Lunchbox Lab is famous for. It's too bad, really. We don't go out too often, and I am sure next time we do, it won't be there. No matter how good the food was (I would say decent to alright), this place left a bad taste in my mouth.
(2)Apoorva B.
I've gone to Lunchbox Laboratories a couple times over the course of the last year. I am not a regular and usually visit from out of the state. The first time I went was some time in August - I ordered a burger, shake, and tater tots. I enjoyed the shake a lot - delicious. The tater tots were alright, nothing to write home about and the burger was decent. The service was good, my friends and I had a good conversation with our server who helped us out in making some choices (two of us had never been and were curious about the shakes) - she checked on us and made she we were doing alright. All in all, a 3.5/5 time. The second time I went was later in August and an hour from closing. I ordered a different burger and my friends and I each ordered shakes - we forgot to mention which size shakes we wanted and our server assumed we wanted the larger size. The food was alright, a little greasier than last time but tasty. When we mentioned we had not realized about the size issue, the server had a chat with the manager and we were charged the price of the smaller one for the mix up. I was impressed with the way they handled this - definitely positive. A 4/5 time with the loss coming for the food. The third time I went was with my girlfriend and we both had burgers, shakes, and tried out the Hong Kong style chicken wings egg roll (I think that was the name) - the rolls were great. Burger was alright. Shake was excellent as usual. The service this time was so-so, the server was clearly having a busy day but seemed to be a little annoyed as she was a little curt at times not really checking up on us. Overall, a 3/5 experience. The fourth and last time I went was about a week and a half ago. I was extremely disappointed this time round. I was looking forward to a delicious shake and a good burger with my girlfriend. We had a coupon we wanted to use that gave us "$10 off next visit, dine in only, 1 per table, not valid with other discounts or promotions", we had also just happened to be there during happy hour. We had a question about one of the new burgers (containing sweet cherry pepper) and another regarding if the coupon was applicable (so that we didn't run into issues at the end of the meal). The server came over, grabbed a chair, and sat down in the aisle next to us. After a few pleasantries and the server asking us if we had any questions my girlfriend asked "Are the sweet cherry peppers sweet?" - while the question may sound a little silly, what she was meaning was how they tasted since we had never heard of them before (we figured they were sweet but merely wanted to know a bit more about them). The server looked a little incredulous at us asking the question and replied in a rather sarcastic tone "Is that a serious question or?" - we stated yes. He then said he didn't know because he had never tried them but he assumed they were sweet because of their name - obviously. We brushed this off and then asked about the coupon and if it was valid with happy hour. He said "It depends." without further explanation. Upon further prompting, he continued providing curt answers seemingly getting angrier and more annoyed. Now, our questions might be a little tough but they are valid to ask and would save both of us headaches when it comes to the bill. At some point, he ended the conversation by saying "I need to check on other customers and can't answer your questions, I'll send over my manager to answer your questions.". Having never been in a situation like this, I was a little shocked and felt it was a little rude of him to just get up and leave. I understand there are other customers around, but at least finish the conversation before moving on... At this point, I was deeply disappointed and even the allure of one of their delicious shakes was not attractive enough for me to stay. My girlfriend and I left immediately. In retrospect I should have talked to the manager but I wasn't interested in a confrontation - I was just hungry! Overall experience, 0/5. I'm sure the server was just having a bad day but this was extremely disappointing and left me with an extremely bad impression of the Lunchbox Laboratory. I know I shouldn't let one bad experience dampen all the other times I had but its tough to do so since I only visit once in a while and there are plenty of other places to sample between Seattle and Bellevue.
(2)Matthew B.
This place is awesome. I love the dork burger!
(5)Jason O.
One of the most tasty and juicy burgers you can find in the Seattle area. The experiments menu contains a continually changing set of burgers that can't be found on their normal menu. Also be sure to try out their mac&cheese and shakes (boozy versions for the adults too!) as they too are just as delicious!
(5)Sandra L.
I know most people go for the burgers, that is all good I saw some awesome looking ones pass my table. I have to say the salad I had the other day was AWESOME! Fun place, good food.
(5)Frank L.
WARNING: these burgers are expensive! ALERT: these burgers are AWESOME! Not to mention the awesome milkshakes. But the milkshakes are very expensive too ($6.50) My buddy and I each got a signature burger, baconized ($2.00 extra), with a milkshake (he got his spiked) and our bill came out to $60 after tax and tip. Now before you say this is too rich for your blood, each burger comes with a side (chips, fries, tater tots), so you're getting more than just a burger. I had a DORK (duck and pork) and it was much subtler than a ground beef patty. The homemade chips were yummy. It's probably not hard to mess up chips, but anyone can mess up anything.... Peppermint Milkshake - BEST minty shake I've ever sipped. I would definitely recommend experimenting at Lunchbox Laboratory because the service is super friendly, the food is A+ (burgers, sides and milkshakes).
(4)erik s.
very unique hamburgers, once of it's kind, love all the different sauces. don't mind paying extra couple of bucks, because they are worth it !!
(5)Eric M.
I went with my wife on their opening day for some lunch. The place was buzzing with young, fresh faces and the atmosphere was clean and modern. We were seated in the bar by a very nice young lady and immediately offered a beverage to start. I won't give you an entire run down, but I will say our food and service were far above average! Given that it was their first day I would have expected to wait a long time for food and feel neglected, nope. If you have not been to the SLU location because going to Seattle and parking is a drag, no worries the parking is FREE!! I highly recommend this restaurant for out of this world burgers, shakes and their famous "Kick Ass Hour", where most things are too cheap not to order. Give it try, you'll love it!
(5)Katie D.
First off, the food really was very good. I would totally have rated the food much higher. I split a dork burger and some sort of truffle burger with my friend and we got skinny fries and mac and cheese for sides. Everything was delicious. A total calorie-bomb, but absolutely worth it. They also have a ton of options for shakes. They sound delicious and I would like to try one if I ever go back. I took a star off for the location/ambiance. They are the only business in the building, so everything else is kind of weird and deserted feeling (it's probably just new, but still felt weird walking into it). I'm also kind of picky about chairs at restaurants and they weren't very comfortable at all. Also, the tables had that sticky sheen of being washed with soapy water but not really rinsed. It still seemed clean, I just wasn't overly impressed with the atmosphere. Parking is actually nice because there is free parking in a garage below the restaurant with a 3-hour limit. (I HATE paying for parking, so I was very pleased with this setup).
(4)Jasmine C.
This place gets crazy busy on weekends. If you're dining without kids, sit at the bar to avoid long wait times. The menu is pretty vast--I like their choices for patties. Next time, I want the dork (duck and pork) party. I did the spicy burger (don't remember the name) with a beef party. It was pretty good, though no where near spicy enough. The seasoned salts were a new idea, but more novelty than really tasty. We ordered a creamsicle shake, and it took a pretty long while to come out. It was really good, super creamy, but a little gritty. I would totally return.
(3)Paul R.
I never got to experience the original Lunchbox Laboratory in Ballard. If it was anything like Hamburger Harry's it must have been great, which is a shame today, because it pales by comparison. I have eaten at Neighborhood Grills restaurants (like Crossroads Grill). This is who owns and operates Lunchbox Laboratory today and it comes through in the experience I had today in Bellevue... Only just OK food - I've had much better - it's wayyyy overpriced for what you get. With (IMHO) comparable gourmet burger options at much lower prices on 8th just across 405 I don't think I'll have any reason to patronize Lunchbox Lab again.
(2)Kristy W.
I'm kind of surprised that this place is averaging 3 stars. I'll give it a solid 4.5. They put out 2-for-1 coupons that make it a steal of a deal. It's one of the only outdoor dining places on the Eastside that is nice and not parking lot-adjacent. Yes the sides are pretty unmemorable, but who cares? The burger is the star here. In particular, I will rave about the Churken and 'Merican. First of all the Churken. This is fresh ground turkey and chicken and tastes nothing like the pre-formed, frozen patties you have tasted elsewhere. This is a new burger experience and I'll have a hard time ordering anything else here in the future. The "Merican also gets rave reviews for hitting the spot when you want a regular burger...but being ten times better quality than any burger you will find elsewhere. Sure other restaurants may use fresh ground beef and whatnot. But the proportion of toppings, the perfect messiness (without falling apart) can only be found at LL as far and I can tell. Friendly and laid back service, too!
(5)Alex N.
So this review is based on take-out. The verdict? Trash. They have options to create your own burger here. I ordered a lamb patty, with candied balsamic onions, feta, and i asked for a light amount of buttermilk ranch. And the magic begins. Now I got what I ordered, even though it took 30 minutes, but when I actually opened the wrapper and looked at my burger, there was such a ridiculous amount of these blackened onions, feta and ranch (not light) on this thing that it looked like Cthulhu was hanging out in a stale kaiser roll. There were maybe 25 french fries total in the bag. The burger has one bite taken out of it and is now in the garbage can. I also ordered a burger off of their menu for my girl. After trying the Homage to Dick's Deluxe, something that I didn't create, I now know that it wasn't poor judgement in my food choice, but poor judgement in my restaurant choice. I'm a fast learner. I will never eat here again.
(2)Lena K.
Great burgers. I finally visited lunchbox laboratory for the first time and it was really delicious. I ordered my burger with a side of tater tots, and the burger was great, filling and not too big. The tater tots tasted just like the kind you get out of a bag from Safeway. Not that there's anything wrong with those, but certainly didn't live up to the flavor of the burger. Next time I'll be trying the french fries instead, but their creative menu will keep me coming back to try the rest of the menu. If the fries end up blowing me out of the water, I'll give 5 stars. For now 4.
(4)J. E.
I have to say the service was lacking. We waited forever for a table, after being told it would be 15 minutes. There were three tables available right inside the door but the host said she didn't want to overwhelm the waiter. After another five minutes she told us to pick a table, so we did. We sat there for another 10 minutes before our waiter came over with two waters (there were four of us) and asked if we had menus, which we didn't. After waiting another 10 minutes we finally got our other two waters and placed our order. Food was actually pretty darn good but I'm not sure we'll be back.
(2)Ethan L.
My girlfriend and I came here on a Saturday evening. Sat in the bar area and it took about ten minutes for someone to come by with some menus and water. Our food came out fairly quick but it was below average. I ordered the Mediterranean Marvel w/ Fries and my girlfriend got the Truffle Love w/ a House Salad. My plating was very messy and bits of another salad on my girlfriend's. We waited for about fifteen minutes after we had finished eating until our server came to ask if we wanted our check. Took another ten minutes to come back, and another ten to give us back our change. As we were leaving we walked by the area where the food was being put up. There was so much trash on the floor, and one of the managers just kicked it away. Makes you wonder how clean they keep the kitchen.
(1)Kylie G.
Awesome burgers! Great variety on the menu and creative drinks! Always a bit of a wait if it's dinner time given the popularity of the place, but you're always seated by friendly staff with water and menus immediately afterwards. Love, love, love the skinny fries and tater tots; a must-have every time I go there. Also, staff uniforms are super cute! :)
(4)Megan C.
Fun atmosphere and great food. I especially enjoyed the banana cream pie milkshake. I definitely would eat here again.
(4)Nick S.
The best burger around! Not only does Lunchbox Laboratory receive my award for the best burger in the area, but the highest quality burger I've had to date. Now one thing to keep in mind about Lunchbox is it is no ordinary burger, it is definitely higher end I believe the cheapest burger is about 12 dollars. But on average one can expect to spend between $15-$20. However with brioche buns, Kobe beef and all the accoutrements it is well worth it. Originally I had only given Lunchbox a three star rating, of course this was after my first and only visit and was due to lacking service and strange decor. Of course the food was on point and has not disappointed since however. I have returned on multiple occasions with different parties and the service has gradually improved. During my first visit I was looking to order my standard burger, beef patty, Swiss cheese, bacon, mushrooms, onions, and aioli. Luckily the "Truffle Love" came pretty close to this. Substituting truffle mayo for aioli and mushrooms. But when I asked our serve to make the swap he first stated it would cost extra, which I was fine with but the n explained they couldn't do that? Nevertheless despite not being exactly what I wanted it was pretty close to perfect. As soon as the signature elongated rectangle plate was placed in front om me my mouth began to water at the glory that lie before me. All perfectly aligned within the plate beginning with the cup of fries, shoestring mind you, which are the best cut of fries and were seasoned with sort garlic or seasoning salt nothing overpowering. Then a small stack of the lettuce, tomato and onion in the middle of the plate because for one putting them on the burger would only make for a soggy bun and nobody wants that crap anyway. Finally the burger, with a brioche bun light and crispy which is why it's the cream of the crop when it comes to burger buns. Then of course the Kobe beef providing its on natural richness. Swiss cheese that was actually melted almost molten as it should be and crispy salty smoky bacon. Then of course there's the sweet yet savory caramelized onions, earthy sautéed mushrooms and that undeniable umami like flavor of the truffle aioli. As far as burgers go it was basically perfection. Despite lackluster service inconsistent decor, messy menus and high prices, I couldn't help but return because with a burger of that quality there was no other option. As great as the burger was last time I wanted to try something different and immediately the "Tear Jerker" caught my eye. I also couldn't help but order chocolate shake this time around. The tear jerker didn't jerk any tears but it lit one hell of delicious fire in my mouth. Melting with pepperjack cheese, dripping in habanero mayo, as wells hot yet tangy Satan's tears ketchup and to top it all off jalapenos. The chocolate shake didn't disappoint either, thick rich and real with ice cream. While the food once again was on point, other factors changed. An improvement was the addition of a daily specials menu which was neat and organized and easy to pick from, unlike the still cluttered menu. As for service overall it was better but our waiter would bend down to the tables height as if we were children. On my last and most recent visit my experience was again different. Wanting to try something new I decided on the dork burger, with the addition of an egg. I was able to add an egg without any problems and was even offered a side of any sauce for my fries, obviously I chose garlic mayo. While the ordering part of service was much improved and the best so far there was one issue. Our server had a shadow and while I get the concept of shadowing it shouldn't be so obvious it was strange having an additional server hover so close by. However the food was once again excellent, the "dork" was very reminiscent of sausage, but with duck fat, so the dripping egg yolk was a great compliment. Although the fries are so great on their own it was nice to finally have something to dip them in. That said I really like Lunchbox laboratory. It is too often that run of the mill burger joints pop op with not much to offer. Yet lunchbox seriously plays the trump card in every field. With high quality and gourmet ingredients, as well as wide selection and the ability to create and customize. Focusing on a heavy amounts of a variety of flavorful sauces rather than too many toppings .While I will without doubt continue to return to Lunchbox because when it comes to a burger there is simply no other place. However I hope they continue to improve their service, as well as organize their menu so it's not so many panels and flipping, the online menu is so easy to read. Lastly it would be nice if they refined the decor, the old fashioned lunchboxes and the beakers and lab items are great and make sense but the strange array of children s toys, and wall paintings seem out of place. At the end of the day Lunchbox Laboratory is THE burger place to beat.
(4)Elizabeth S.
First time here. Lunch. Was seated immediately outside by a very friendly host. Took a bit of time to get a server over and even more to get iced tea. Menu is simple - burgers, fries, shakes, and a couple of other fried foods. Food came and the fries were cold. Burger was OK but not cooked the way I like (wasn't asked how I wanted it cooked). The patio seating was nice but I wouldn't go out of my way again to eat here. There are definitely better places.
(2)Jennifer K.
I am very surprised at the ratings! I've dined here well over a dozen times, the service and quality of food had never disappointed me. Seeing these recent reviews of poor service baffles me. My recent visit was stellar! Started with the Dork Balls (duck and pork meatballs battered in sweet corn batter, it is fried and served with a Balsamic-Hoisin sauce with pickled daikon - a Japanese radish), the main course was the Return of the Gatos burger (signature Kobe beef blend, black garlic, bacon, Swiss cheese and black garlic truffle mayo) with potato totes. The food was amazing. I finished everything. Nothing left but the drippings of juices from my burger. I did tried to salvage every bit of it, but my desperate attempts were halted by my incredibly embarrassed friend (I am such a classy date). Here's the wild thang... I do not like mayonnaise! It stems from my terribly scarred childhood memories of evil lunch ladies that smothered my food with jars of mayonnaise. Just imagined years of pleading for mercy, and not having my cries acknowledged. I begged for clemency, and they never yield to me. (I must apologize. Theatricality is getting the best of me). Somehow here at Lunchbox Laboratory, they made a believer out of me. I still don't like regular mayonnaise, but I love Lunchbox's. They make a variety of flavor blended mayo here, and I cannot seem to get enough of it. I swear they must have laced it with drugs. My two favorite flavors, garlic mayo and black truffle mayo. I do hope my sincere review and eccentric rants of evil lunch ladies was enough to guide you through this ocean of mixed assessments, with any luck, back in the seats and eagerly waiting for your next meal here at Lunchbox Laboratory.
(5)Tiffany N.
This is my favorite Lunchbox Laboratory location. The service here has been great in all my past experiences. My friend and I came here on Super Bowl Sunday and it was pretty dead in the dining room but we could hear a lot of cheers from the bar. I ordered one of the experimental burgers (Juicy Lucy) with a side of "tatchos" (tater tots with cheese sauce, bacon, onions, sour cream, and "Satan's Tears" ketchup) - the tatchos were really good but they got soggy quickly, so eat fast! I also had a Tang-O-Rita and, of course, a Nutella milkshake. The Tang-O-Rita was good, it doesn't taste too much like Tang but it also didn't have too strong of an alcohol taste, which is always good for me. The Nutella milkshake is my favorite thing on Lunchbox's menu - it's so creamy and chocolatey without losing the Nutella flavor that I love. We were given packets of Skittles in honor of Beast Mode on our way out, which was a nice unexpected snack that I later ate after watching the Seahawks win. Overall, I like Lunchbox Laboratory for its creative menu items but I love it for its Nutella milkshakes!
(4)John P.
Been here a few times and would have given it 4 stars, except the last time we went was horrible. First the good. Most of the burgers are interesting and tasty. I especially like the "Burger of the Gods". Their pork rinds are awesome. Now the bad. While the milk shakes are pretty good, the alcoholic drinks are only so-so. But the biggest issue here is the service. It's totally hit or miss. I've been here when the service is good, and everything runs smoothly. But the last time I was here they forgot orders, food didn't come out as hot as you would normally expect and it took us over half an hour to get out once we asked for the check. Consistently though they send out one check even when it is obviously a large group of office workers, then get ticked off when you ask for separate checks. This has happened every time we've gone. So while the food is good, the service is too lackluster. With so many good restaurants to visit in Bellevue, I think it will be a while before we return.
(2)Leticia P.
The appetizers are not that great but the hamburgers and shakes are worth it.
(3)Shree Harsha V.
Liked the place. Food taste is very good. Too much wait time. Some seating may remind the feel of economy class flight leg space. Customizing your own burger is really a good option. Try milkshakes here. If you want to go after 9 it's better to call and confirm if it's still open or not. Good service.
(4)Michelle B.
Staff was nice. Service was quick. Food lacked flavor. We had the mac and salad which lacked flavor, lamb burger (very over cooked) and the dicks burger (the highlight of the 3 dishes. We also had cocktails that were lacked flavor and tasted watered down. We were all really shocked at how bad the food was tonight. We had heard great things about the restaurant and will definitely not go back.
(1)Nancy H.
I came here on a recent Saturday at an off-time (1:45pm-ish), armed with a Groupon and two ravenous kids. Found the place easy enough (just south of the Puget Sound Blood Center), with parking in the bldg. garage below (I think the sign said "Elements"). Despite the off-time, there was still a huge line and an good 30 minute wait. We bided our time (not much to see and do but just...wait). Bathrooms down the hall had a code to get in which we had to obtain from the hostess. Finally we were seated at a table. The lighting is dim unless you're right by the window (which we weren't). But the décor couldn't be cuter! "Retro" metal lunchboxes lined the walls (i.e., the kind of lunchboxes from my youth), industrial-esque ceiling lamps, metal fixtures...it kinda DID take on the feel of a "lab". The couple beside me ordered drinks and they came in beakers. I loved that! Clever and cute! The menu was amazing, with a lot of burger options and an incredible-looking mac-and-cheese option. One kid had the hot wings egg rolls (sounds weird, I know) and the South Lake Caesar Salad. One kid had the 'Merican Burger and sweet potatoe fries. I had a Diet Coke. (I LOVE me my Diet Coke and was thrilled they served it here, and not Pepsi). After placing our orders, it took 35-40 minutes for our food to arrive. I even had to ask the waitress if they forgot about us. The kids were starving. When the food finally arrived, it was excellent. The hot wing egg rolls were really spicy (too spicy for me) but both kids loved them with the accompanying ranch dressing. The salad was delicious (we all tried it) and a decent size. The burger was delicious and my kid, who typically eats like a bird, nearly ate the whole thing (it was huge). (Note: she didn't eat the rest of the day, or half the following day, saying she was still full). The fries were gone in a flash. Everyone was too full for dessert. The waitress couldn't have been nicer. This is a great place. I'll just know to come on a week day at an off-time (4-5 pm -ish), to avoid the crowds and the slower service.
(4)Aaron S.
The best burger i've ever had, with amazing flavor. IT'S ALL ABOUT THE "DORK". ... but.. a little expensive ($14 burgers + $ add-ons) - if it were cheaper i would come more than the special occasion.
(5)Brad F.
Fun and different. The menu takes awhile to sort out because so many of the option are unusual in some way. We went during Happy Hour, which was great because we could order smaller portions and try more things. I had the Mac and Cheese Du Jour, which was delicious and full of flavor, so rich I don't know how anyone could eat a full portion in one sitting. I also had a Boston Creme Milkshake, which was also amazing and more easily enjoyed in a happy hour portion. We also had some burgers and sweet potato fries. Less impressive but still tasty. Parking in the garage underneath was free. Service was solid and happy hour prices made it pretty inexpensive. It was loud there for some reason. Sounded like someone on a mic in back somewhere shouting out trivia questions or something. Overall, I liked it and we'll be back again.
(4)Michael G.
The food is average here at best, and usually a disappointment. It is kind of amazing that my bill was over $50 for a simple burger lunch for 2 adults and a child last time... and the two adults shared a shake. Because of the recent Seattle ice cream scare, they seemed to have chosen a sub par brand to use in the interim and the shake was quite poor. Not a good choice to use that ice cream (if it was the brand that the server told me) vs. an alterative higher quality brand. I have dined here several times, and some days it is better than others, but on my last meal, it wasn't very satisfying or enjoyable at all. The biggest issue is that the food is not very special. It is just very basic and overpriced. The burgers are kind of small and not too tasty, and almost everything is an up charge on them. The salads are also average at best, the shakes are inconsistent, and the tater tots and onion rings are often too greasy and oily. It would be nice if they had a nice coleslaw or something that came with the burgers to make it almost seem special. Parking and access by car is challenging, and you need a key code (and to walk across the building outside of the restaurant) to go to the bathroom. In general, not much is convenient at this restaurant. The atmosphere and window views are cute here, but the seating is not very comfortable. In the main dining area, which is not very spacious, it is common to feel scrunched up with the next table, and the chairs are very simple too. The bar is typically a better place to be for space if you do not have kids along, and you do not mind higher stools. Sitting outside is probably the best option in the Summer. The service is the one thing that is actually very good here, and I compliment that. If you are an inexperienced diner, chain restaurant dining person, and/or not used to excellent food, I believe that you may like this restaurant. If you are like me, and have often eaten much better food at much better value, you will likely be very disappointed by the size of your bill and the kind of food they serve. I would rather either upgrade to a higher end restaurant for a great burger meal paying even more for great quality and portion size, or even take it down to better fast food options... This place is too average in the middle for me (except for the high prices)...
(2)Tegan W.
Three stars is the kiss of death. That said, Lunchbox has enjoyable food and great staff. The happy hour has some good deals, the tots are great and crispy, they have a bunch of different flavored salts, the milkshakes are novel enough to be enticing every time, and the drinks are solid. The burger meat is thick and satisfying, but not the best quality, the toppings and bun are solidly tasty, but it's not the best burger in the area, especially not for $13. But they do frequently have discounts, and again, Happy Hour. Writing my own reviews should help me broaden my horizons past only checking out 4+ star places on Yelp... because Lunchbox is good, and I'll come here again, probably many times in my future, and I'll recommend it to anyone who wants a good spot to have some junk food and hang out. So, sorry for the 3 stars, Lunchbox. You don't deserve more. But I still like you.
(3)Jenny K.
Came here twice in the last week. Dined in once and got takeout the other time. First time got the Tear Jerker and second time got the Santa Fe. Tried the loaded tots, their version of the jalapeño poppers, regular tots and fries. The burgers left something to be desired. The meat is only available in medium well so the meat tastes too well done and lacks much flavor. For as many loaded ingredients are on the burgers they taste pretty bland. The tots and fries are delicious but insanely greasy. Their take on poppers is interesting and pretty good. Cream cheese and jalapeño bits inside cornbread then fried. I much prefer the regular poppers. Overall a good burger meal but I've easily had better. Happy hour is a great deal so perhaps check it out then if you're interested, instead of opting straight for their full-priced menu.
(3)Kiersten M.
While the burgers are good, it was not worth the overall experience. We were seated in the back by the server station, and the entire time all we could hear was crashing dishes at they were dumped into whatever buckets they have back there. The place is L-O-U-D. So maybe it is trendy or fun, but if you can't hear the person next to you speaking, what good is the experience? Two thumbs down for acoustics and ambience. Not worth it. Left with a headache.
(1)Melanie S.
I had high expectations because I have heard nothing but great reviews about this place, but after today that is the first and last time I will ever eat here. The food is extremely overpriced for what you get. Their burgers are piles of grease and far not worth your way out to get there or your money. Our server was fantastic though!
(1)Jerry M.
Great burgers tots and Mac n cheese oh and the shakes too. Always great service with a smile and very kid friendly.
(4)Saurin S.
Not the best burger hat I had but not the worst either. Being vegetarian I usually find very few places with decent burger. The place was not that expensive and burger was decent. I had my friend with me who works for Microsoft and with microsoft prime card you get nice discount. (Like you pay for only 1 burger when you order 2) So it was very great deal for us. Nice service.
(3)Camille C.
People rave about the one in Seattle alot so coming home from Vegas my girls & I decided to make a pit-stop here for HAPPY HOUR. Their Happy Hour menu is pretty legit, I'll give them that. I ordered the "Kick-Ass" Caesar Salad which oddly enough didn't come with croutons. Hmmm, I didn't even notice until my friend pointed it out when I told her there was something missing about this salad but I just can't put my finger on it. I also order the skinny fries. They were super small fries that if not eaten right away will get really cold, mehhhh. I could do without them. The highlight of my meal was the Caramel Macchiato Boozie Shake (I sound like an alcoholic) which is a chocolate ice cream, caramel sauce, coffee, with a test tube spike of caramel vodka, Bailey's & Kahlua. YUMMERS! I recommend! It's a boozie shake for sure, holy crap. lol. I'll most likely try the Seattle one just to give it another shot but it was mediocre to me.
(3)William M.
One of my favorite stops. Whether it is Bellevue or Seattle, I love this place. Great drinks and unbelievable hamburgers. Everything about this place is on point.
(5)Rachel L.
I came here on a groupon type deal with my boyfriend and I think that would be the only times I would come here. Ok, and maybe for their milkshakes... But it is incredibly over priced and, in my opinion, not that special. There are a lot of restaurants that do interesting things with their burgers that are just as good (if not better) and cheaper. One thing I will say is that their milkshakes are damn good. My boyfriend and I split the Reece's Peanut Butter Chocolate milkshake and ohmygoodnessgracious. It was so good. But it was also $6... -.-" We skipped out on apps and went straight for the burgers. I liked the fried because they were thin and you could flavor them with the various mixes on the table (garlic, cajun, etc) and the burger was good, but not great, especially for $11-$12. I got the Tear Jerker burger which was pretty good, but super greasy, the bun got soggy within minutes, and it was small. Not that it wasn't filling because it was, but I just didn't understand why it cost $12! Tom Douglas burgers don't even cost $12. Needless to say, I won't be coming back any time soon, not even with a deal. I'd rather go to Uneeda Burger (Fremont), The Ram, Brave Horse Tavern, Seastar happy hour, or even Five Guys or Red Robin.
(3)Taylor S.
The Smoker just made my top 5 favourite burgers. Inexpensive and well portioned. Don't let the convection cooking put you off, it's a fantastic burger. Killer tater tots too!
(5)Nicole C.
We've been here a few times and have been fairly impressed each time. Lunchbox Laboratory has a very unique menu. The menu has traditional American/pub food offerings, but offers more variety than most restaurants. My wife and I lived near New Mexico for over a year and fell in love with green chiles. Lunchbox Laboratory is one of the only places in the Seattle/Tacoma area that offers a burger with green chiles. The boozy shakes are also fantastic according to my wife and my friends.
(4)David P.
Pretty greasy, pretty messy. The milkshakes were great, but they put so much stuff into the huge burgers they are not possible to eat, even if u try to slice them up. Ok beer selection, but the ambiance make it very awkward. This was a one-and-done idea to eat at
(2)Genessa O.
I walked in and was clearly waiting for someone to seat me and I had to wave down what appeared to be the manager. He rudely told me they were all full and to go try the bar. I ended up eating at the bar area. The menu was really confusing to figure out... It was overwhelming. So I just picked a burger. The burger was aaaawwwwful, the bun was totally soggy and a tough day-old texture. I got that and a diet coke and it was such a rip off. I had high hopes but won't be going back.
(1)Clarisse R.
Our food and service here was excellent this visit yesterday Saturday 11/22/14. They just opened at 11 got there bout 11:15 and we sat at one of the family tables with a good view of the street by the bar. We had quick friendly service. We got water right away and the alcohol came swiftly. I went to use the restroom 10 minutes after ordering. By the time I came back the appetizers and food were already there. Amazing! My Burger of the Gods was scrumptious. I heard his Super Beef Blue Cheese Crumble thang was absolutely delicious too. The pork rinds and onion rings crisp and hot. Everything served hot-That is a simple luxury some places find difficult. Why I dont know =-O Right on LL :) All the gourmet side sauces present. His sunrise yum. My shake mmmmmmmm. I decided to give the loaded mac du jour a try. Tastes better than it sounded. (Leftover mdj is yummy too) My new favorite! They even accepted our Entertainment Book coupon for a BOGO offer. Thanks for a terrific lunch!
(5)David H.
I really liked the chicken/turkey burger, the other ones weren't that great. beef and pork wasn't that great. Tater tots were really good too. I probably would not go again if I had to pay full price, they take Prime card which is buy one get one free.
(4)Adam W.
It is with regret that I must leave this place a negative review. I have never dined in, but have called in takeout on about 10 occasions. First 2-3 burgers were perfect 5-star burgers cooked exactly right to a perfect crimson/pink center and prepared very nicely. Last time after the first few burgers, they all started coming out over done. I order mine "rare" in order to ensure a "medium rare" due to there rather thin burgers. They have come out charred EVERY time since about 6 months ago. I guess their kitchen standards have changed or some new cooks are not capable of cooking beef correctly. The manager told me that I needed to pick the burger up on time because it sits under a hot light while waiting. This was not an issue the first few times and I was not on time for all of those occasions. To prove his point, he offered to make me a fresh one since last time I went in I checked the burger based of my previous overcooked burgers. It was overcooked of course so I waited for a fresh one. Well, it was also completely overcooked even in those short few minutes! I don't think the problem is the light, its the people on the grill. The manager was very nice and handled everything professionally and even gave me a $10 coupon, but I will not be eating here ever again because I have no interest paying a premium (or using a coupon) for an amazingly prepared and tasty burger that is charred to hell - what a waste of beef. Please rehire your old cooks or replace your bad ones with people who can actually cook beef. It is a total travesty to the high quality kobe beef that they use... I give 2 stars since the Blue Marble is an amazing burger and the customer service up front is good, but the execution of the food (cooking) now falls short every time. I would give 4.5 stars if my beef had been constantly cooked every time I got takeout.
(2)Tiger W.
I've been here twice, and both times the service was weird and/or awkward. I'm sorry, but you don't have a right to tell me (the paying customer) that I can't change an item on a burger. You also don't have a right to charge me without informing me for said change when it's an item offered on your menu. When I don't want American Cheese and instead want Cheddar, I'm not agreeing to pay an extra $2 for what I want, and thus, the extra charge came out of your tip. Also, there's no need to drown my Dick's knockoff burger in so much sauce that I can't taste the meat. This place is just a cheap knockoff of Tipsy Cow, honestly. They try to have a similar style menu, but fail on many fronts. Today's visit, our server barely showed up at our table, and the busboy was the one refilling our drinks etc. It's more like a gourmet McDonalds, which isn't saying much. It wasn't even worth it with the coupon from the Stranger. I won't be coming back. What a waste.
(1)Gloss E.
I went in today for the Mother's Day free meal special. I had the "Burger of the Gods" and sub'd it with the black bean vegetarian patty. It a word - YUM. The fries came to our table cold, but the server quickly replaced them with a hot batch and she was very nice about it. My daughter had been before, so she knew to get a side of Celery Ranch dressing. Very good. Happy hour cocktails were only $5 each and pretty tasty!
(4)Fu C.
I was torn between rating this as a 3 or a 4 star. The place was super busy which speaks to the food. The price was a bit high for a burger, but the quality somewhat fit the price. Loved the variety - I finally chose the Tear Jerker. A bit disappointed, I thought the size was a bit on the small side. Place compares in menu and atmosphere and to red robin. Price is quite higher, not surer if downtown Bellevue location influences the premium pricing. It is a pretty hipster style location and being in the middle of a high rise, you can gorge on a tasty burger, tots, and a super milkshake, then go to the gym down the hallway.
(3)Craig S.
Great burger!!! Messy but those are the best. Also had the onion rings. Great breading and crunchy. Only reason for taking a star off is the noise. Was sitting by the kitchen and it was hard to talk some times. Will want to try out the bar next time. I will be coming back.
(4)Nina H.
This review is for their happy hour... which is super good! The location is in a weird spot because the building is really empty right now, but at least there's free covered parking. The restaurant itself is really cute. I've never been to the old Ballard or the newer SLU locations, but this was pretty cool. We came here for a work happy hour and we ordered a bunch of appetizers and the burger/fries or tots combo. The tater tots were SO good!!! They were cheesy, spicy and just really tasty (but really unhealthy :() The tiny burgers were great and affordable! I actually liked them better than Dick's, they're similar in size, but I never really understood the Dick's appeal. The drinks were great! I got the mango-rita, I'm not usually a fan of tequila, but this was tasty, just the right amount of alcohol and sweetness. Service was great and super helpful. We had a huge group so I'm sure it wasn't easy to manage all of our orders, but they seemed very organized and kind.
(4)Jen B.
Food is good but they have to fix their service problems at this restaurant. Waited 12 minutes for someone to just come by and take our order, waited another 40 minutes for food... oh wait, they forgot the milkshake? They had to ask what kind of shake we had ordered. Another 20 minutes for the shake to arrive... after we were done eating our whole meal. Paid with cash and they brought change back but shorted us... that's fine, I'll take it off the tip. I know this review is harsh but the service was truly terrible. They were not busy at all and everyone in the bar was giving looks to the waiters because we were all waiting so long for everything. The service has always been slow at this place but today hit an all time low. I hope they figure out what they are doing wrong and fix it... This place would be a 3-4 star establishment if they had any service at all.
(1)Jaddahti J.
We chose this place because we were on a Trivia Night pilgrimage. When we walked in (huffing and puffing from all those #@$ stairs), I was really taken aback. They had taken the minimalist theme to a whole new level- no decor at all; just tables and folding chairs. Then I realized we were not in the main restaurant, but an annex set up across the way just for this purpose. (I did peek into the main room when we left. They clearly favor the industrial theme, but at least there were colorful wall treatments and real chairs). I have to hand it to the servers, who had to run back and forth with the food, but at least the burgers were small enough that the plates couldn't have been that heavy. They were tasty enough and they did cook them through. as requested, and managed to do so without drying them out, so kudos for that, but the pictures they lure you in with lead you to believe that these are some giant gutbombs you will hardly be able to stuff in your mouth, and in fact, they are just kind of tall. Like they managed to reshape a regular old hamburger by decreasing the circumference but maintaining the same volume. At a cost of $11- $14 each, plus extra for sides, this was not an impressive value. I did get a swig of the communal banana shake, which was pretty tasty, and for some reason I jut adored the beakers the soft drinks were served in. It was light and pleasant to grip and I want some for home. Go figure. The most impressive item we tried was the chicken egg roll appetizer; very much inspired by the Buffalo Blasts at the Cheesecake Factory, but actually better and more generously filled. Trivia was fun but crowded, and was a fundraiser for some charity or another that we felt guilted into contributing to, but I have been a fool for lesser things, so it's all good. I would probably come back for Trivia, appetizers and beaker drinks, but this time I would be sure to get the code for the off-premise bathroom (WTF?) before an emergency arose.
(3)M R.
I really love it here. The food, the service, the atmosphere. My one complaint is the bathrooms are always a mess (at least the women's bathroom). I understand this bathroom is shared with the other business in the building, but following normal business hours, the employees at Lunchbox need to be responsible for making sure it's cleaned up and stocked for their customers, since that's the only people who are using it after hours. It was actually kind of "nasty" a couple Saturday's ago. . not what I would expect for the type of nice building it is.
(4)Rachel K.
Visited here today after wanting to for a long time- left a bit to be desired. Waited 25 minutes to get our food, very subpar service. Burger was swimming in sauce, so much so that my fiancé had to eat it with a knife and fork. I'd come back, but I'd certainly be hesitant.
(3)Suzy Z.
I thought the burger was very good. I had the vegetarian black bean burger. It comes with fries and lettuce, tomatoes to put in your burger. However, the service was very poor, with the waitress bringing us our boxes and check while we were still halfway through the burger! Patio seating is very nice. I am just very annoyed with the waitress, although the burgers are AMAZING! Check out Best of Bellevue for buy 1 get 1 free coupon. Microsoft employees have the same deal.
(3)Ryan W.
Finally came to LL the other night due to reading and hearing about all the great foods/burgers they serve. I was unfotunately somewhat disappointed :( I can confidently say that their tator-tot nachos were very good. Nothing satisfies quite like tots smothered in melted cheese spicy ketchup, sour cream and BACON! One thing that stood out was that each and every tot had cheese on it. I'd definitely come back just for this dish! Our server recommended the Blue Marble Burger which came out not as "towering" as some of the other burgers, but once you add the side of lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle, it was quite tall. The bacon was thickly cut and and the veggies all seemed fresh. The let down for me was that the burger meat, itself, lacked seasoning. I think LL tries to compensate for the "non seasoning" with the various concoctions of toppings and sauces. But for me, a great burger starts with a well seasoned patty. The Buns were toasted, but the bottom bun quickly became soft and soggy with the amount juice and sauce seeping from the burger. Word of advice: use napkins.. a LOT Of them. The 1/2 disintegrated bottom bun was a 2nd turn off for me... I imagine most of their burgers will suffer this same fate. I won't say I'll never come back to LL because that's a lie. The menu has some interesting and tasty sounding items I'd be back for. However their selling point, the burger, was a a let down.
(3)scott m.
We got to restaurant on Sunday before noon and saw someone about 3 tables in working on a laptop eating. That person got up and took us to our table. We requested a window seat which caused a bit a reluctance since the last people before just got a window seat and they needed to alternate, but hey hardly anyone was there so after being made to feel like we put them out a bit, we got out window seat. Once we had our server all went well. He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and explained the menu for us. Food was delicious, my friend had the lamb burger and I had Upstate NY. We started with an order of dork balls, which are duck and pork meatballs in a corn meal coating. Those delicious, but not sure about $8.99 for 3 the size of an average meatball. With two burgers, the dork balls and one beer our total was $43. Meh, probably won't be back.
(3)Jewels A.
I hate writing bad reviews, but it was that bad. When Lunchbox first opened a 3.5 would have been accurate. However, we came here for the second time a couple weeks ago and the food was awful. We will never be coming back to eat here.
(1)Hui-yu Y.
I always eat too much when I go to Lunchbox.. I gotta say those burgers are like gigantic.. also u have a side dish, which is usually the fatty fries or tots.. They do have a wide variety of burgers and they have a new one every week, and my fav is still the lamb burger. They just got the new menu and even the server doesn't know some of the stuff on there xD! The skinny fries is very crispy, but TOO skinny for me since they don't have much taste imo.. Their happy hr is also a good deal.. each person gotta order one drink tho (but u can also order the fatty milkshake). The only thing I dislike about LB is the cocktail that I ordered last time.. I was looking for a fruity drink, but it's like the complete opposite of it. I can't remember the name of it, but just watch out for it if you prefer sweet alcoholic drinks like me. The pw for the wireless is lblb, which they will tell u if you ask. Oh ya, their yam fries is delicious :) It's also a good spot for outdoor eating.. I see a lot of ppl eating outdoors all the time :p
(4)Krista H.
I love this place! My new favorite salad in all of Seattle is the Big Kid Salad at Lunchbox Laboratory. Service is good and I really like the atmosphere in the Seattle location the best. It is a bit pricey for the food however we always use some sort of Groupon so it ends up not being that bad as far as cost.
(4)Georgia W.
Cinnamon Toast Crunk. That would be a boozy float creation from Lunchbox that is currently on the menu. This place is AMAZE and I can't wait to go back. The "Crunk" BTW is a shot of Fireball. Just when I thought that burgers were boring and drinks predictable, I finally got to try Lunchbox. And everything is WAY better than a 2 or 3 star rating. Service- friendly, funny, attentive, made suggestions. Atmosphere: fun, lively, brightly lit, good music Food: Mac and Green, weekly "experiment's"...burger creations galore! And the HH menu is pretty hard to beat. Tang-a-rita and Orange Julia drink creations were especially delish. DEF TRY the Hong Kong Hot Wings and the Smoker! (Havarti, bacon, smoked pepper mayo) Trivia night Mondays...with bonus beer prices and gift card giveaways.
(5)Jesse A.
Both the burgers salads are very good--they make their own dressings (big bonus in my opinion). Our server was cheerful and quick. Great lunch spot!
(3)Poonam D.
This place was such a disappointment. The burger was over cooked and the bread tasted like a rock I'm shocked I still have teeth. The service wasn't bad but the theme of this place and the food is not worth it. You're better off eating at home!
(1)Matt L.
Really good food and fun atmosphere! Everything we ordered was great and the burgers were delicious. The homemade potato chips are the best.
(5)Thao N.
Once again Lunchbox Lab, you have not disappoint me. I've tried the location in Seattle before and recently discovered that there's a closer location to home, parking is easier too since it's in a garage and as long as you're using it to shop at the Element building (which is where Lunchbox Lab is), it's free. I came with a group of 6 & we got seated right away. I usually don't get appetizers unless it's a must have because I like to be super hungry going to a restaurant so I can just kill my main course when it arrives and it'll taste extra good because I'm extra hungry. Haha. One of my girl that I went with ordered the "The Rinds of Life" and said they always make fresh pork rinds here. It was 5 bucks so I thought it was going to be like a tiny bag of chips on a plate, but it came out and it was huge! That's not the best part, holy moly it was so FRESH that you can loudly still hear the popping and sizzle and crackle sound it made when it was sitting on the plate. The buttermilk sauce that came with it was also really really tasty. Now I don't think I can ever go into a Lunchbox Lab without ordering that first...or maybe at least ordering it to-go so I can sneak it inside a theater. I ordered the "Hothead" burger this time instead of from the "make your own" burger section because I came to a conclusion that I might just suck at making my own since it either always come out so plain or the combo of meat & toppings that I pick might not go well together. Hothead was soooo good, it was a nice level of spiciness where it's somewhat spicy enough to taste it, but not too spicy to enjoy your food. I substitute the super beef patty with the black bean patty just to see how it'd taste, but still kept my bacon (which i guess defeats the purpose of getting a veggie patty). Try it, maybe you enjoy it as much as I do and forget most of your burger isn't meat. Service was quick, she had all our separate checks ready before we even ask for it so I was able to make it to work on time with Bellevue traffic.
(4)Steve P.
Holy god, I have never left here hungry. Place is great. Very busy at times so expect a wait at peak times. one of the best burgers in Washington. The tater tots with the devils tears ketchup. Killer!
(5)Leela S.
I've always had a fun time at Lunchbox Laboratory. From the cocktails in beakers and test tube shots that accompany their alcoholic milkshakes to the fantastic Prime Card discount, I love to indulge at Lunchbox. I enjoy trying creations on their experimental menu, and the churken burger is a classic that I've never gone wrong with. Oh, and always substitute the regular fries for the sweet potato ones or the tater tots. It's a few cents more, but absolutely worth it. Their trivia night is also a load of fun, especially when helped along by the food and drink, but I'm a real sucker for trivia so I may be a tad biased. The only issue here is the price point if you don't have a Prime Card and someone to enjoy the 2-for-1 deal that accompanies--not sure I'd be willing to shell out $20+ for a burger and booze, as satisfying as that combination might be.
(4)Kim P.
Staff here is fun. Nothing beats the original spot in Ballard, but isn't that always the case?!? The burgers can be messy and, luckily, YUMMY. They are definitely not all going to contribute to a healthy waistline, but for a treat, this place is a good spot for burgers and shakes. They have fun experimental choices - new each month and some fun add ons. You can order off the menu or customize your burger/sides and the staff are quick to accommodate - but don't expect perfection each and every time. It's just not what this place is about. The new location in Gig Harbor seems to be off to a bit of a better start, but both are worth checking out. If you're in Seattle proper and closed to the original - head there and make the comparisons yourself! For a group of friends with some time on our hands, this place was a great choice and we will be back.
(4)Robb M.
The Molotov Coctease Part II. Don't know what "strawberry soda onions" are, but I know they're delicious. Our most recent visit to the Lab in Bellevue was, as always, delicious. I can say our service was a bit slow, but they were busy and it wasn't slow enough to gripe about. The food made up for it anyway. We both had "experiments" that will likely never be back, so I'll just say that they were delicious, and LL remains one of my favorite burger places around the Sound.
(5)Catherine Z.
Just kinda meh, especially for the price. It is what I would call elaborate fast food, definitely not gourmet burgers. Kinda like a dressed up Red Robin. The service was decent, but everything on the menu is soaked in sauce and butter. I can't eat dairy, so I requested to have my toppings sauteed in oil instead, and the server told me that everything is"pre sauteed" in butter sauce, which to me indicates that their food is not cooked to order (besides the meat), but is rather assembled from pre-cooked batches. I personally think that's very cheap of them considering the high prices of the foods and additional toppings. When I'm paying over $12 for a hamburger, I should be able to get some sauteed onions on it. In this case, you do NOT get what you pay for! That being said, the tater tots were delicious.
(2)Jenn T.
I've been to two Lunchbox Labs & haven't been disappointed. Great tasting food & HUGE portions! Out of our entire party, no one was able to finish their meal.... & we know how to EAT! I had the La Truffle love Burger with Sweet Potato fries. DELISH!!! I could barely finish one half of my burger & never touched but a couple fries. Therefore I had another full meal to take home with me! My daughter's burger came with a side of mac & cheese & OMG their mac & cheese is the shizz!!! Not sure what's in it, but pretty sure it should be illegal in most states!! The staff is friendly & the vibe & decor are fun. The Bellevue location is itty-bitty comparted to the Seattle one, but we were able to get right in & be seated, even on a busy Saturday afternoon.
(4)May P.
Went here for a co-worker's birthday lunch. Place was pretty cool with nostalgic childhood lunch boxes as decorations. Service was really quick. I ordered the the Truffle Love with tater tots..could not taste the truffle..it was very messy and there was a heap of heart attack bacon..I love bacon but that was too much..and the tater tots..you can't go wrong with that..one of the girls got sweet potato fries and it was delicious! I would go back just for that..it was salty from the salt and then the natural sweetness of the sweet potato..I had major kanak attack!! I was so hard to work that afternoon..I was practically dragging my heavily sodium..ed (if that's a word) butt at work.. ps..they serve Tang!!!
(3)Megan Y.
My experiences with Lunchbox Laboratory have progressively gotten better. I came here first for my 21st birthday a while back. After placing a reservation for a large party (about 15 people) two weeks in advance, they misplaced the reservation or never recorded it and I was told that I would have to wait over an hour on my birthday for a table. No one in my party was happy about this and it ruined some of the plans we had afterwards because we were served so late. On top of that experience, they were unable to split the check for some reason, and only after I complained did they figure out a way to do it. However, I have been back for happy hour a few times since to give them a second chance. They do HH (which they call "kick ass") pretty well. You have to order a drink to get the HH food prices, but I think it's worth it. I usually get a well drink or the mimosa for $4 along with tots or fries (so healthy). My friends always order the mac and cheese for $1.99 which is a steal. Burgers are super yummy, especially their bean burgers! Beware of their boozie shakes though. At $10 a pop they are expensive and contain very little alcohol.
(3)Darlene L.
These huge, decadent burgers are worth the slightly higher price! Try the ""dork"" (duck + pork) patty and the french fries. The milkshakes are out of this world, and served in cute glass beakers. Their food is good, but on the rich side. Good to try once in awhile, but only on my cheat days.
(4)Martin M.
had the tear jerker with skinny fries. So good! Was starving for lunch and was so fulfilled afterwards. Had a good afternoon at work. The fries were delicious and the burger was spicy was great. One of the best burgers I have had.
(5)Syde K.
2 stars for excellent service! Thank you Tyler! -3 stars due to quality of food. I ordered The classic 'Merican, it came with fries which was soggy. The patty on my burger was dry :( for $15 I expected a little more. I don't think I will come back.
(2)Drew W.
Man this place has crashed downhill in a huge way. I use to love the food here until the food and feel started to resemble high priced red robin. I miss the days when it was a small awesome shack but now it is so distant from that.
(1)Disco T.
food is good. service is awkward, but not terrible. cool lunchboxes to look at while you dine in.
(3)Jonathan H.
I was expecting great things from this place. What I got was just ok. Given that the meal was over $20, I was expecting more and left disappointed. I got the Burger of the gods, sweet potato fries, and oreo shake. Oreo shake was pretty good. That was the highlight of the meal. Sweet potato fries were good but nothing to write home about. Now to the reason I came here, the burger. Burger of the gods. What a name! For $13, my expectations were pretty high. Could I have found my burger joint in WA? NOPE! It was soggy and tasted like nothing special. Comparing this to fast food burgers joint like In-n-out, it doesn't even come close. I rather have Jack in the box angus burgers than theirs. The price is about as same as burgers in steakhouses, but the quality of the meat doesn't even come close. So why eat here? I can't find a reason to, other than the shakes.
(2)Julia B.
Really slow & non-interactive wait staff. (we watched all the staff enjoying drinks amongst themselves) Took forever to get our food - probably because the staff was enjoying their cocktails. And the food wasn't all that amazing. It was just food. Though I had the churken patty burger & that was pretty tasty. Really disappointed in the atmosphere - the name makes you believe there will be an experience with your meal. Beside the drinks in test tubes & beakers that's all the experience find here. Try everything once.
(2)Stanlo S.
LBL is a pretty fun place, as they try to add a twist to your normal burgers and shakes. Pretty good lunch fare here, boozey shakes, and accommodating to groups as well. The burgers they use are a bit large for my tastes and there's a lot of toppings making it quite filling. Toooo filling perhaps... I like their tater tots a lot, especially since I'm not a fan of fries in general. Their milkshakes are alright, waaay too filling though. I'm a pretty big eater and a burger + shake would make a great meal for two in my opinion. The service is good and there's a lot of weird items that I'd like to try. For example, I tasted my friend's fried dork balls (duck + pork) which didn't work out very well as a fried ball appetizer, but the meat filling was actually kind of tasty and I wouldn't mind it on a burger. It's in kind of a weird spot in Bellevue, sort of tucked away into office buildings.
(3)Jenna C.
I had one of the best lunches I've ever had, here. It's sort of an obscure location, but I highly recommend it. I had a customized veggie burger; it was so delicious and not mundane like so many. Perfect place for a burger, fries, and a beer -especially outside, on a sunny day.
(5)Mitchell L.
I love burgers and burgers here rank as very good. Not the best burger around, but it's definitely a place to go when craving one. I've had several different burgers here and all are very good. They are messy burgers with plenty of toppings to drip all over. This is a good thing to me. The shakes are also delicious.
(4)Rohan K.
Not bad but not something I'd rave about either. There were ups and downs. I was pretty excited to go here after hearing about it from my friends. When we got here on friday night the wait was about 20 minutes which is fair. But when we did get a table, it took 20+ minutes for them to just bring out glasses of water which didn't make sense. Even though the decor is really cool, there's only so much time you can admire it before wanting to quench your thirst. I ordered the Tear-Jerker(beef) with bacon(too soggy and dripping in oil) and the burger itself was pretty nice. I asked for a medium and although it was over-cooked, it was still fairly moist. The various kinds of chili they put onto it really tickle your tongue and make you feel the heat but in a good way. At no point did I feel that it was too hot. The side of house chips were a complete disaster though. Just don't bother ordering them. They are too salty and hard and just not nice. Stick to the sweet potato fries which everyone else at our table ordered. They are fairly good. My wife had "The Classic 'MeriCAN'" which was just plain boring. I know the name suggested it but the classic is supposed to at least be flavorful and not just bland. My friend ordered the "Burger of the Gods" as a change from his usual tear jerker but he didn't like it very much and didn't finish it as it was a little too bland for him. All our friends being vegetarian ordered the Housemade Veggie Bean Patty but it was just really dry and flavorless by itself. This is one patty they could really learn to make from "Veggie Grill" who has really got it right. Lunchbox Labs has an interesting selection of milkshakes. I liked the "Whopper Malted Milk Ball" mainly because it complemented my super spicy burger really well. If it was just the milkshake or if it was accompanying one of the regular burgers I doubt I could finish it since it was way to rich and sweet. If you order a tear-jerker though, it's a great accompaniment to put out the fire. One more thing, they have a selection of various flavored salts and peppers on the table and they can be an interesting seasoning on your burger and/or fries. My favorite were the bacon salt and garlic pepper. To sum it up I'd say there's some good burgers and sides on that menu although and if you get it right you will probably enjoy the meal. The service is a little slow though. I might go here again to give them another shot.
(3)Allie S.
Service has gotten more consistent and the food remains delicious, so it's only fair I update my review of Bellevue's LL. Eating keto is super easy at Lunchbox Labs, even if resisting their delicious milkshakes is hard. Delicious pork rinds with a nice side salad is what I've done on my last couple visits here but the burgers are worth the splurge, even bunless. They've got a great trivia (Geeks Who Drink) on Monday nights and it gets crazy packed, so if you're wanting to participate you'll want to send someone to claim a table early..
(4)Daniel C.
The food was ok, I subbed turkey for my burger assuming it would be ground turkey but it was deli lunch meat style, weak. The server sat at the table with us which I thought was just weird. Almost felt like an invasion of our space, I get your trying to be personable but I don't know you and don't really care too I'm here for the food Fries and salad portions are small Prices are high Way better burger selections available like tipsy cow or red robin
(2)Madison G.
This review is based on the service. I was not impressed and will not be coming back to this location. When we arrived, the place just opened. They opened at 11:00 (I think) and we got there around 11:13 or something like that. When we were seated our waitress came and quickly greeted us. When asked if we could move to the table across from us which seated 4 and was a little bigger instead of the 2-person table we were at, the waitress straight up told us no because it was lunch time and that she was "hesistant" to give up that area and hesistant because it gets busy, hesistant because more people come in, blah blah blah. She said she was hesistant about 4 different times after telling us no. Fine, whatever. We'll sit here with the 4 different plates we ordered at this small table and eat uncomfortably. I might of let it go if that was the case, but less than 2 minutes later after being told no, 2 women were seated at the table we just requested. I looked at my boyfriend and said, "I hope they have others coming to meet them." But nope. It was just the two of them the whole time. In fact, all several 4 seater tables across from us got completely filled up with 2 people. Keep in mind, our row was completely empty besides us. Was there a reason it became all of a sudden okay to place 2 people in the 4-people table area 2 minutes after we asked? I felt like being a b-word and writing on the receipt, "I'm HESITANT to give you a tip because..." since she was so "hesitant to seat us in a busy area" but I guess I'm not that rude. Also, for it not being busy, the service was extremely slow. As if they didn't notice how uncomfortably small our table was with the 2 appetizers we ordered, it took them forever to clear our table even after bringing us more plates that we had no room for. Yeah, no thanks. Won't be back.
(2)Ben O.
Everything here is amazing. Portions are huge. Menu is diverse and very creative. Go for the tots instead of fries and if you dont have one at your table ask your waiter for the flavored salts.
(5)Karen L.
The burgers are rich, juicy, and delicious! Mmmmm... I've been to the Lunchbox Lab in Seattle, so I was super excited to find out they opened one right here in Bellevue! Plus, there's a parking lot, for your convenience. This time, I had the Truffle Love burger. Oh my goodness, it was so delicious, I don't even know how to describe it. I also had the tots, which were perfect. I'm not really a burger person, but just writing this review is making me crave a Lunchbox Lab burger. I'm salivating just thinking about it...
(4)Wesley N.
Visited with a friend for lunch on a Friday. There was no wait for a table but the wait for food was a little on the long side. We enjoyed the decor and observed what other patrons were eating while we waited, though. I got the Burger of the Gods. Delicious! And the tater tots were just the perfect amount of crispness. My friend had the Mac and cheese with Caesar salad. She noted that the food needed salt. I had a taste of the Mac and cheese and thought I could have made it just the same at home. Her order of skinny fries were just ok. I enjoyed the food and ambiance and will probably be back to try more of their offerings, but perhaps during happy hour. Our server was good. We didn't see too much of that, but that's fine by me.
(3)Pone C.
nothing special. good hh. food is decent. wasn't for hh i would never step foot in there!!!
(2)Lauren P.
I'm purely rating service, if it matched the food, it would be a 5 star rating. Unfortunately, it took 10 minutes and me asking to get a water refill. The waitress commenter there was a light out and so she couldn't tell. (Maybe a bad place to sit someone?)
(1)Debbie P.
We like the freshly fried pork rinds, but everything else is just average. Nothing special. I've had better burgers at other places.
(3)Amos Y.
Their normal burgers are pretty good quality. Also their shakes are excellent. Thick and creamy, high quality shakes, with a large variety of flavors. The sweet potato fries as well as the tater tots as a side are delicious Also went there for happy hour. During happy hour the shakes are slightly discounted, but there is only one option for happy hour burgers, which are fairly disappointing. They are nothing like their normal high quality burgers. They are like McDonald's dollar menu double cheeseburgers, but just a little higher quality. Be careful when ordering their happy hour nachos. We didn't read the complete description, but they aren't really nachos. They are a pile of tater tots, with some super spicy sauce all over them. It was a good amount of tots, but the spicy sauce made it almost unbearable to eat them all.
(3)Laura P.
A free milkshake on my birthday, easy seating, geeks who drink pub quiz mondays, delicious burgers, and loaded tater tots..... yeah thats a 5 star review. Delicious cocktail menu coupled with a great happy hour offering make my afternoon, what can I say, I'm easy to please after work. I have sat outside and in the bar area and enjoyed both, the service is a little slow, but they don't have a ton of waitstaff, so prepare to be patient, but its worth the wait.
(5)BriAnn H.
Prompt friendly service, Rawlin was our server. It was our first time, I love going to a place where the server has full knowledge of what they are serving, and can suggest and explain. It shows that the company cares. Food was incredible and good portions. Quality and quantity. Love the quirkiness of the menu, because well some people are funny and have a sense of humor and I totally dig that. Thanks lunch box laboratory for good food, and for the giggles. And Rawlin is the shizzle. Good servers are hard to come by, and you guys got him.
(5)Chelsea J.
I've been to the Lunchbox Laboratory when it was a tiny little joint on 15th in Ballard and to the SLU location a handful of times. Last night was my first visit to the Bellevue Lunchbox Laboratory. We went for their Trivia night- Geeks Who Drink. Read Riss' review for a very good account of the night. I'll add that I really appreciated the 3 hour complimentary parking in the Elements Parking garage in the same building. Our experience could have left a sour taste in our mouths but as a result of getting stellar customer service and a heartfelt apology from our bartender, the night ended up being absolutely great. I would have been happy with just an apology for the treatment we had initially but comping our entire bill went above and beyond anyone's expectations and was truly very cool. Our bartender seemed like a nice guy and he really did a great job later in the night. I enjoyed my tang-a-ritas ($4 during happy hour from 4-6pm, a steal!). Tang sounds kind of eh but it actually is really tasty in this drink! I had the 2 sliders and skinny fries which were $5.99 during happy hour. The sliders were just okay and not as good as their normal burgers in my opinion. The fries were good though, and for $6 I was happy! We all really liked the Geeks Who Drink trivia night which is Mondays at 6pm. The quiz master was funny and cute and easy to understand. I think we'll make the trivia night a regular thing! Coming from Seattle it's a bit of a drive but I could see myself coming once a month or so for sure. It's awesome that you don't have to pay to play, too! Thanks for the excellent customer service, Lunchbox Lab! Oh and I love your Dork burger.
(4)Angel E.
We went here on a Friday evening. The restaurant is smaller in size or there were too many people and also a huge waiting line. We sat at the bar area on open seating. The menu is pretty extensive but we had to go for the burgers. I had the tear jerker burger. Its probably one of the best burgers I have ever had. Their fries and tater-tots were nicely done and super crispy. The caramel shake was out of this world! Best part of it we got a discount in the meal. It was a hearty meal and I would most definitely be back. I wish they would have a bigger capacity restaurant and would cut the burgers in half and wrap them so that they are easy to hold.
(4)Gina C.
I was looking forward to this because people kept telling me it was awesome. The dogsticks were the only thing I can say was more than just good. The tator tots were very greasy, and the burger I had was so slathered in sauce that I couldn't taste the meat or the other toppings. I don't mind having to eat it with a fork, but I only took about 4 bites before the rich sauce started making me feel ill. The stars I have are for the staff who were very friendly and helpful, and for the drinks, which were tasty. But all in all I was disappointed by the food
(2)Ann A.
In the casual restaurant category, this place is it! Every single thing we (4 adults) ordered was delicious. The milk shakes are wonderful! Our service was friendly and attentive. We all agreed we will be frequenting here and recommending!
(5)Mindy H.
Wow! I had nothing but good things to say about my experience at Lunchbox. The only negative thing I can find to say is that the space is small, it gets packed at lunch time, and you may have to wait, and the seats are not very comfortable, and lastly the bathroom is located outside the restaurant, and you need to ask for a key. They do have outdoor seating available during the summer time (on a random nice Bellevue day). They got my order wrong at first, but were VERY quick to fix it. The service was nothing but friendly, and they helped me make sense of the menu. Which can be overwhelming on your first visit, as there are so many different choices and possibilities to create. They even have multiple choices of salt to choose from!! TIP: the cinnamon salt was REALLY good on the sweet potato fries. The menu is made up of burgers, sandwiches, salads, ice cream shakes, boozy shakes, and booze (including wine). Huge bonus, is that they offer a gluten free burger bun! The whole reason I even came here. Forget lettuce wrap burgers!! You get to experience an actual burger experience here if you are wheat sensitive, and the gluten free bun was actually edible when warm. It is definitely a smaller size bun than the normal buns, and they make the hamburger patties smaller to fit - which means you actually get a normal sized burger. Most everyone else I noticed was getting doggy bags to put their left overs in. I will definitely be visiting again during my next visit to the area.
(4)David K.
I've been here 2x. The first time was for my friend's b-day and the experience was really good. The burgers are tasty and the atmosphere is nice. The downside is the place does not have a bathroom inside the restaurant; you have to take a key, go out the door and down some hall. The 2nd time was not as good; the food was still good but the service wasn't great. Our server took forever and she was pretty short with us. Not sure if we pissed her off but it was irritating to deal with. But I would still come back again if I'm in Bellevue and hungry for a burger.
(4)Michael L.
I had high hopes for this place cause I've always heard good things about the Seattle one. The food was good, I ordered the Homage to Dick's Deluxe, it reminded me of the late night visits I have had in Seattle and made me really think about all my really fun late night adventures. Some things that I didn't like though was that it was a bit too salty and that the waiter didn't fill my water very often, the food was also not warm enough for me, the fries and tots came out a little cold. The shakes were really good though, they were super rich and very tasty. My friend asked the waiter how much calories it had and he told her that she didn't want to know lol. Overall I'd come back again, this place is a great add to the Bellevue food scene!
(3)David M.
Finally tried this place as it's close to the office. Gross.
(1)Janie L.
Came here on a double date with our friends. I've gone to the lake union location but never knew they had one in Bellevue. We parked in the underground garage, which was free. We seated ourselves in the bar. I wanted to try their award winning shakes. Our friends recommended the caramel macchiato milk shake which had chocolate ice cream, caramel sauce and coffee with a plastic test tube filled with caramel vodka, Irish cream and kahlua. I must admit, the drink was delicious as long as it was stirred prior to taking a sip (the alcohol tends to settle at the bottom!). The fiancé had the "too skool 4 kool" cocktail made with kool-aid but it was not sweet and had too much of an alcohol taste in my opinion. Next we ordered our burgers. I had the Dick's deluxe with a side of Caesar salad. The burger was good but so big that I was only able to eat half (go with a big appetite otherwise share). Usually I'm not picky about salad but the Caesar was bland and I didn't care to finish it. The fiancé tried one of their weekly experiment burgers. I don't recall the name but it had potato chips, bacon and a few other artery clogging items. Took a bite of his burger and it was good. The fries were a much better choice than the salad. They had a special this month for a $5 burger with a purchase of a regular burger. I was able to use "passport lifestyle" card to make that second burger free. Glad they honored it. Dinner came out a bit pricey for dining at a burger joint.
(2)Dale M.
Service was good. Fries were cold and adding blue cheese crumbles to my burger made it a hot mess. My first experience in Seattle's restaurant was epic, so maybe my expectations were high. But this trip sucked.
(2)Ben S.
This was a decent place for a quick bite in Bellevue, although with all of the options to eat in that city I think you could do better. We both got burgers - my wife is a vegetarian and was pretty fond of their veggie burger - and their fries. We skipped the milkshakes. If you'd like diner food with a fun vibe, then this will work for you. Probably the best part was that it was located near the Bravern and we have never been there - it has some fun, albeit expensive, shops tucked away from the rest of Belvie.
(4)Dan J.
The burgers are good but a little greasy. But it can be deceptively expensive. Four burgers turned into an $70 bill. Four burgers... $70!! They love to up sell and ask if you would like mushrooms or avocado or spicy mayo. Watch out, they won't tell you but these extras can be $2 or $3. Overall, not good enough for the price. You're better off at five guys.
(2)Ashlei M.
Food was okay. Nothing special for the price. Service was slow, waiting staff and host not incredibly friendly or accommodating. The only positive about this place is the drinks are tasty and priced appropriately. All in all, don't waste your time or money there are better places in Bellevue to eat.
(2)Jeff C.
This in my opinion is a generous 3 stars. I had heard a lot about this place, so like others, was fairly excited to visit for my first time with my two kids. The atmosphere is okay. The lunchboxes are cool, although the place is sparsely decorated, at least at the Bellevue location. The service was slow but I'm not picky, but it was painful - we had to wait btw 20-30 minutes for our food. The food is good, but nothing spectacular. I'm a burger fan but always found it odd how obsessed us Americans can get with our burgers. I did the Build Your Own Burger with two patties, one Beef and one Dork. Secret Sauce. No Cheese. Satan's Tears Ketchup on the side for my skinny fries. All the burgers, even the single patties were a bit unwieldly but this is common for these big burger joints (tip: cut your burger in half). The Beef patty was nothing that special. The Dork (Duck and Pork) patty IS special. Much more flavorful and obviously unique. Thumbs up. I found it strange they put salt on the fries (not a ton) when there are about 6 different flavored salts at the table, including regular salt. Try the Hickory Bacon Salt on your fries - careful - it IS salty. The Satan Tears Ketchup was about a 3.5 star on 1 to 5, very flavorful, but nothing that will make you cry unless maybe you dumped gobs of it on your hamburger. Speaking of gobs - most all our burgers were DRENCHED with sauce. WAY too much sauce. WAY too much mustard. They give you everything else separate to put your burger together, they should put the sauces in cups so you can determine your own amount you want to apply. One of us got a batch of tater tots that were WAY overcooked. Also strangely, sodas are free refills but Kool Aid is not? Are you kidding me? As far as I can tell, there was no option to substitute fries for a side salad. Here's the aspect that really brings the rating down, the price. $13 for a burger? WAY overpriced. If it was Kobe Beef, fine, but the prices there could be described as borderline greedy in my opinion. I'll gladly go to Five Guys, Fat Burger, Redmill or Zippy's for as good if not better of a burger for less money. You're paying for the cutesy laboratory theme here I think (cool - the Kool Aid comes in a beaker!) If I want cutesy, I'll go to Red Robin. If you like to try oddball "gourmet" hamburgers and have deep pockets, by all means, go give it a try and get a Dork patty. But $50 including tip for me and an 11 and 13-yo with no apps and no alcohol? Summed up: disappointingly overhyped and overpriced.
(3)Dr.Swoo W.
Not too bad...I had the Big Kid's salad...very plentiful and it comes with Frenchies...who doesn't love frenchies with their salad?!?!?!
(3)Mandy S.
I like that Bellevue has a new restaurant but it's just too overpriced for just standard burgers and fries. The decor and arrangement of the food is nicely presented but I dislike places that charge a dollar here a dollar there for extra toppings. I do like that they have good nostalgic milkshakes that are served in beaker jars and extra condiments for your fries and mini corndogs. + hh starts at 3-6 then again at 9 so that might bring me back for another try
(3)Sarah M.
This place is just as good quality-wise as the location in Seattle but I think that I like the atmosphere in Seattle better. This place was pretty compact - nothing wrong with it - I just like the openness of the Seattle location better. We came in on a weeknight and it was pretty quiet. We had just hit the tail end of happy hour and were able to get a quick order in which was great. I had the Truffle Love burger with sweet potato fries and my husband had a bacon cheeseburger. Mine was awesome, per usual - I especially liked the sweet potato fries. Mike liked his as well. At the end of our meal, one of the servers (maybe the manager?) accidentally dropped a glass on our table and it shattered on the table and onto the floor. She was super apologetic and comped part of our meal which was nice. Service was good, pretty fast. I wish the location was in a more convenient location because you kind of have to know that this place is there to find it. But good burgers!
(4)Theresa F.
I have been to the Lunchbox Laboratory in Bellevue exactly eleven times as of today since it opened in January 2012. Apparently, I am a fan. My favorite burger is the Bleu Marble (Super-beef patty, bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, lunchbox onions, sweet chile mayo.) Did I mention the bacon? Now, you might think that there can never be too much bacon, but the six slices that come on this burger almost crosses that non-existent line. My go-to side is the tots, with two dipping sauces; super gorgonzola spread and jalapeno ranch. The Burger of the Gods is good, but those super sweet/sour "candied balsamic onions" need to go. If I order this burger, I switch out for regular onions. They always have some type of "experiment" burger, I tried a guacamole burger and when I cut it in half, everything squished out of my burger :( It was okay, but if they have it again, I will only order if the kitchen cuts it in half for me. They have some lame story as to why my burger cannot be cooked to my preference, medium rare... I'm not sure what the toppings have to do with the doneness of my burger, but whate'vs. Oh, napkins. You will need many of those. And then some more. Do you like shakes? Do you like booze? If so, you are going to love the boozie shakes. My fave is the Caramel Macchiato, although when the elusive Salted Caramel shows up all bets are off! I usually split the shake with my dining partner since they are pretty generously sized. Up until my visit today, my shake has come in an awesome beaker. This practice has been discontinued and I don't like it. At all. Period. Happy Hour. I have only been once on purpose and once by accident. I usually go for dinner which is about $45 for two burgers, two sodas and a non boozie shake. Shakes are a few dollars off during HH as well as some great prices on sides. Dog Sticks are awesome for $3.99, but I would not pay $8.99 outside of HH. Gabacho's Nachos at $4.99, yes please! (A heaping mound of tots topped with shredded cheddar-jack cheese, crumbled bacon, green onions, sour cream and Satan's Tears ketchup.) Pork Rinds. No thank you. The sound of someone eating those is unbearable and offensive, I wouldn't do that to you or anyone else. The Kick @ss Caesar Salad? Not so Kick @ss, even at $2.99, actually, it kind of sucks. The awesome burgers are not on HH, but they have non-awesome burgers for a decent price. I went in when they first opened and the non-awesome burgers were not available, now I don't really want to try them. They can only disappoint me and I won't do that to either one of us. They do have some tasty looking cocktails with Tang, Kool Aid and something called a Snapplicious, I want that. I need to put this Happy Hour back on rotation, on purpose.
(4)Stacey P.
Not happy. I have been a Lunchbox Lab fan from the grand opening. I introduced many of my friends to the delight of their delicious burgers. I found their establishment cute and quirky. What changed? Why am I giving one of my rare one star reviews? The food is still scrumptious. The place is still cute, but the service was nothing short of enraging. Sure, I noticed the service declining in quality like a waterbed with a slow leak, but I largely forgave their slide into mediocrity. At least until last night. I only order one thing - the Burger of the Gods. I love the bleu cheese crumbles with the hip increasing gorgonzola spread, but I hate onions. I always order it without onions without any problems. On the menu it says no substitutions on Burger Conclusions and Experiments. The Burger of the Gods is listed under Originals. This time, though, when I ordered I was told swiftly no. Then the server proceeded to go on about why the head chef would refuse this request. He explained to me why I couldn't have what I wanted because the late Lunchbox Lab founder (RIP) would never want his vision changed. I explained how I have ordered this burger this way countless times and never had an issue. He told me how every other server was wrong and they should never had allowed it. As he's explaining all this, telling me about other exceptions servers should never do, my blood pressure is steadily rising. I hadn't eaten and was famished. Four other people still needed to put in their orders. It was late. I was tired and getting steadily crankier. I didn't want to hear about a history I already knew. I did know their policy on substitutions AND THIS WASN'T ONE! After he did his speech, and he suggested I just scrape off the onions (which would remove pretty much all the cheese since they did that once) I expressed in no uncertain terms that I wanted nothing to do with onions. Nothing. He could call it whatever he wanted as long as I could have what made up the Burger of the Gods minus the onions. Then he said he would make that happen and later telling me how it ended up being cheaper as a BYOB as if that made the whole experience better. The whole interaction made me angry. Why give me a lecture on burger visions and then in the end give me what I want? A lot of time could have been saved! And the whole telling me that the people who made me happy all those other times by taking my order without a lecture were wrong and why, just made me miss those other servers I hadn't seen in so long! Acting like he was doing me a favor by putting this order in for me only added coals to the fire. If it was attempt at recovering it failed poorly. So goodbye Bellevue Lunchbox, I won't be back. I don't like lectures. I don't like servers talking bad about good co-workers who seem to have disappeared and if I don't accept pretentiousness at a five star restaurant I will not accept it here no matter how good your burgers are.
(1)Paul L.
The burgers are so disappointing. I've been a few times over past couple of years and I've never had a good burger, only so-so at best. The tater tots and milkshakes are usually pretty good, but lets be honest - that is not what your coming here for. The main issue with the burger is the bread/bun which does a poor job of holding together a sloppy burger and does not add a lot of flavor to a traditional burger.
(2)Janis H.
I've eaten at the South Lake Union location and it was 5 star. The Bellevue location is just a pale sad wannabe. I ordered the Santa Fe Slammer burger because I love green chiles. The burger came literally SWIMMING in a very sweet BBQ sauce that completely overpowered every other flavor. The green chilies were minuscule teeny pieces that one can barely see with the naked eye. I pulled the burger apart in an attempt to scrape some of the BBQ sauce off, and that's when I saw the bacon. It was white, limp and rubbery. It honestly didn't even look cooked. It turned my stomach and I couldn't take another bite. When the male server came by I told him I had a suggestion, to not add so much BBQ sauce to the burger as it was so overpowering. He smirked and said in a very sarcastic tone 'Ummm, well that's what you ordered is a BBQ burger, soooo...' I said I had ordered a Southwestern burger because I like green chilies but I never tasted them because of the BBQ sauce. He shrugged and walked away. Bottom line....won't be going back ever again due to the food AND the snotty apathetic service I received there today at 11:30am. Wish I knew that server's name.
(1)Paul L.
Microsoft Prime 2013 Turns out, this place takes Microsoft Prime BOGO. Though, I gotta say, their burgers were less than impressive. We had the Truffle and the Dork (Duck + Pork). Both were good, but not really $12 good. If not for the prime deal, it'd have been a reach. Even with the prime, it still doesn't stack up well against the burger at John Howie.
(3)Katie O.
Our boss took us out to lunch at Lunchbox Laboratory, and we managed to get a seat outside overlooking Bellevue. While the view was mostly the freeway, it was nice to be out in the fresh air. The selection was great, and everything looked fantastic. I hadn't been aware earlier that we'd be going to lunch, so I'd already eaten. Sigh. I only got a third of the way through my Truffle Love burger before I had to give up. Oh well, it was good but not as fantastic as I was expecting given the hype. I managed to finish half my orange creamsicle shake, but it was also lacking. Everything sounded good, had great ingredients, and the service was wonderful. Unfortunately...the food just wasn't all that.
(3)B C.
Wasn't a fan of all the curry inspired burgers. Tearjerker burger was very good. Waited about 20 minutes for food to come out, and burger was huge! Girlfriend had to cut up hers with fork and knife, and so did I at the end since everything was falling apart.
(3)Srta L.
This place is $$$$$ for burgers. I have to agree that proportions and taste are good but not for the price. Service was ok and ambiance is fun.
(3)Sara H.
Had some time to kill in Bellevue and have been wanting to try this place, so decided to give it a whirl. I'm going 2.5 stars, with a generous round up to 3. Overall, my impression was that it was super expensive. $40+tip for 2 burgers, a shake, and a beer. Ouch! After reading the reviews on here... apparently I am not alone in this assessment. So, LL? I hope you're reading this so that you can make some changes before your prices scare away your customers! For the record, I'm ok with "expensive" as long as it comes along with "knock your socks off" fare...and this just didn't do it for me. I like the mixy-matchy feel and the endless options. But, I'd always rather a restaurant execute a few things really well, than offer you a bottomless bowl of mediocre. Honestly? I actually like Red Robin's burgers and fries better (insert gasp here). Oh, yes, I went there. Now, don't get me wrong. It's not that Red Robin is my fav burger joint, just that the "feel" of the menu is along the same lines, and personally? I think RR does a better job of execution. There. I said it. I got the bean patty (weirdly crunchy, devoid of any flavor), with satan's tears ketchup (a good amount of kick!), truffle mayo (barest hint of truffle, not worth the calories), and american cheese (nice thick slice). The base price ($11!!) gets you a patty and two sauces. Want cheese? Bacon? Grilled onions? More sauce? Sweet potato fries? Be prepared to pony up between $1.50-2 for each addition. They somehow ruin the lovely Essential Baking Company kaiser roll and dry it out into an inedible hocky puck. I ended up peeling off the bread and just eating the middle. I got tots, my partner orderd the fries. Both were ok, neither was a stand-out. We each left over half on our plates. I would have liked some ranch for dipping the fries... but not enough to pony up another $.50 for a side of sauce. =/ The fries/tots come in a bowl, and the whole thing comes on this awkward long plate that is difficult to manuever around. My partner ordered the "homage to dicks" burger... which will run you $15. The original will set you back a mere $3. (don't say ironic, don't say ironic, don't say ironic) She said it was good. Not "best burger you've ever had" good... just good. Malted vanilla milkshake was yummy. So? I'd come back, sure, but wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. Better, cheaper, burgers abound in this city, so why bother?
(3)Brittney B.
It was the first time my husband and I had ever been there. The foods was delicious. Is on the pricy end but it was definitely worth it. Service was good and our waitress was attentive.
(4)Michele C.
Not impressed. Mac n Chz is better at panera. Used a groupon so it was a good deal but if I was paying cash in full I would rather go to Red Robin. 2 of my items came out cold (appetizer of tots & Mac n Chz) when the tots finally came out hot they were immediately followed by our burgers. If I would of known that it would come out together I would of never ordered it. Service was below average. 15$ burgers should come with better service. I at least expect my server to ask me how my meal is. I also found a turkey bone in my chicken/turkey patty. Save your $ and go to Cheesecake Factory. You will get better quality food with better service.
(2)Andrea D.
A colleague of mine was leaving our company, and we all took her out for a goodbye lunch, she suggested Lunchbox Laboratory. I have never heard of it, but she raved about it, so we went. Cool, fun atmosphere, waitress was very nice and attentive. I ordered the Homage to Dicks burger and clearly said "no onions". When I got the burger, it looked good, but when I looked more closely, it had the sauteed onions mixed with the cheese Sooo...I could complain and run the risk of getting a new burger that had been spit on....or I could just pull the onions off...I opted for the second choice! I don't get what the big craze is about this place. The bun was soggy, soaked in grease, and the meat tasted greasy. Burger I was not impressed with at all. I got the skinny fries and those were good, too many to eat the whole helping, but was a nice compliment to the meal. THE BEST PART OF THE MEAL....The chocolate shake! THAT WAS DA BOMB!!! Thick and creamy, hand dipped...oh my lanta, it was yummy! I would say go for the shakes....skip the food!
(2)Tanya F.
Meh was a compliment. I returned after an average first experience.. sadly, the second visit was terrible. Hot sunny summer day and the tables outside were closed due to lack of servers. The tater tot app my son ordered arrived with green onions which we specifically asked to not add. He ended up ordering a kids burger which arrived after we had finished our salads, which were the worst salads we've ever ever had! Just revolting! To top it all off 3 of us developed the trots within an hour or two of eating there... coincidence? I think not!
(1)Marissa C.
After a long day, all we wanted was a cheeseburger. We yelped and drove over to Lunchbox, this place is a bit funky with some great food and drink experiments that changes every week. We ordered cheeseburgers with gluten-free buns. The buns were delicious and not at all what I am used to from the commercial gf buns from WF. To order gf buns, it's only an extra $1 per burger. The burgers were pretty good and the tots were crispy. I am a fan of the food and the prices!
(4)Diana E.
I've been hearing about this place since they had one over in Ballard. The food is fine, the menu is varied enough to make it interesting, but they only get two stars from me because they overpromise and underdeliver. Burgers were too pricy for what you get - it's not cool when your hamburger patty is about 30% smaller than your bun. That's just a bunch of extra bread. Burger was tasty with all the fixin's I chose, but how do you *not* have flavor with jalapeno ranch and bacon? My friend had a more basic burger and said it wasn't very flavorful (guess that's why there are tons of sauces to choose from). Speaking of sauces - if you want an extra one, nevermind that you already paid nearly $20 for a burger- they're gonna tack on $0.75 for a cup of sauce. Don't go if you're in a hurry, either. I had an hour for lunch while on break from a class nearby and that hour wasn't enough time to order, eat and pay. An hour. For a burger and tots. There are tons of places to eat in Bellevue. I'll pick another one next time I'm over there.
(2)Linda Z.
Overall based on 2 visits: overcooked burgers, great sides / appetizers, expensive. There's nothing more tragic than good meat that's overcooked, and this burger patty was cooked well-done with burnt edges and is not juicy at all. I even asked for a medium burger with some pink and they said they couldn't promise that but could only "hope". For a burger place, that's not acceptable. The overall taste is ok but definitely not worth the $14+ price tag. The sides, however, are pretty good. I loved the tater tots (although I'm sure the Mexi Fries at Taco Time taste the same...) and the corn dogs. I would recommend going during happy hour when prices are more reasonable. Also, don't get their specialty drinks - they're overly syrupy and have very little alcohol.
(3)Sally M.
Happy hour 3-6pm and 9pm. Appetizers around $5 with drinks around that price as well. However, their REAL LUNCHBOX LAB burgers are the same price ($12.95-13.95) even during happy hour. Only 4 stars because of their slow service, but everything else about this place is AWESOME. I love ordering their burgers with tater tots or sweet potato fries. Oh and ask them for their jalopeno ranch sauce to go with your burger or fries. SOOO GOOD. Also, make sure to try their cookie and cream milk shake! Hands down the best milk shake I have EVER had.
(4)Dan S.
*pretty greasy gut happiness burgers, try the new yorker with tots *great service in the bar and they have those great stool tables and sports *i'd go here more but end up like wayne cody, remember wayne cody?
(4)Wes Y.
SOLID. First, let me say that the burgers aren't THE best but they are pretty good. May be priced a little high but it is downtown Bellevue. There are other things that I really enjoyed though. First, the atmosphere is great. It's a good, easy vibe with fun decor items like... lunch boxes (duh). They have this "lab" thing going pretty well. Some of the drinks come in beakers, some drinks have test tubes of alcohol in them, the menu contains "experimental items" and "conclusions". I've heard people tell me this restaurant isn't great because it's practically the only tenant on the floor. I say to those people, sounds like the bad reviews should be on the realtor of the building! If you are a fan of the Nutella flavor, the nutty, chocolaty, creamy flavor. You simply must try the Nutella shake. Oh, you simply must. (I said that last one in my head with a voice of a middle aged rich woman from the 1950s.. don't know why) Try the different salts! At each table, there are different flavors of salts and it's fun "experimenting" with them. First time I tried these, I sprinkled every salt in an empty part of a plate to taste, then went with a combination. (on fries, I enjoyed garlic pepper and rosemary with a little bit of malt) I thought the taste was just divine (1950 rich woman voice) Lunchbox Laboratory isn't quite the attention grabbing first light bulb of the burger joint world or an upscale halogen or a groundbreaking LED. But this lab produces solid light bulbs of burgers and sure surrounds it well with the right formula. We'll call it a nice decorative table lamp. Anyone can live without it, it's not the most important thing in a home, but once in a while, you look and say "Hm. That lamp sure does look nice, doesn't it, Thomas?" (1950s middle class woman voice)
(4)Aprameya R.
The food here is tasty (and not healthy). The burgers can be finished by one if that one is hungry. DISCLAIMER - this review is written by someone who doesn't eat beef. I've had the Tearjerker (with the black bean patty) and it is the second most effective way I've found of shedding a tear (the first being onions). The Mediterranean Lamb Burger is good too. They have this experiments menu on which they have burgers that they are trying out. Getting an item off this is usually fun and tasty and they are on occasion named oh-so-wittily. Oh, and the milkshakes are to die for. It is not possible for a normal appetite to finish a burger and a milkshake unless you take your sweet time with the milkshake. The cocktails are supposed to be good but I've never actually had one owing to the super-hungry-ness I've been in everytime I've been there. This place is almost as good as Uneeda!
(4)Angella H.
This place is fun!! I do like burgers, but what makes this place special is the fun they have with their burgers. I have La truffle love - or something like that - where there was bacon and a truffle cheese. NOT something you would find at a regular burger joint! I also very much enjoyed the banana shake (you don't need more than a small!) and the tater tots that came with the burger. Yummy yummy! The dog sticks I got as an appetizer were not necessary (I was basically full by the time I finished them) but they were delightful! Can't wait to go again!
(4)Jennifer A.
So many yummy-sounding burger combos to choose from. If none of them peak your fancy, you can always build your own too. Donald Trump vs. The Birth Certificate was one of the burger experiments of the day when we stopped in last week. It had the dork (duck+pork) patty, onions, pineapple, pineapple mayo and cheddar, and was served with crispy lettuce, pickles, and a large slice of tomato. I could barely get it in my mouth, it was so big. I managed to get through half of it, and took the other half home - it was still just as delicious, even cold, two days later. Great selection of sides to accompany your burger: skinny fries, steak fries, tots, sweet potato fries, mac and cheese, or a side salad. I didn't personally have one, but some of the other table mates enjoyed the milkshakes - the peanut butter chocolate and pumpkin pie were standouts. We even got the pumpkin pie as a surprise on the house because our waiter overheard the birthday boy debating whether he was going to get it. Also, the cocktails come in beaker glasses. Awesome.
(4)Molly L.
I admit that I liked the dork burger, but what I didn't like was the price... It's worth going because I have to admit that their burgers are pretty inventive but for what ended up to be $20, you better be ready to spend. Also, be hesitant when the waiter asks you "would you like chili with the fries" or "do you want bacon with your burger," ASK IF IT COSTS EXTRA, because 9 times out of 10, it will.
(3)April S.
I do recommend this place for a fun twist on happy hour every once and awhile. However, they are bit pricey, and it can be hit or miss on consistency. Today I found a moldy lime in my drink and nothing was done about it... but I've had other drinks that where worth the visit.
(2)Trisha L.
When I'm craving a good burger, Lunchbox Laboratory is what I crave!! I am a weird one when it comes to burgers, I don't like condiments. At all. So a good quality burger is a must for me. All 3 times I have eaten at LL, I ordered a beef party with cheese and bacon. You pay for the bacon, but it is so worth it! Good quality and they don't skimp at all. Ordered with tots and love the selection of flavored salts. I preferred the garlic pepper salt and the rosemary salt. My brother had sweet potato fries with the cinnamon salt. Their shakes are also delicious, but impossible to drink when you are already eating a huge burger and tater tots. Don't go expecting a cheap meal or quick service, but the food is awesome!
(5)Natalie E.
Wonderful, every time. Tyler is a great waiter, has never given a bad recommendation. The burger of the gods is perfect
(4)Cynthia L.
The burgers are delicious!! It's a little pricy but the area is nice. It is a little small. Overall it was good def coming back.
(4)Stephen H.
Here's a tip: ignore the inexplicably whiny reviews on Yelp, and instead go to Lunchbox Laboratory's website to look at the pictures. Do you think they look delicious? If so, then run, don't walk, to Lunchbox Laboratory -- you'll love it. Except for the potato salad; it kind of sucks. On the other hand, if you like to rant about casual burger joints because "they WILL NOT leave off the lettuce, onion, tomato, and pickle from the plate", or "it pisses [you] off when [you] have to ask for Happy Hour Menu during the middle of the Happy Hour" (both actual quotes from previous one star reviews), then don't go there -- you'll hate it, like you presumably hate everything else good and fun in the world.
(4)Joa K.
3.5 stars. I only tried the Nutella milkshake so far. My friend's burger and tater-tots looked amazing. She said the food was good so I'll take her word for it. The portions was quite generous. I'd like to come back to try the food someday and see for myself. The milkshake was thick and creamy. I really enjoyed that hazelnut-chocolatey goodness. Comes served in a beaker...cute! And goes with the theme! I couldn't finish the milkshake - I think it's perfect if two people share. The service was pretty good - friendly and helpful. :) Located in the 989 building, parking available in the garage. Prices are fair, a little higher than a regular burger joint.
(3)Kristen L.
HAPPY HOUR REVIEW ONLY The burgers on the happy hour menu tasted like $1 menu McDonald's burgers, definitely not what I was expecting from a restaurant that specializes in burgers. My friend ordered a non-happy hour burger which did look pretty tasty. However, it was also a bit pricey. Not planning on coming back.
(2)Jamal B.
this place as a great HH
(4)Sandy L.
In terms of price, service, menu choice and food quality, there is nothing stands out in this place. If i want a good burger, the choice will be more likely Five Guys or Red Robin.
(3)Jennifer S.
this was my 2nd time visiting. Lunch was as loud as dinner. Food was good.
(4)jamie c.
I did not like their burger. I came here for happy hour and I thought red robin was better. Sorry.
(1)Kelly M.
This is definitely not a place to come and be healthy, that's for sure. I am positive I gained 20lbs leaving this place.. On that note, I had been eagerly wanting to try the place out and when voucher on Bloomspot came up, I went for it. Thank goodness I had because I didn't realize how the prices were here. I mean, let's face it. It is not gourmet so why the high price? Food. It was good. The stuffed jalepenos were really tasty but not enough of the pepper itself. The burgers all sounded pretty interesting and I got the one with lamb. It was good, nothing really special in my opinion. I also got the chips which were just that, chips. And I tried the Kahlua drink was tasty too.. Service was well executed, so I will give them that. Overall, I probably won't go back because it didn't make a big impression on me. Everything was just alright.
(3)Debbie B.
1st time here and don't think we'll be back. Food here is pretty pricey for what you get. Had the Burger of the Gods with tater tots. Burger was overcooked so it was dry. Lucky it was 4/20 so there was buy one get one free promo. There are 5 different types of seasoning salt on the table. Liked the bacon salt the best on the taters. Waiter was great, he kept refilling our drinks.
(3)John R.
Does not disappoint! The service is fast and appetizers are quick to arrive. The service is super friendly and helpful if you can't decide what you want to eat, especially since some of the food is so far out and unusual. There's a really great view if you sit by the widow and I really appreciate how family friendly the atmosphere is.
(4)Charlee B.
I was craving a good burger and a friend pointed me towards Lunchbox Lab. The service was fantastic. The waiter was attentive but not overbearing and hilarious to boot. I wasn't a huge fan of their shoe-string style French fries, but that's really my only complaint.
(4)Melissa N.
Best deal if you have a Passport Card. I have been here a few times and every time I leave feeling over stuff and really heavy. They have great burgers and great shakes but I feel like their buns come out way too greasy. This wouldn't be my first choice for a burger joint but it wouldn't be my last either. I like it but not love it.
(3)Kate S.
Lunchbox lab doesn't necessarily excite me when it comes to burgers. Are the burgers good? Yes -- but not amazing and definitely not worth the hefty price tag in my opinion. They switched up their HH menu so the only options burger wise on the cheap are their homage to classic diner burgers. Two of them plus fries or tots will run you $5.99 -- which is a good price and a much better deal than their actual burger prices. The burgers themselves are not anything fancy -- standard flat beef patties plus american cheese, but you are getting what you pay for. Other hh deals include half off shakes (which are delicious), tatchos that go a little overboard on the sauce, wings, fries, and the mac & cheese of the day for a measly $1.99. A solid happy hour for sure, especially considering $1 wells and drafts (I will not subject myself to their tang cocktails, sorry). On it's own Lunchbox Lab is just ok by me. Tasty, ok prices if you time it right, with a decent tap list and ok service. The extra star for this Bellevue location comes from their Monday night trivia. Maybe I should be reviewing Geeks Who Drink instead -- but hell. Trivia that starts early, that is good/challenging in a fun way, with an excellent host is worth mentioning, and coming to LBL for a little happy hour goodness. So an ok establishment, made better with top notch trivia. You'll see me here at least once a month, bumping noggins with some Eastsiders and nibbling some cheap food on the side.
(4)Benjamin R.
This was once my favorite spot for burgers and shakes, but after tonight I will never enter this dump again. My friend and I were seat at about 15 minutes before closing time. When we entered the place I asked the cooks if the kitchen was still open ans they confirmed that it was and that they would make us some burgers. The manager, who would not give me his name, told us the kitchen was closed. He then walked over to another table and took their order. I went to the cooks and asked if the kitchen was closed and they said it was not and that they just received an order for a burger. The manager made a choice to not serve us. I am not sure why. I am offended that such a good place would have such a lousy person working for them. I plan on contacting the owner to tell him/her about this incident. I recommend people boycott this place for a while in order to teach them a lesson. When a hungry person comes to your place to eat you should serve them until your place is closed.
(1)Jacqueline T.
Hmmm.. worth the experience? Yes. They have good burgers, and interesting service, and milkshakes served in beakers. hehe but they aren't the greatest burgers i've had.. and for the price they were charging.. i had higher expectations. And .50 cents a sauce? Don't they make enough money on everything else already? :S But the truffe mayo is delicious! The truffle love burger had enough truffle sauce for me to use on my fries too ;) Maybe it'll be a win-win if I go in at their happy hour times. Their website was cute.. in the "adult only section" *plays kinky music* 3 in my books. Mostly because food was mediocre.. but I think the experience was unique :)
(3)Jon L.
I knew about Lunchbox Laboratory due to its rep, but it was only when they opened a Bellevue location that I decided to give them a try. I stopped by on Friday after work to take advantage of their happy hour which runs from 3 to 6 daily. I believe there is a late evening happy hour as well. It is located in the 989 Elements building which is the one across from The French Bakery and Tokyo Japanese Steak House. There is free parking below the restaurant. The restaurant has a circular design. The main dining area is facing the kitchen, while in the back and the farthest from the entrance is the bar. In regards to the happy hour, it is not limited to just the bar. It is offered throughout the restaurant which is nice. I decided to sit in the bar area anyway, at one of the bar tables. There were a couple LCD televisions there. One which was showing some soccer programming. The bar does not have a great view of much. The location is near 405, so that doesn't help. There is also a somewhat pervy view of the Pure Barre studio in the building across the way. The happy hour specials here are very reasonably priced. They range mostly from $1.99 to $4.99. While you do need to buy at least one drink to take advantage of it, the drink prices here are great too including $4 cocktails. Although they are open now, I was disappointed that their happy hour burgers and fries/tots combo was unavailable. It is a bit odd for this to be unavailable given this is mainly a burger place. I expect they will roll out soon though and make it worth visiting for an update. SInce the happy hour burgers were unavailable, I had the Hong Kong hot wings ($3.99) and the macaroni & cheese of the day ($1.99) which happened to be a 9-cheese version when I visited. I paired the food with the Too Skool 4 Kool ($4 HH, $6 regularly). The hot wings are not really hot wings. I would describe it as hot wing meat puree like mixture inside fried wontons with a celery ranch sauce as a dip. They were decent tasting and is an interesting mash up dish. The macaroni & cheese was a little disappointing. The taste was fine, but it was lukewarm. The macaroni (shells actually) texture was a bit on the harder side, though I prefer it to be a bit softer. The Too Skool 4 Kool was my favorite of the items I tried here. As the name would indicate, this is a cocktail made with Kool Aid. It also has vodka, rum and gin. It was quite refreshing, though a bit light if you are looking for a buzz. Not quite an Oh, Yeah! drink, more like an Oh, Ye! It needs a little more of a kick to get the -ah. All in all, my happy hour experience here was okay. I do like the reasonable happy hour prices for food and drinks. I would say it has promise. Especially when the happy hour burgers combo becomes available.
(3)Meagan C.
Great place to grab lunch! There's not a single thing on the menu that isn't good. The dork and the tear jerker are my favorite. Really nice servers as well. The only thing that can be tricky is parking.
(5)Whitney G.
This place just isn't that good anymore. The fries are often cold and the buns are greasy. I think I'd rather get a burger somewhere else. However, I'd come here JUST for the shakes because they are so dang good.
(2)Mike H.
Finally Bellevue, it has arrived!!... TGI Fridays and your local elementary school cafeteria have teamed up, banged out, and gave birth to a red-headed step child of a restaurant that ended up in your own backyard. The food: slightly edible, somewhat enjoyable if 1.) you have the pallet of a 3rd grader and 2.) fully baked out of your mind. The experience: I've had the pleasure of dining in this tenement a few times (by default) since I live above this place. They do have super cheap prices on the happy hour menu considering it's downtown Bellevue, but (DISCLAIMER) you're definitely paying for what you get ;) If you're fiending for a crappy cheeseburger... you're better off hitting up the Burger King across the street considering both restaurants would tie in a blind taste test... If you're looking for a good place to take your boss (that you absolutely despise) out to lunch, this is the place!
(1)Yavnika K.
Honestly, I do not know what the fuss is all about. The place is filled with very cute empty lunch boxes ( I like the Snoopy ones) and very unhealthy options for meals. It is very crowded and service is slow, with as many serving staff as there are guests (Okay, I exaggerated, but they are too many to serve you too slow, for a fast food place!). Friends were singing paeans about burgers, but a bite off their share, they weren't out of the world. The menu seems interesting with a twist on Americana home cooked- junk food. My taste buds do not go on overdrive with this stuff, I will have it when I do not have any other option for a quick and big meal. I tried Dogsticks, which for appetizers were very insufficient in size and not so spicily succulent. I liked their sweet potato fries. It is a nice idea and I never thought of it (Carb overload makes your mind slow.) Maybe they want you to have space for burgers and shakes. Try the place once, if you are okay with slowly served fast food.
(2)Ruben H.
Very nice surprise!! Great location for outdoor seating and great menu. Burgers are very good and very good aoli fries to match. I will say the wait for the food was over 30 min and it wasn't crowded (hence 4 stars). All I would suggest is make the burgers a couple ounces larger.
(4)Perla H.
So there's so much hype about this place. A bunch of my friends check in on facebook and say how much they love it. I went in there with high expectations I think. The burger I got was the Burger of the Gods. And OMG was it HUGE! Not only was it huge but way too greasy and drippy and just not that appitizing to the eye. The taste of it was blah, I felt like I was just eating grease. I honestly like Red Robin burgers more! Oh and the service was ok, not the greatest. We got there before two tables that sat next to us and we got our food after theirs! The good thing is that they gave us 50% off our check but still, my 3 year old was with us and it seemed like the server was not happy, I mean my kid was watching cartoons on the ipad and occasionally dipping his finger in the ketchup on a napkin, and the server was disturbed! I mean we didnt even spill it on the table. I was annoyed and wanted to get out of there. I prefer Red Robin anyday over this place! Sorry Lunchbox!
(2)Chris L.
It breaks my heart that most folks on here never got to try a Scott Simpson Lunchbox burger from the original incarnation of Lunchbox Lab in Ballard. That was truly a magnificent burger. In all my travels I have never found a burger that could match it. Not even close. May Scott rest in peace. I digress from what this thread is about. Lunchbox has now become a burger chain with Scott's dream adjusted. It simply ain't what it used to be. It is still a great place to eat.The food is delicious and I believe the gouret burger name suits this place in particular when comparing it to Redmill. I'm sorry folks, Redmill is good, but it's not a gourmet burger. I wouldn't compare them. They are different. If you want a standard burger, Redmill does that well. Very well. Lunchbox does that well also, but I would have to say Redmill probably rates a little higher for a standard burger. However, If you want options, maybe to play around with your burger and add some flare to it, give lunchbox a try. It's a little pricey but very tasty. These options are what I believe evolves the hamburger experience into another realm. I like the idea of possibly adding candied balsamic onions one day and maybe a Siracha-Ranch sauce mash-up the next day. These possibilities add a variety to the dining experience that puts lunchbox into a different category.
(3)Steve S.
I've eaten here twice and had pretty similar experiences. I work right nearby so I am tempted to go here all the time, but I have to stay away or I'll turn into a blimp! When you go, make sure you are super hungry. This place will fill you up in a hurry! My pre-teen kids thought this place was great, so if you have kids it might be the place to take them for something special. I don't think anyone in both the groups we went with thought the food was great or it sucked. It was pretty good but not excellent. Service was good both times and the drink and beer selections is good too. Things that I thought were really good were the homemade potato chips with the dip, the Dork balls were really good. I had the Dork burger the first time and the Homage to Dick's the 2nd time. Both were really good. My kids raved about the shakes too. My wife really liked her veggie burger. I've had better and I've definitely had worse. Prices seemed a little high but not too out of line with downtown Bellevue.
(4)Lydia H.
The burgers here are super tasty. They have a lot of interesting choices you don't find anywhere else. I haven't been disappointed by any of the ones I've tried. Though, they could be considered a bit pricey. I would suggest not going at a super peak time. It can get really busy at lunch and dinner. The wait can be over 30 min.
(3)Sandy N.
Fun place! Went with my daughter on Monday night, which happens to be trivia night. Food is simple, yet delish....mac-n-cheese, hot dogs, jalapeño poppers, all cooked up in their own laboratory style! Burgers for you burger lovers and dork if you like duck+pork! And of course the drinks in lab beekers!
(4)Stef M.
OK, first of all, people need to stop complaining about prices at this place. They have a website, which has their menus, including prices, so you should know what you're in for before you go. Even if you're a caveman and have no internet access, as soon as you walk in you'll see that burgers are $12-$15 each. If you don't like that, you can get up and leave. No reason to leave a bad Yelp review. The new location is definitely still finding their sea legs. Lunch today was ridiculously packed. Our party of 6 (I know, I know...) showed up at high noon and were given an accurate estimate of 45 minutes. We stuck it out, and while waiting were offered piping hot bowls of tots - very thoughtful, thanks to whoever thought that up! Once seated, it took at least 5 minutes for waters to come, because the servers were all running around frantically trying to deal with the lunch rush. They were very friendly, though. We didn't receive any other drinks for about 15 minutes, though, which I feel was pretty long. These guys should be staffing up for the lunch crowd, especially near the end of the week when more people are out and about for lunch. We tried a few appetizers: the "Chips n Dip Classique" (housemade potato chips with rosemary salt + garlic/onion/bacon dip), Dogsticks ("Mini" corndogs - actually really big!) with corndog ketchup and mustard), and the Buff Pops (Described as "jalapeno and cream cheese fritters with Lunchbox buffalo sauce and sour cream drizzle", but tasted pretty much like deep-fried globs of tartar sauce, strangely). The chips and dips were the clear winner. Reese's milkshake was great - not too sweet, with a little whipped cream on top, and a spoon to get the bits of crumbled Reese's cup on top. The BBQ burger special (cheddar, bacon, BBQ ketchup) caught my eye and was pretty good, if overdone. I asked about medium-rare just because I knew it would likely get overdone given how crazy things were, but he said they only do medium and up. I ended up with a pretty tough (but tasty) medium-well burger. The sweet potato fries on the side were somewhat forgettable, even with some of the flavored BBQ salt on top. I'll be back once they've ironed out the "we just opened" kinks and give it another try, but probably for an earlier lunch or early/late dinner so the servers and cooks have a better chance of getting things right.
(3)Paul T.
Pretty good greasy burgers. However, this place cannot beat the burgers found at most steakhouse happy hours around Bellevue.
(3)Dana B.
Very slow service, but the food is really good! They have half off the second burger, great happy hour specials - or better yet use your prime card for a free entree! My FAVORITE is the dork balls and mac and cheese - so yummy!
(4)John L.
There is something off about this place. Good name, interesting building, attractive interior, good menu, and food was decent. But I never find myself going back. The service was erratic, the tables weren't bussed quickly, the place could have been cleaner. The service staff seemed well intentioned, I attribute it all to poor management.
(2)Neha M.
If its just the burgers and how great they taste - its certainly a 3.5 to 4.0. I have tried their tear jerker and Mediterranean burgers - fab! The skinny fries are amazing too. The service is great, parking easy to find, ambience is good too. So why a 3-star rating? While everything is great, there is NOTHING HEALTHY on the menu. The burgers are big, juicy and artery-clogging. Ditto for the amazing skinny fries, tots, shakes and potato salad. The salads are equally unhealthy. A side salad to replace fries 2.5 bucks extra which is a little sleet. Most place allow you to do that for a buck. Most of the sides are unhealthy too - mac and cheese etc. So if you are looking for a great burger and don't care much about calories, trans fat, sugar and cholesterol, this is a great burger place to try! Health-o-meter = 1/5
(3)Saphy L.
I went here for lunch with a friend. The food was greasy, but definitely good. I had the Big Bleu Marble with tater tots and it was worth skipping dinner the night before and breakfast that day for! I am a big fan of tater tots and it was crunchy and perfect. Their gourmet burgers are worth the price you pay. The quality and tastes are exceptional. The service was a bit slow, but more time for meaningful conversations! Our waitress was extremely friendly and personable. If I didn't live so far away, I would definitely frequently this place on a regular basis. But I guess that's good for my health that there's none near my place.
(5)JoAnn A.
I met a girlfriend here for happy hour and personally, I thought the happy hour was a very good deal! My friend suggested I try the Hong Kong Hot Wings, so we did. YES, definitely get them! Considering we were seated in the bar, having a couple drinks and talking a bunch, I didn't notice the service as being slow or anything, it just seemed average. Our significant others joined us later for dinner and we had some burgers which were totes greasy and unhealthy but I enjoyed mine! I find this a fun, laid back place to hang out at with friends in the Bellevue area. I will admit, the price might be a little steep, but hey, once in a while can't be that bad :)
(4)Sheryl K.
I had a Çaptain John frijole veggie burger and sweet potato fries. Oh it was so good!! Tried my sisters Mac and cheese and it was so good too! I had a Çaptain John frijole veggie burger and sweet potato fries. Oh it was so good!! Tried my sisters Mac and cheese and it was so good too!
(5)Al C.
Took forever. Literally. 45 minutes to get our food. I should clarify, though. My fiancé and friends wife had their salads after 30 minutes. We had to wait the additional 15. Food is overpriced and overcooked. Disappointing. Won't be back.
(1)Kathryn N.
After reading reviews on here, I was kind of scared to try this place as it was said to be overpriced, had horrible service, and not that great of food. Fortunately, my experience was great! We got patio seating and came on a Thursday at noon so we were seated immediately. We purchased one of those $25 for $50 vouchers online so our goal was actually to hit $50 , not save money. We started off with the King of the Rinds appetizer. Came out fresh and crackling with two different sauces. One was a mayo and delicious and the other was spicy and had a hint of like. I really like it but it was kind of too spicy ! Then came our milkshakes. I got the almond joy and my cousin got the Reese's peanut butter one. Tried his and it tasted exactly as it sounded so peanut butter fans, this is the one for you! My milkshake was the best part of my meal. Chocolatey and shreds of coconut filled the beaker! Yes, it comes in a beaker! I couldn't decide between three burgers but I finally went with the most popular, burger of the Gods, which had balsamic onions and bleu cheese and gorgonzola sauce. Honestly the onions were a bit much, threw some out. I couldn't really taste too much of the bleu cheese but that is probably because of the onions. My cousin got the Truffle love burger and that was delicious! Lots of bacon and had a slight smokiness to it. The bread was crispy around the edges. As for my side, I chose to add the Mac and cheese for $2 and it was super cheesy! Loved it. The fries were not good though. They were cold and hard, which sucks cuz I totally love skinny fries :( Our food took awhile to come out though, everyone around us got theirs first. Must have been my Mac and cheese! All in all, the service was good! Our waiter was nice and informative. Food was good especially the milkshakes!
(4)Monica A.
Does selling/going corporate with your business mean you also have to sell your culinary soul?!?!? Well, that seems to be the case for this spot. I went to the original Ballard location years ago where, even though the husband and wife pair were having what sounded like a rough day, I had an amazing meal. So, let's just say I was excited to visit the new modernized Bellevue restaurant. I'm only giving this place 1 star and that's for the nice dining room staff. They tried their best to be accommodating, but unfortunately their cooks and policies have failed them miserably. :-/ Quick synopsis of our visit... Ordered a $15 burger not knowing they all come "medium well," (definitely looked/felt well), with fried over hard eggs, (not the juicy over medium egg I ordered and most of us are used to). Needless to say I was disappointed, since I prefer a true medium burger, but, I would've eaten it well done if my egg wasn't a dried out failure. So, I nicely asked them to remake it. After what was probably a 15 minute wait, my family was pretty much finished with their food, I simply asked them to just cancel the order. The tater tots, which were good, had filled my belly anyhow. They still brought it out anyhow, definitely medium well and with a pretty much scrambled egg. I'd call it a slap in the face burger to be truthful. So, I decided to go ahead and order a shake, which although free...they're normally $7 BTW, was pretty much on par with a McDonalds shake and was topped with whipped cream despite my request for no whip. In the end, I did not eat my burger and I left my shake on the table. So, in conclusion it's safe to say I wouldn't even eat here for free. If you're a no muss no fuss eater you'll enjoy yourself, but if like me you are looking to have a true culinary experience stick to The Counter, I know I will.
(1)Riss J.
What might have been a 1 or 2 star review redeemed itself completely for one reason: customer service. I descended upon LL with Kristin, Kaitlin and Chelsea (with a brief appearance by Kristin'sIan) for Geeks Who Drink trivia tonight. Arriving early specifically for Happy Hour (which I have to Ay is seriously good prices and plenty of options). Service was a tad off, the bar didn't feel at all as crowded as the length of time to get drinks or food seemed to indicate. As happy hour was nearing it's end, which would also be the start of trivia, I motioned the bartender and let him know we wanted to be able to purchase additional drinks before it was over. He disappeared for a bit over 10 minutes...then reappeared with a bunch of drinks. That we didn't order. He'd just made more of whatever we had before. OK, fine...I *guess* if I said "another round" you could argue I just up and ordered for everyone, I guess? Instead of an "oops", what we got instead was a bitching out and an argument that we were wrong. I am a mostly social yelper..meaning the majority of my reviews are of bars/social events. (It also marks the beginning of my drinking life) and I have NEVER had that interpretation of "order another round before happy ends", never had a bartender not even ASK what the order was, and have NEVER had any server flat out argue with an entire group over who was right (we weren't even arguing back!) So, fixed order placed...I went off and found the manager. I think I have done this maybe two or three times in my life. Again, I'm a yelper..I go with "semi-anonymous online rant after the fact". I told her what the mix up was, and expressed how embarrassing and uncool it was to have a mediocre bartender literally yell at your table in a crowded bar. And here is where our tale turns... Before I even really finished telling my tale, she offered to comp OUR ENTIRE TAB ALL NIGHT. I was literally speechless! She explained a bit on the bartender, apologized and said she'd let him know to comp us.. And here we upturn again.. the bartender apologized to us. He was not feeling well, co-worker not there, etc and said it wasn't OK he just snapped at us. He put in a great effort to treat us well and kept offering us drinks all night.....even knowing it was free. When our team won a free beer token during trivia, they wouldn't accept it on our comped bill. The mac n cheese I had was roasted garlic and bleu tonight. Super yummy and a steal at the listed $1.99 during HH. The cocktail specials for HH are all super sweet and fruity offerings, but wells are a mere $3.25. In Bellevue. Trivia is free, the MC is cute, fun and actually understandable when speaking into the Mic. Definitely want to keep going back for that. I'll still keep other reviews of food in mind when I return, but for great HH and still-makes-me-a-little-speechless customer service, I want to go back for sure!!
(4)Brian F.
I love the LL. Always something new and fun on the menu for eats and drinks. The DORK is something you must try. Get tots with Jalapeno ranch. The servers are fast and friendly. Happy Hour deals rock and trivia on Mondays is always fun.
(4)Karen K.
A few problems we encountered were handled in a very classy way. The food was creatively delish. Can't wait to go back
(5)Elizabeth S.
Decent food - horrible customer service. Upon arriving, waiting while the servers/front desk staff stood around talking to each other as opposed to helping my party. Waiter was hard to locate, ate my entire meal waiting on water. Was overcharged, but couldn't even find anyone to complain to! The burgers and sides are good (the tots are awesome), but for the price and lack of customer service, better off going somewhere else - perhaps somewhere where the staff have more experience. Left a message for the manager and still have yet to be called....not a good way to run a restaurant!
(2)Kayla H.
Upon coming here with my dad, he said that "they have good salads" when I asked him what's good? So you would then know that I was a little confused by the menu seeing as they only serve 3 salads, none of reach really stood out to me. LOL Perhaps it was my dad's comment that through me off, but I was really confused by the menu because some were saying that they had deli meat on them and some of them looks like actual burgers but apparently they are all burgers. Now first thing to know about me, is that, as my boyfriend puts it, I am not "that carnivorous of an eater" meaning I like red meat but I really don't like to eat a lot of it - or if I go to a restaurant I am not looking for the triple bi-pass burger, also I HATE BBQ sauce or anything like it. So I settled for a build my own burger which I made very plain LOL and skinny fries. I LOVE fries. They are my utter weakness next to chocolate. I can't just have ONE. The burger was decent but as I write this a few days later, it was really unmemorable. I did like how they brought out your burger with all the toppings on the side so you can make it your own way. The bun I thought was very interesting, it was more of a dinner roll type bread than I would call a burger bun. What did sound really good was their milkshakes because they even put booze in some of them....now we are talking...but I was trying to be good so i refrained, next time. Lastly, what I found humorous was that in order to use the restroom you had to use a key. GROSS. I hate those things. I think of all the people who touch it with their dirty hands and do their business and then even if they did wash their hands you are still touching the dirty key handle YUCK. This is BELLEVUE why do you need a KEY to unlock the bathroom?
(3)Michael R.
Well first off, if you are budget conscious this is NOT the place for you. The burges all range from $12 to $17 each (including your sides), add a drink (or two) and your tab can quickly reach $30 for s single person. The food is great for a burger joint and they have some interesting toppings available. My suggestion if you are not wanting one of their expensive speciality burgers is to come in during Happy Hour and order from that menu which has some items not found on their regular menu such as their nachos (beware of the ketchup drizzled on it)!
(4)Susan C.
This place is overrated in my opinion. For the price, I'd rather go to other trendy burger places in the area. The service was a bit slow too. I'm just thankful that I had a coupon ($20 for $40) because two burgers and two drinks cost more than $40!
(3)Advaitin s.
Pros...excellent strawberry milk shake from locally sourced berries. Cons...burger was meh. Did not live up to expectations. Not worth the price tag. Home made chips were good but the dip that came along with it was not. Not sure why this place enjoys the hype.
(2)Paul N.
Lunchbox is merely "OK". The burgers are pretty original, but extremely messy, greasy and calling them pricey is an understatement. An average lunch can cost over 20 bucks for one person (Considering I could have gone to Red Robin and paid about that for 2 people). Some of the non alcoholic drinks are pretty tasty though....the Tang/Root Beer/cream combination is pretty damn good
(2)Tim B.
I love going to new places and trying them out. Especially with the name just draws in us nerds. Food: We had a salad, tots and a burger @ my table. All of the food incredibly bland. The hamburger has to be frozen and grilled up. The bun, looked like they ran out and went next door to mcdonalds to get some more. Not worth the money. Drink: DELICIOUS. Oreo shake, root beer float, some house mixed drink - all fantastic. Value: Crappy food for a cheap price. Can't complain. Nothing special at all. Service: Complete garbage. Short chick came to table took order for drinks, 15 min later we got our drinks. She left, came back, took our order. She never came back to our table, nor anyone else that works there after bringing us our food. She sat at the bar talking to some guy for about 35 minutes occasionally getting up and grabbing other people at the bar drinks, brought a check to another table. Beer glass empty, shakes gone, water gone - never saw her. Finally got up to get my own water and a new beer. By FAR the worst service I've had in Bellevue, hands down. Summary: Mcdonalds dollar menu burger for $6. Tots from a bag reheated. No spices, no flavor, no nothing with crappy service. Wonder what business will be in this location in 6 months. If you want bang for your buck. Try out Big Fish Grill in Kirkland off the 520. Then come back and say thanks for the recommendation! :)
(1)Bao N.
The burgers are really really good. No, really - they're good. The potato salad is good as well. Tater tots are tater tots - nothing to write home about. Portions are satisfying. 3 stars because the place is incredibly overpriced. We went on a buy-one-get-one night and we still spent $20 with no drinks, appetizers, or desserts. Just the burger, tax, and tip. A burger and shake easily tops $20 for a single diner. I won't be coming back unless they run another good deal; and that makes me sad because their burgers really are quite good. Other notes: 1. They have lots of flavored salts which are tasty to experiment with. 2. Large piles of napkins at every table is a plus. You'll need them. 3. Free parking in downtown Bellevue.
(3)Ashley G.
First off: the service is slow. Deal with it or go somewhere else. But if you don't mind that or have a great group of friends with you the food here is de-li-cious. I love the house made chips and dip appetizer and man oh man, can I not say enough about the Dork burger. PLUS they have these amazing gluten free buns that are really good and not the thick, heavy buns you'll find at a lot of other places. I really enjoy the food and atmosphere and will keep going for a treat every now and then even though the price is higher than I would usually spend on a burger... Join their mailing list though! There's plenty of discounts.
(4)Jeevan J.
Had one of the BESTEST burgers ever!! I always had burgers as a cheap, no nonsense method of sating your hunger. Here, it is much more than that. This place serves one of a kind luxury burgers. And man, its too damn good. The flavor, the taste.. you name it. This place is a place to be, if you are visiting Seattle.
(5)Juli-ann W.
Tried this for dinner and it was OK. My Santa Fe burger was juicy and tasty. My skinny fries were all crisp and more like chips than fries. The Tater Tots were very greasy. The drinks were good which makes me want to try again for happy hour. It was crowded with lots of kids. We were wedged in a table next to a large family and our food took a long time to come out. There were a few moments where we had a hard time getting a server's attention. Parking was a bit odd with very tiny spots and unclear signage. So I'll return for happy hour but next time I want just a burger and fries, will go elsewhere.
(3)Yah Babo D.
So I met up with my sister who I haven't seen in a few months, she heard this place was good and her midget ass was craving beef. So I agreed to drive to bellevue and get lost. paying the stupid 520 toll to get there. But all in all I am satisfied with the quality of food here. A bit greasy for me but very tasty. I got the hotheaded I think it's called burger plus the mac and cheese. I ate half of each and had to give up. I was full. Even heated up later in the night after taking my math final it was tasty. The hefe was great too and calmed my nerves before heading back to school for that math final!
(4)Tyler S.
The food was just ok. the food was overpriced. The space is way too small for all tables. I didn't enjoy eating in such a cramped space. At least it had parking. I would only go back if someone was buying my meal. The staff was good but not great.
(2)Kate L.
The food was excellent. I got the smoker burger and a Nutella milkshake. Both items were fantastic. The fact that 2 milkshakes and burgers cost us $50 is a bit mindboggling. The problem: The service was absolutely terrible. It took 10 minutes before someone even came over to seat us and the people in front of us. It took 15 minutes just to get the milkshake and 35 minutes after we placed our order to get fed. They were obviously busy but our server never even came over to explain that things were taking awhile. My boyfriend got the wrong milkshake too. The poor customer service made it so we will never return to this location. We may give their Seattle location a chance to redeem themselves.
(2)Jessi H.
I adore this place! My boyfriend and I go here on Mondays for the "Geeks Who Drink" trivia. It's a blast and Ken is awesome -- super funny and very personable. The food is amazing as well. We love the Cinnamon Toast Crunk -- a cinnamon toast crunch cereal-flavored milkshake with a shot of Fireball in it. Yum!! They also have a revolving menu of shakes, burgers and drinks as well. I typically get the Mac N Greens, which is a salad and a side of mac and cheese. You can choose a topping (like bacon, jalapenos, etc). The Tearjerker is delicious as well. Lots of flavor and lots of spice. I recommend getting the jalapeno ranch dip for your tater tots as well. Last but not least, there's a happy hour menu from 4-6 (I believe) where the drinks and some of the appetizers are on sale. If you're looking for a fun and delicious place to eat -- look no further!!
(5)Mariel Z.
Best burger place around Bellevue! We had been to the restaurant several times before we realized there was a bar in the back of the place! The atmosphere is fun, and the wait staff are typically very pleasant. The upstate new Yorker is the best! And you cant forget the totchos! The flavored salts at the tables are a nice touch, and they let you experiment with your fries, even if you aren't willing to change what burger you get. They often run groupons, and Microsoft employees can use their prime cards!
(4)Jordan N.
I haven't tried everything that they make but man is this place good. The burgers are fire. Fries are good. The appetizers drinks we usually get are good too. The milkshakes... Cannot forget those. FIRE! Fire means really good if you couldn't figure it out. Keep doin your thing LL!
(5)Claire P.
Let me say, this place is a vegetarians nightmare! Now that I'm a vegetarian I can't believe I ever went here, but that's beyond the point. I enjoyed the dork burger plus the fries (the tater tots are good as well) and the sauces were pretty good, but the milkshakes, while tasty, were so overpriced for the amount you got! If you're in a rush, I don't recommend this place, it's on the smallish side and the service is pretty slow. I went here twice and both times we had to wait for 20-30 minutes to be seated plus our food took awhile to arrive. I'd probably recommend this place to a friend, but I don't plan on going back here again.
(3)Vanessa J.
Really neat atmosphere but that along with the shakes are pretty much all this place has going for it in my opinion. I had a cheeseburger basket with tater tots. I found that both were extremely greasy to the point that it just didn't taste good which is saying a lot. It wasn't the worst place but I doubt I would go here for anything but a shake,
(2)Woo K.
Lunchbox laboratory, the name fit the theme of the restaurant very well. It's got a playful vibe to the place and I especially appreciated the milkshakes that were served in a beaker. I do have to note that a milkshake is 6.50 which is a bit high for my liking, unless my milkshake came with a special ordered cow where I could milk my own fresh milk (kind of a gross now that I think about it). Okay, no cow. I ordered the flyin hawaiian sandwich because I was craving something a bit sweet. The burger came out and was pretty hefty. I had a hard time getting a good bite out of the sandwich, but that might just be because my mouth is freakishly small. These burgers are ULTA juicy/greasy. Most of the time I had juices oozing down my arm, but in my perspective... men would LOVE this burger. Me on the other hand, it was good and I enjoyed it but maybe a bit too greasy for me. The tator tots are super crunchy and good though! All in all, this place is something you definitely want to try. For the price and the burger it probably won't be a regular spot for myself, but I'd still give the recommendation to others. Are you craving something heavy, greasy, and delicious? Lunchbox laboratory it up.
(3)Morgane S.
Great food, great service. I eat there at least once every week or other week. Delicious drinks. The fries are really good as well.
(5)Sean Z.
My fiancee and I started coming here when we moved back into town about 2 months ago. Every burger I've had has been great, but I'd definitely recommend the churken and the mac and cheese. Beer selection is also pretty good. Service can sometimes be a bit slow, but everyone has always been friendly and that's really the only complaint I can think of.
(4)Katie V.
Great!! So far I have been once, and I am excited to go back. The service is a bit 'sleepy' so that leaves something to be desired, but I wasn't in a hurry and thought that the food was great, so I was ok with it. I had The Dork, which is a duck and pork patty. It is messy. Not good first date food. But if you are with friends, then go to town :) At my friend's suggestion, I went for the tater tots as a side. I love that you have so many choices when it comes to what you want to dip your tots (or fries, etc) in! I went for the 'bread-and-butter pickle tartar'. I am normally someone that only drinks white wine. Pretty exciting stuff. I tried something out of my element. The Folsom Prison (that's a drink). Jim Beam, Absolut Mango, Iced Tea and Lemonade. Served in a beaker. It was soooo good!! I would definitely have one or two, next time I go. And I am also very tempted to try the milk shake with vodka! **The best part of this restaurant might be the patio. It is in the sun, and that is hard to find after work in Bellevue. Most patios that restaurants/bars have to offer are always in the shade. Not to mention they are ALWAYS FULL! We don't get warm weather that often, so people are scrambling to get off of work, and get outside for a drink. Lunchbox in Bellevue is newer, so not that many people have discovered it. Which leaves a great patio space, in the sun!!
(4)I T.
I used to live in the building next door. When they opened I was very excited as I am a fan of their Seattle location. My friends and I were there within the hour of their first day.... They take forever for to bring your burgers out. Normally, I wouldn't care if it was a quality burger, but the buns come falling apart because the burger is so soggy. It is like they let them sit or something. This does not happen at the Seattle location. Today, my friend and I got some take out. I ordered the burger of the gods plus bacon (which I ALWAYS order, so I've had it over 10 times). Instead of giving me my burger they wrapped a burger with a patty, bacon and cheese. None of the caramelized onions and sauce that make the burger of the gods one of their specialty burgers.... On top of that, my Mac and cheese HAD A HAIR IN IT! It was a short black hair (not mine because I have very long hair and not my friend's because he is blonde. Thanks for ruining my dinner! ps they also forgot to give us the lettuce, tomato, pickle and onions (which for takeout usually come in a plastic bag)
(1)Jennifer K.
Menu selection is pretty creative. Loads of choices for those that are culinary adventurousness.
(5)Kit T.
I only let my boyfriend eat here when it's a special occasion because the calorie content is probably really terrible. Every time a new restaurant pops up with a promising menu, we try to get a table as soon as possible, and we've been eating here since this place opened both in house and take-out. Every dining experience here has been fantastic, and everyone we've brought here has been equally pleased. I never wrote a review of this place before, but last time I was there I noticed an addition to their menu that deserves my full 5 stars. The chicken/turkey patty is phenomenal. I don't eat beef or pork, and I've been eating the deli style sliced turkey for ages, which is okay, but I really wanted a patty. I tried it last night in the Churken burger, and it was everything I had been dreaming about. Finally, the combination of cheese, onions, and Lunchbox's amazing assortment of sauces has come together in my personal vision of what a burger should be. Ever since Ruby's Diner shut down, I've been craving a good poultry burger, and I found it. Next time I'm going to try the build your own and begin my quest towards concocting the perfect burger. I'd also like to take this moment to mention my favorite hand-dipped shake is the Nutella one, and I will probably never order anything different unless I hit my head or something equally unfortunate occurred, and we tried the Hong Kong Hot Wings, which were really good. Kudos to the waiter trainee, too. He was super friendly and very helpful to our friends who were trying the place for the first time.
(5)Andrew W.
Pricey but tasty burgers. Try the New Yorker - with onions and buffalo sauce (not made from actual buffalo). It's really good but you'd better fork and knife it to save your shirt. They overcook their meat (like Linda Z. said) and let the sauce/condiments steer the flavor, but that's what you get at fast food joints. The shakes are bullet proof. Do those if your body can afford it. I'd also like to see more art - it's got a pretty cool unique vibe but rotating out lunchboxes or having more would be cool. Pushing the vibe could turn the spot into an even cool destination.
(3)Claire M.
Lunchbox has delicious burgers and tasty drinks. This was my second visit and I knew what I was getting into...expensive but tasty burgers. What I was NOT expecting was having to wait 1 hour and 30 minutes for our food. THAT IS RIGHT. It was a busy and bustling Sunday night with lots of families. We were dining with another couple and our 17 month old toddler. Thank goodness we ordered cocktails and had some catching up to do, otherwise I would have been LIVID. The waiter did not apologize for the wait for our food until we had been waiting for an hour!!! How long does it take to make a few burgers and fries? When our food finally arrived, my order and the toddler's order was incorrect. I sent the toddler's back. The replacement meal (a grilled cheese) took 20 minutes, and by the time it arrived, we were all finished eating so I sent it back. There was no compensation for the long wait. Not even the comp of a soda. As we looked around we realized that everyone in the restaurant was waiting. I assume this was an isolated incident with the kitchen. I totally understand that crap happens. However, an apology, or an explanation, or some sort of compensation would have gone a long wayI won't be returning unless I have a lot of free time and no kidlet in tow.
(2)Greg K.
Cost $13 and change for a plain burger and small fries. And it was just 'normal'. Far too expensive for what you get.
(1)Mallorie S.
First time going, great sweet potato fries. We ordered theSanta Fe and requested a black bean patty with NO bacon. The burgers arrive and both have chunks of bacon, we flag down our server she takes them a way and a few mins later brings the same burgers back and says there was never bacon on here. I lift the bun and there's a big piece dead center. So she takes them away again and brings over what I hoped were new meat free... Nope! I found two more pieces and my boyfriend got half way through his and then finds bacon. Mind you I am we'll aware this is a burger place, but if you serve a vegetarian option you should probably be fully capable of not adding meat. So disappointing! Our server never came back after the 2nd bacon situation but manager did she was nice to offer us milkshakes to go. But at that point I wanted to get out if there. Not only was I hungry but they wasted animal product. Not veggie friendly.
(1)Kahlil B.
I tend to stay away from trendy places like this because the hype and trend seem to be more important than the food. That is not at all the case here. We started with an order do the Rinds of Life and they were incredible. They came to the table still crackling and the dips they came with were both delicious. For the main I had The Smoker with skinny fries that I thoroughly enjoyed. There is no scrimping on toppings or sauces at this place and things may get messy. The price point is a little higher because of the beef they use but I thought it was worth it. I will be here again and I'm bringing friends.
(4)Joanne E.
I get the concept and applaud the idea of having unique flavors and meats come together, but I was hoping that they would have a classic burger that was phenomenal. I heard so much hype about this place, but it left me wanting more. For a $14 burger, I was very disappointed.
(2)Naarah H.
I am really surprised I liked this place! I wasn't sure I would given it is a tad too "pubby" for me. But the menu was fun and the food ended up being really good. I had the Dork, just to say I had the Dork and it was worth it. It was med. rare just like I ordered, had great flavor and reasonably priced. I'd go again, but this time in jeans and a tee shirt and I'd even feel comfy bringing all my kids.
(3)Homan L.
Is it me or is this way overhyped? The favors don't feel like they come together, give me an In-N-Out over this any day, and I get to keep my extra 10$ bill too.
(2)Stacie S.
Lunchbox Laboratory has some fierce competition; there are so many good burger options in Seattle these days. Unfortunately, based on my single experience, I don't think I would go back. The restaurant is extremely noisy, in the cement floor/unmuffled ceiling Seattle fashion. THink Chuckie Cheese or Red Robin noise level. Servers are ok, but nothing special. W ehad to ask to not be seated (as a couple) by a table with four screaming kids--unfortunately, not a lot of options to get away from the noise here. We were there at 7pm on a Thursday night, and I was hoping for a burger with goat cheese. Goat cheese, unfortunately, is not one of their regular cheese options. But wait, they have a goat cheese burger on special! But wait--they're out of goat cheese. I opted for a turkey burger with carmelized onions instead.My husband ordered the "Homage to Dick's Burgers". They turkey burger arrived, and looke dnice, but holy cow--the bun size is ridiculous. I'd like to be able to take a bite without wearing my dinner. I cut it down into pieces, took a bite--and it was cold. Now, I'm ok if it's intended to be cold--but nowhere on the menu does it state it's cold. I'm expecting hot food, so rather disappointed. My husband said his burger was ok, but not really anything similar to Dick's Drive In. Given the volume of choices available in this space, I think only Loyal LL fans will keep coming back.
(2)Anita K.
The wait for a table for 4 on Saturday evening was long - 45 minutes. Interesting burger options. We waited an additional 30 minutes to be served. Of the 4 burgers we ordered, three were quite good (the Homage to Dicks, the onion/blue cheese and a flamethrowing version). The 4th burger however was raw in the middle - not just lightly pink - but completely uncooked. My husband didn't discover this until he had taken a few bites. We sent it back and the waitress had the kitchen prepare a new one, and took 10% off of the check for that burger which was a nice gesture. This doesn't however diminish the serious food safety risk of serving raw hamburger. I will not eat here again.
(1)Brett A.
They were out of turkey when we went, so my wife was forced to get a burger. She wasn't a fan. My boys loved their burgers, but they were still hungry after the small portions. They could have eaten 2 burgers each. $90 for 4 of us; I'd rather go to Dicks 3 times instead.
(3)Six S.
My hubby and I split the NW Native burger with skinny fries and a BLT salad. We each had our own shakes: vanilla and the special that day, salted caramel (the salted caramel was much better than the vanilla). Pros: The burger and shakes were delish. Service was good and friendly, especially for a Friday night (they weren't busy). Cons: Pricey for what you get--the burger was much smaller than we expected for $14. We split it because we thought it was going to be a large enough. It wasn't. Too much sauce on the burger. It overwhelms the flavor or the Kobe beef and makes the burger so messy to eat that you will need tons of napkins (don't wear a white shirt here or it will be get stained by your burger!) I scraped some of it off to let the beef flavor shine through and then it was perfect. The BLT salad was bland and over priced. It's $12 and large. But it's mostly lettuce with a few diced tomatoes, some very small bacon bits, and tasteless dressng. Don't waste your money on it--get a second burger or two more shakes for just a little bit more! It's expensive for what you get! (I know I said it already, but it's worth saying again.) A burger, a salad and two shakes came to $42 before tip. And the shakes are thick and delicious, but $6.50? No. We got our for free with coupons that we got at some festival this summer. I'd order one again, but we'd probably split one. Would we go back? Probably. But not very often. It's not outstanding, but is very good. And if we brought our kids, we'd be looking at nearly $100 for dinner .... at a burger joint. There are other "very good" burger places out there for less.
(3)O G.
If you can't eat the burger with your hands, or if you need a bath towel to wipe sauce off between bites, then the burger is a failure.
(3)Dan S.
We were excited that a LBL was opening in Bellevue as we enjoyed the one in Seattle. Our experience today was disappointing to say the least. The waiter was rushed, took our order, came back to clarify our order about 10 minutes later, and STILL got all the food wrong. We had to ask to roder drinks about 15 minutes after we were seated and overall, didn't feel the warm fuzzy love. The food was OK, the french fries were cold. All in all, not a great experience at all. We hope LBL hears this and improves as we like their other locations.
(2)Doug C.
Went for Monday lunch and it was just meh. The juicy Tear Jerker burger was tasty with jalapanos, added bacon for two bucks, and other good toppings. However it was small for the price, and not many tator tots on the side. I left hungry. At $20 bucks for just a burger and tax and tip, I guess I was expecting a large portion. Maybe I just eat to much?
(2)Denise E.
I adore this place. It's about time the Eastside is graced with a great, super-casual burger joint! The combinations are vast. There are so many options to create your own "experiment" it can make your head-spin. I can't wait to try their happy hour! I had to try the astronaut mimosa, made with Tang. I didn't even expect it to be good; I just had to try it. It was delicious! So was the Nutella milkshake. My burger was pretty darn good too. The next time I get a burger I'll be sure to specify that I do not want it med-well to well-done. It came out that way by default and I think it would have been much better if it were juicier with some pink in the middle.
(4)Allison M.
After hearing friends and coworkers rave about "Intense" bugers at LL, my friend and I decided to give it a try for a Sunday lunch. Based on this single experience, neither of us would go back. Their menu is all over the place, but thankfully our waiter gave us "a tour" by explaining all the components. I didn't think twice about the price because I think a good burger is worth it. But both of our burgers were tough and overcooked, so the premium beef we happily paid extra for was destroyed. Her burger (the Homage to Dicks) was a thick patty with all the toppings, and she liked the overall flavor profile OK, but again, was really turned off by how tough the meat was. It tasted like the meat had been pounded to a pulp before being overcooked so it was really chewy. My burger (the Burger of the Gods) was a thin patty--so I felt like I got jipped-- and topped with so many balsamic onions that I originally thought they forgot to even put a patty on my bun! I LOVE blasamic, but these were just too much and you couldn't taste the premium beef or even the blue cheese/gorganzola. These flavors are great but the balance was way off. We had a vey friendly waiter, Aaron, who gave us great service with a smile, HOWEVER he charged us for every single extra sauce (which he presented as though they were included with out meal), AND when my friend ordered a fountain drink that didn't taste right, he charged her for the one she took 1 sip of AND the new one he brought to replace it. Based on all the extra charges I felt like we were being "nickle and dimed." Despite our mostly negative experience, there were a few things we liked: the fries/tots, the dipping sauces (at least give us 1 included with the meal!), the yummy kaiser bun, the hickory bacon, and the innovation. There are some creative minds behind these burgers, but ultimately it doesn't matter unless you can execute well. Sorry LL, but we won't be back... :(
(2)Allan E.
I decided to try this place again on a Friday afternoon with some friends. They gained a star with the Mediterranean burger I had. I ordered some black truffle sauce on the side for my tater tots (extra 50 cents). Thats the taste I was looking for...the burger was filling and tater tots and dipping sauce were good. Service is still lacking.Still can't get over the price, but, WTH...its in Bellevue.
(3)Patrick H.
Food tastes great. Service lacks, the stoner kids forget aaaaaa lot. Expensive as hell for burgers.
(3)Derek S.
Went to Bellevue on opening day. Ordered Bannana Creme Pie Milkshake. Died and went to heaven. Woke up the next day a kinder, gentler person.
(5)Melanie R.
They make snacks taste better!! Tater tots, pork rinds.......very addicting. You will leave this place satisfied.
(5)Hall R.
The only draw back to this place is the price. I have a hard time spending almost $20 per person after tax and tip but the burgers are amazing. I've tried a few different combinations and the best so far is the Hothead with tater tots and jalapeno mayo.
(4)Ryan C.
3? but leaning towards a 2.5.. why? well, this place just don't cut it for me. i know LL since its beginnings in southlake (original place)... that place i like. all funky, dark, and sort of dirty. just the way a diner should be! well, this place is bellevue is all swanky, clean, bright, cold, and oh-so-futuristic. i guess it's for the upscale crowd here in the east side. just don't cut it for me... food! err, got the burger of gods... it was... rather salty and rich? well it's some kobe-similar-beef that they use and the sauce they had was super2 rich. it was nice at first but 3/4 way in, it's too much. had the $2 bacon add-on, wow-weee! it's worth the $2, wherever i bite it's all bacon. $50 cents add-on for sweet potato fries, it's a nice companion for the saltiness of the burger. no milkshakes here... why? don't want to get a triple bypass today! (double bypass is burgers + bacon, triple is with milkshake for me!) i think it's going to be too much for a late lunch if i got the triple bypass! ahahah! oh side note. service was fast, albeit the dirty glass i got. has some gunk from previous milkshake... darn, was 1/2way drinking my water when i realized this. brought the glass to the waitress to get a change and no sorry whatsoever... minus poinnntttt!!!!!!!! $16 for burger lunch was too much for me. i might try the dork burger next time but aint gon finish it alone! all in all sort of disappointing because yelp gave a 3 and it was a pricey lunch...
(3)kim b.
Met a friend last night for Happy Hour in the bar. The bar was packed and it was SO LOUD that I practically had to yell across the table to my friend. It's so industrial inside that there's no where for the sound to go but be bounced around and around. The happy hour food prices are decent. They have a $1.95 mac and cheese sampler which was very good. Very small size but fun. We had the tater tot nachos which were also hot and crispy when we got them. It's a pretty big order but needs more toppings. There was a little cheese and bacon bit, hot ketchup and a little dribble of something white. They have a pinot grigio for their house wine which is a nice change from everyone else's chardonnay. I know many folks found the atmosphere fun. I found it kind of sterile and the place has a weird layout. I wouldn't got back at full price, ever, and even happy hour is questionable due to the noise level.
(2)E B.
Good food, but portions aren't as big as you would think for the price. I am not a fan of huge plates of food, but the burgers are only 1/4 lb and cost $14. Thats pretty steep! Then to be charged extra for a little side of bbq sauce is pretty insulting. Food was really good, and the service was pleasant, but the prices are a bit much. If they were more reasonable, say $11-12 for a burger and fries I would be inclined to return. They have a good concept...just to expensive.
(3)Greg B.
Great food. Great experiments. Will return without a doubt.
(4)Kali O.
Super excited to see more places with personality opening up in Bellevue. I love the decor and theme of this restaurant and glad some of these iconic Seattle places are spreading east (did I say that already?) Now we just need Mighty-O, Marination Mobile, and High 5 pies to get on over here. This place to me is like Red Robin for grown ups. They are probably insulted by that but I grew up loving Red Robin, and this is hitting that special nostalgic spot while feeding my need for flavor. It's more about what's on your burger than the actual burger, and I am totally down with that. I had a Reece's shake, breaking my rule of only natural consumption, and it was totally worth it. The shake was that perfect nirvana of milkshake texture, the maximum amount of thickness you can drink through a straw and silky smooth. and chocolatey! I'm glad they are not hugenormous either, no pressure to finish what I know I can't. I will definitely drink one with booze in it for happy hour sometime. I had the spicy burger and it was delicious. I want to swim in the jalapeno ranch dressing that goes on it. And it is also as much bacon as beef and lord knows we love our bacon. I also love the array of flavored salts that go on the table, I had fun with those. I ordered tots with my burger and I think I will get fries next time... they weren't quite as hot and crispy outside soft inside as I was hoping. Service was good except at the end our server left his business card for his private investigation service at our table... awkward. I hate that people complain how expensive it is. Expensive compared to Jack in the Box, yeah, but not really more money than the mediocre food you buy at Bell Square all the time so shut up about it. This place is about three blocks from my apartment so I am stoked to have a new fun happy hour spot and will hopefully be going again soon.
(4)He M.
Good burgers, my favorite is the duck-chicken. Their burgers are super greasy, i always ask for my bacon on the side so that i can dry it. They take the passport card, yay! The waits are quite long. 30+ minutes even on a slow afternoon 45+ minutes on a busy lunch.
(3)Neil C.
If you think a burger should set you back $20 (with a beverage), then this place is for you. I have been there a couple of times. Both times I was a bit underwhelmed. The burgers are tasty - you sort of need a shower after you eat there - but I spent $6 at Dicks recently, and had a burger and fries that was comparable. Won't be a regular thing for me.
(3)Trisha B.
Bad ass burgers. Up there with Redmill come for kick ass hour... 4 dollar cocktails.
(4)Mike K.
Awesome spot to grab a mac & jack's and a burger!! I've been here a few times, the dogsticks are a good appetizer. The hothead burger is ridiculous!!! The homage to the dicks deluxe is pretty good and so is the smoker. The tots and fries are good but nothing special, put some bacon salt on them to step it up a notch. If you have room after all this food get the Reeses shake its damn good!!!
(5)Dino M.
Been wanting to go after hearing great things about seattle location and the weekly review 15 min wait to get seated 30 for food burger was good but for $$ expected a little more
(3)Victor S.
This place rocks; cool servers, kick ass "adult" shakes and the burgers are cool too... I had stayed away from the place because of less than positive reviews, but decided to have lunch there last Saturday. Nothing to complain about, the place has a cool vibe, not easy to find on the Eastside, prices are what you'd expect for a high end burger joint. I'll be back!
(4)Todd L.
Not for the faint of heart or light of stomach. Show up hungry and without dietary restrictions and you shall be rewarded with a serious meal that will make even the most wired want to enjoy a midday nap. Amazing burger concoctions, legit tots, great beers on tap and what look like amazing shakes I've yet to try. The bar is fun and has all the sports channels plus the sweet gal who tends during the day is a gem. It's my new go-to spot when I'm ready for a 4-digit calorie lunch and a noon match.
(4)Erin-Elizabeth A.
I was so excited to try this place, as I've heard so much about it, so one free afternoon my man and I stopped in for lunch. It was pretty busy but were seated right away. After glancing at the menu we ordered two burgers with side salads for both and a beer for myself. Our server was very friendly, and when I mix up was made on my burger I was quickly informed about the issue and still received my lunch in a reasonable amount of time. The burger was MASSIVE and while it can look appealing beforehand, trying to eat it is a whole mess in itself. I kind of had to turn it into a burger salad in an effort to eat it while still enjoying the delicious flavors. My boyfriend was content with trying to shove it in his mouth while most of it fell on his lap. Afterwards we received our check and were stunned to see the price, almost $70 for two people to have burgers and salad??? Don't get me wrong, the food is good, but these are burgers people, and I've definitely have had the same if not better from other places for much cheaper. We weren't even expecting to get charged extra for the side salad as we thought it came with the meal, and our server didn't bother to tell us otherwise. Save your money and definitely try somewhere else.
(3)Eric P.
Really fantastic - amazing burgers, among the best shakes I've ever had, great fresh-made chips.
(4)Roxy Z.
Good burgers, good sauces, and good tater tots like everyone has been saying but it is waaay expensive for what burgers should be. For three people we ended up paying close to 60! $20 per person for a burger meal seems a little pricey to me considering other places like red mill or kid valley have equally good burgers and sides!
(3)John D.
Not too busy for a Friday evening which was nice. For not being busy I would have expected better service though. I got the Santa Fe Slammer which was good, except the bun. Overall I thought it was good but nothing great.
(3)Juju L.
great place to have fancy burger. a lot choice for the side.
(4)Paul J.
I have nothing but praise for the lunch box. Great food, better service.
(5)Leigh C.
I have been here several times. Their burgers are greasy and heavy but in general pretty good. It's about $15 a burger and I recommend their skinny fries as well. I haven't tried the shakes. The reason I am only giving them 2 stars was because of my last experience there. My husband and I were looking for a quick bite on a weekday night with our 15 month old son. They placed us in a booth in one of the corners of the restaurant. Both tables next to us were getting attentive service, but for some reason, no one was greeting us or even acknowledging that we were sitting there. About 20 minutes into just sitting there, my husband got up and asked the hostess to find out who our server was and send them over. Still, no one came. After 30 minutes I was fed up and wanted to leave, but we decided to let the manager know what happened before we left. She came over and looked extremely frazzled and out of breath like she had been running a marathon. We told her what happened and she explained that because our table was in the corner, it was confusing as to which server our table belonged to. Sorry, but that's BS and a lame excuse in my opinion. Someone should have noticed that we were sitting there unattended and said, "Have you been helped yet?" Anyway, the manager said she would wait on us herself and pay for our dinner if we would stay. Although I appreciated the gesture, I told her that wasn't the point and we left. I do enjoy their food, but I don't know if I'll be back.
(2)Margaret S.
The positives -- 1) free indoor parking, 2) pretty good burger (crazy, but we think its better than the burger served at Ruth Chris for lunch) 3) 4.99 cheese burger for kids 4) good fries (both the shoe string and the sweet potato) 5) fun decor. The negatives -- 1) loud music (would be nice if they could turn down the music a bit). If you don't want to be surrounded by kids, I would suggest avoiding coming here on a Saturday for lunch. In addition to the loud music, there were tons of kids. So many kids that they ran out of kids' menus and they had to print one out for our kid. The $4.99 price for the kids' cheese burger is clearly the attraction here; it is the same basic cheeseburger that is on the "regular" menu. Although we were able to grab the last table at 1230 p.m., when we left at 130 p.m. there were at least several parties waiting for a table. We will certainly be back!
(3)Andy A.
Not at all like the Ballard location I visited a few years ago. Tried the happy hour. The signature item is Scotty's Classic Drive In, 2 burgers and fries. Expect them to be indistinguishable from McDonalds cheeseburgers. May come back, but only to order off the normal menu.
(3)Orin B.
I went for a second time. The service is improving, though still not quite there, but I will be back.
(4)B G.
I will say I like the Seattle one ever slightly better because of the rumpus room upstairs and the busy scene, but the food is always consistent at both locations. My go to site for a gourmet burger!
(5)Kim G.
This place is amazing! Delicious burgers (including the black bean) and I personally loved the nutella milk shake! Taylor the host was incredibly nice and makes me want to came back again! I hope to return for dinner very soon!
(5)Em N.
I was "greeted" by a snooty brunette who looked at me like I was a loser when I had to sit alone because they don't do take out orders until after 2:00 pm. The burger was good, but asking 13-15 dollars for a burger is outrageous. That doesn't even include a beverage. Next time I get a burger craving, I'll stick to Fat Burger.
(2)Austin R.
Fun Cool place for a meal! When you first walk in you can immediately feel the unique atmosphere this restaurant has to offer. The restaurant is designed like an old school lunch box with the old school colors painted on the wall and plenty of lunchboxes for you to look at sitting on the walls. Now if you want a really good burger then this is the place to go. Every burger I have had here has been an amazing burger. They have so many different selections but the two I usually get is the hot head burger and the lamb burger. Both burgers are great I recommend them both. The hot head is my favorite however. The patty comes cooked to perfection and with the hot head it comes with their own homemade chipotle sauce that drips out of the burger and gives the burger that spicy hot taste. Next you have the side for your meal. They have so many different options but I have always gotten the cheesy tots. The tots are very good and at your table you will have a great selection of spices to choose from to add to your tots. I however like to add garlic to them giving them a good taste between the cheese and the garlic. So if your looking for a fun place to bring someone and a place to get a great burger their I will always recommend this place. The Lunchbox Laboratory!
(4)Eric Y.
This is a lot worse than the original one, the burger is small, the patty is much smaller. The mac and cheese isn't as tasty. overall, i'd rather go to other burger places. I heard the Seattle branch does relatively better.
(2)Greg R.
Love the food. Cool bar area. Kind of a weird layout but fun and funky. For some reason I like the SLU one better though.
(4)Alan K.
The food is quite tasty but very messy. They only provide cheap flimsy one ply napkins, so you will need a lot of them. The burgers are attractive, however there is no way to eat it by holding it as it will be all over you. I felt it was also a bit pricey for what you get. Decor is fun and interesting, however the noise level is almost unbearable. You will need to sit very close to the person you are with to carry on a conversation. It is more suited to the younger set.
(3)Richard H.
Went here on the way home from Whistler, BC the burger I had I thought was good- had a Kobe Burger but I wasn't to impressed with the skinny fries, The fries probably were the worst tasteless fries I had at a restaurant that is not a chain. I only had a couple of them and that was even after I had added Rosemary and Hickery spices to it. The Strawberry Lemonade I had I thought was real good, just wish they had refills on it like you get at Red Robin! We probably will be back, not sure when it will most likely be a while.
(3)Taylor T.
This is the place to be if you are looking for some major comfort food. Don't worry after you leave here you will definitely feel guilty eating all those calories. The tator-tots are so addicting and delicious. People that are obsessed with tator-tots usually get the gavatchos as the appetizer. However, if you do choose to order this appetizer make sure you get light sauce. Its smothered in sour cream, cheese, and cheese sauce and it can be overwhelming and make the tator-tots soggy and just gross. The burgers are pretty good because of how authentic they are created. I personally like the DORK. Duck+Pork patty on a burger. Its different and not your typical burger. I personally enjoy duck and I feel like it makes the patty even more flavorful. You can always build your own burger or they have classic burger options. The sauces and toppings they have available makes the burgers so delicious. Recently, the just added the macaroni and caesar said dish. The macaroni is by the far the best macaroni I have ever had! Its creamy and the top is usually baked with a crispy crumble. You can add meat to the pasta of your choice. The caesar on the other hand, I have had better. The shakes are really good too! I definitely recommend the nutella one! This place is definitely on the pricier side for burgers... However, if you are a Microsoft employee you can use your prime card and get buy one dish and get another dish equal or lesser value for free. There is also a lot of promos on groupon for this place too!
(4)Michael L.
Close to work and home hard to go wrong here Try the Classic drive in for 6.99 Two cheeseburgers and sweet taters and all the ketchup you can imagine If you haven't had one of the Coney Island bloody Mary's yet then put it on the list. Susan and I like it so well we made a at home recipe to rival Great location looking towards Lake Bellevue and East Great free parking under Elements building 2
(4)Scott K.
Meh. My work sponsored a dinner here, and I'm always anxious to try new indie restaurants when I travel (especially when it's on the company dime!). This seems like one of those places that tries to be hip simply by putting on the gradeschool nerd motif. We had a few choices of cocktails, but when I saw the "Tang-O-Rita" I was pretty turned off. Yeah I get it- it's cool to be retro, and Tang is super retro. But there's a reason it isn't on the shelves anymore. It's NOT GOOD. I ordered the other cocktail choice, some type of Peach Schnapps and whiskey drink. It was mouth puckering sweet, the kind that hits the back of your throat and burns a bit. Not good either. Stuck to beer after that. The burgers were decent- maybe a bit above average, but nothing amazing. Fries were cold (granted, served buffet style so that's hard to keep warm and fresh). If I lived here it's unlikely I'd come back, other than if I were close by and needed a quick burger fix.
(3)Vicky M.
I heard about this place from a friend and decided to come here with my brother. When you come in its nothing special, kind of reminds me of Applebee's or Red Robin on the inside. We asked for outside table, which was much better, had a pretty view of the city. My brother ordered one of their burger creations- don't remember which one it was. They have a menu which changes every week/ month and consists of cool new creations/combinations of ingredients. Also ordered the famous tator tots, I ordered the Mac and cheese and a chaser salad. We also ordered the "Russel Wilson" (I think that's what it was called) drink. It was cool, it came in a beaker and was fun! The wait was not long but not fast either, which was fine because we had a lot of catching up to do, but if you are in s hurry it might get frustrating. Good was good, not excellent, nothing special really.. The tator tots were just simple tator tots with a cheese and BBQ sauce on top. The burger was good, the Mac and cheese was creamy, no complaints. The drink was probably my favorite of all the items. I think this place is more about the experience rather then the taste, it's a really fun place to come to and see everything and have fun with your food!
(4)Reba H.
The menu is extraordinary! I give this restaurant an A for originality and creativity. However, I find that most of their items are high in calories and too exotic to take serious. The staff is mildly engaged, but friendly. There is outdoor seating and the condiments including napkins and whatever else you can think of is at the ready and plentiful. If you have one of those days that you feel like being gluttonous and bingeing out on fried and fatty food this is the place to go. Don't come here expecting a healthy salad though. Located in downtown Bellevue it's convenient enough. The drinks are okay. I tried a mixed cocktail with crown apple and it wasn't very good. I actually prefer straight liqour to the mix. If you like a creative menu and fatty foods made for indulgence its worth a visit!
(3)Jamie M.
There was a lot more wrong with this place than there was right. We ordered the All 'Merican Burger and the Gavachos Tachos (loaded tater tot nachos). The burger was below average and the Tachos weren't drained from grease and then were smothered in a pool, literally a pool of a mayo mixture and lacked flavor. They were so awful. Nothing was right about this location. We ate outdoors but went inside the bar area to pay and it was dirty. We won't return.
(1)Ka T.
If you want to feel like a child, come to this place and get your adult milk shake with booze. Hood burgers, but a bit messy to eat. Highly recommend the lamb burger
(5)Julie R.
First time trying this restaurant. They have fun laboratory inspired interior and atmosphere. Great place to come with kids :) Tried their The Dork Burger and it was surprisingly delicious! I think this will be the burger I will get whenever I come here... Not so sure about their service however... I was done eating and gave my card twenty minutes ago and I am still waiting for the check....
(3)Nam N.
I love the idea and concept of this place. You can mix and match and do whatever your heart pleases with a burger. It wouldn't be so great for someone who is indecisive though. The service was good and the atmosphere chill. I love salt, so the big selling point was the 8 different blends of salt they had at the table. My personal fave was the habenaro salt, got a little bit of heat to it. Foodwise I wasn't blown away - quality and build was all there but flavors were just "mehh" at best. I'm pretty picky when it comes to burgers - I haven't really had a terrible one (outside of fast food that is) but I still look for a melody of flavors and textures. LL's burgers still tasted deconstructed in my mouth, i could taste each layer and each ingredient. Nothing really pulled it all together for me. It's also not the cheapest at $12/average a burger but it was fun to check out nonetheless.
(3)Cotten S.
My sister actually talked me into this place for my Birthday versus 5 guys. Was disappointed of not going to 5 guys. The Good: Free Birthday Shakes and perfectly cooked fries. The chocolate shake was really good. The Bad: the American burger was mediocre at best, burger was dry. The portion was pretty small for the price. We ordered the tater tot appetizer, either the waitress forget to put the order in, or one of the other servers totally forgot. After we were finished with our burgers, we had to flag her down and asked about our tater tots, her response " they didn't serve you them?" We kind of ought that was her job to either serve them or follow up. She brought them out and told us they were free. The table next to us had the exact same issue. Might be mismanagement. The Tatar tots were ok, little too rich for our taste. Cool location, good lucking menu, but the food was subpar.
(2)Bethy W.
This used to be my favorite joint for a veggie burger and fries, in Bellevue. Recently they have been cutting food costs at the loss of the diner! They have changed out the fries from shoestring to thicker less quality potato, which when it comes to a burger joint is a big deal! If you are a fry snob like me, check out Tipsy Cow. Those truffle fries are to die for!
(3)Aimeé R.
Lunchbox Laboratory is an excellent place to try an all natural burger sensation. They feature all beef patties, veggie, chicken, turkey and combo meats (the dork and churkey). You get one side with your meal and substitutions are allowed and encouraged (some for an extra charge listed on the menu). Try the alcohilic milkshakes for an adult experience. The place also has an event hall called the Event Lab which is good for 20-60 peeps. There is also a teivia night on Mondays. Enjoy!
(5)Lexis W.
I've been wanting to come here for weeks now and I finally did a couple days ago. I think i had higher expectations but I also liked the decor and style of the restaurant. Except I didn't get to enjoy much since my bf & I were sat at one of the corner tables and my view the whole time was the dish pit area. I was pretty disappointed. The menu was pretty unique if you're a burger person. Service was very friendly. The shake was delishhh tho!
(3)Quinn C.
We love the sweet potato fries here. Or at least I do. I think for what you pay you should get more than the bowl that accompanies the burger. We came in on Sunday afternoon around 12:30 and the place was full of kids. Kids in a restaurant is pretty effective birth control in my mind. We split a lettuce wrapped dork burger and added bacon and an egg. Nothing exceptionally surprising except the bill but I'll get to that in moment. The burger itself was quite good. Even with a gluten free boyfriend I would order lettuce wraps without him as I like that they don't bog down the belly with heaviness, plus it adds a refreshing texture change from squish to more meaty squish. The dork was full of flavor and was cooked well but this isn't your regular "medium, well done, etc" kind of patty. The sweet potato fries were nice and crispy and came with a little side of the garlic aoli which I assume was meant for the burger, but we ate it anyway. My favorite thing about this place are the variety of salts on the table. Rosemary, cinnamon salt, habanero, garlic and some smokey kind. The Tabasco + habanero salt went really well with the fries, sweet and spicy! Service was slow. We received waters and despite being ready to order, our server ran to attend another table and said he'd be right back.... 15 minutes later. He was really knowledgeable and i know he was busy, but 15 mins? The price of this place is stupid, I understand we are paying for a local joint but one burger and 1 side should NOT cost $20. I feel this place may be succumbing to the rental prices of Seattle/metropolitan area; who can really justify $20 for a burger? Unless I hit the lottery I don't intend to be back too often.
(3)Monica P.
Lunchbox Laboratory is a fun place to go eat! They have lots of interesting/unique milkshake flavors as well as amazing burgers! On my second trip I ordered the salad. It was huge, beautiful and delicious. I also ordered a side of tator tots and loved the crunchiness of each tot. It's a great place to go for lunch if you don't mind it being a little loud there.
(4)Kacey C.
Was my first time at this location, parking was a little hard to find at first but there were more than an abundance of spots. The restaurant is smaller than expected and the waiter put us in a small corner away from everyone else which gave us very limited service. However, when we were waited upon, service was great. Food was delicious, and creative which was fun. They were also able to accommodate for my gluten/dairy intollerance which was a major plus! The ambiance was sub par in the main restaurant but they had an event room that looked fun. Bathrooms are outside the restaurant and you'll need a code to get in, which was a little bit of an inconvenience, But definitely not a deal breaker. All in all 4 out of 5 would do again.
(4)Tony C.
Loved the food and drinks here! Very great, energetic atmosphere with an awesome retro lunchbox theme! They have a bunch of unique themed menu items and alcoholic drinks. It all tasted amazing! If you are in Bellevue you have to try this place! The restaurant is small. Wait times can take a while, but it is worth the wait!
(5)Mark B.
Love Lunchbox Lab!!! I used to go the original, and love it from the first bite. Since they expanded from a mom and pops status to multiple location chain, their food seems different. But not in a bad way. Most of their burgers are delcicious and offere just about any combination of ingredients to cater to your liking. I love going here for Happy Hour. Their Scotties burger (homage to the Dick's Burger) is pretty good for the price. Two regular sized cheese burgers with "special sauce" and a side of fries or tots! Who doesn't love tots! They gavacho tachos are delcious. Think loaded tater tots! If you like pork rinds, get the rinds of life! Always fresh tasting and delcious to dip into their tapatio dipping sauce! With all that delcious food, don't forget to try any of their delcious shakes. Giving you that real lunchbox lab experiene when served in a beaker glass.
(4)Jenna G.
The adult cinnamon toast crunch milkshake is to die for. Drool. Slurp. Groop. I loved it. Cant wait to have another next time I'm in town!!
(5)Leojik K.
Lunchbox laboratory is the place I go to for a late night dinner. It's one of the few places open after 10. I've been here many times and it's generally been a great experience. Love Mediterranean Marvel and Dork. The burgers taste very good and never disappoints. Best part is that this place accepts Microsoft Prime and so we get one entree free with another.
(4)Neil H.
Fun place and great burgers and apps. Whitney, our server was very nice,informative, and pleasantly attentive after asking if this was our first visit. She explained the specials and rotating menu. Its a really cool concept and the burger were great. The pork rinds got the neighboring tables attention still popping and snapping. All in all a great spot for a burger and a beer.
(5)Gabriel C.
BOGO entree with Prime Card. 4/5 if you have access to the prime card deal, otherwise, just 3/5 since it is a tad on the expensive side. Will definitely be returning to get another burger! Dork (duck pork patty) - 4/5. Delicious burger with a thick, rich, moist patty with a big slab of monterey jack cheese. For some reason, the garlic mayo had a lighter flavor than I expected, but still delicious. Burger of the Gods - 3/5. Strong blue cheese flavor and delicious supergorgonzola spread to complement the beef patty. Flavors all work very well together withouth being too heavy.
(4)Dan H.
The burgers are always a good portion and uniquely flavored. Combined with a beer, it's a great alternative to the run of the mill burger. The fries and onion rings will do but nothing too special. In all, it's a great place to add to the lunchtime rotation but nothing I'd go out of the way to eat.
(3)Sabrina F.
Been wanting to check out this place for awhile and finally had the chance a few weeks ago. First off, I loved the theme of the place with all the different lunchboxes - I'm such a nerd for things like that. It's a bit smaller than I expected but it wasn't busy so we were seated right away. Our server was really nice, but I forget her name :( I got the classic American burger which was delicious. But a little hard to eat considering how thick it was. But compared to my usual burger that I get at Red Robin, I liked it a lot more. I also got a Nutella shake which was AMAZING. Loved this place overall, but I did find it just a little pricey. But I definitely will be coming back.
(4)Joan L.
I've been to this location many times as a local. And today was by far the worst experience ever. The service was great. No complaints there. But the kitchen was unorganized and lazy and it showed in the food. I ordered the James West burger and on the menu it said the meat was seasoned with a steakhouse rub. I like to knife and fork my burgers because I don't like getting my hands messy. I tasted the meat on its own to see what it taste like and there was no seasoning on the meat. Not even salt and pepper. Bland and dry. Tasted like maybe it was premade and sat in a warmer. I'm paying 13 dollars for this??? Next, the tots. When they came, it was in a nice warm bowl but the tots themselves were lukewarm and soggy. We asked our server for a fresher batch, but they brought out the same thing. Soggy cold tots in a warm bowl. We had to tell our server AGAIN and he had the kitchen fry up a fresh order. Seriously. Is lunchbox going into the fastfood business? Precooked dry burgers and tots sitting under the warmer??? Not cool, Lunchbox. Not cool.
(2)Jessica M.
Been hearing about this place for quite awhile now and we are happy we stopped in. Cute theme, fun experimental menu, kid friendly, greasy yet delicious burgers, crazy tater tot appetizer that I definitely recommend and we had great service. We try not to eat greasy burger type meals often so we won't be returning soon but when we have a craving, it will be nice to have another great burger option. BONUS: It's on the passport (microsoft prime) card right now... BOGO!
(4)Elisha T.
I've had lunch twice here, and this is my first time dining here for a dinner with my friends. It's Wednesday today and I went there around 9pm, so obviously there weren't that many people dining there. If you are eating at a restaurant like this, you shouldn't be surprised to feel 'fat' afterwards (and I did feel it that way here). So let me take that out of an equation and rate them in comparison to other burger shops around the Bellevue. The food I had tasted pretty good including Truffle Love burger, crispy side Tator Tots, spicy Gavacho's Tatchos (tots with sauces on), the Rinds of Life (pork rinds), and let's not forget their Oreo shake. The server was friendly and genuine in his service unlike servers at other restaurants who just repeat the routine scripts. So I'd say the server contributes well to the experience of dining here. The only few disappointments I had were on the buns of burger which really didn't taste that good to finish off, and the fries that were skinny and soggy to even consume more than few pieces. Overall a nice place to hang out with friends for late night hang outs.
(4)Aaron B.
Novel yet greasy, this place is fine if you are okay with an unhealthy burger (and definitely wins bonus points for the unique twists). The meat is certainly not top quality and the trimmings are not fresh. But if the idea of a pork and duck meat burger with Monterey Jack cheese and a thick mayo appeals to you, then definitely check this place out... it was yummy. If you are looking for high quality beef and fresh ingredients without a helping of saturateda fat -- I mean sauce -- there are quite a few better options in Bellevue and the rest of the east side. Service was super slow, so don't come here if you are in a rush. If you do come here, be sure to bring you passport prime card and ask for the sauces on the side.
(3)Chanel C.
Came here on a saturday night and it was busy with a 15 minute wait. I was expecting service to be really slow (from other reviews) but orders were taken within 5 mins of sitting down and food came in another 10mins. Not too bad. Ordered the oreo shake, which I think they could've added more oreo to. I much prefer the oreo mcflurrys at McD's. I got Le Truffle love burger and my friend go the Dork burger with sides of tater tots and skinny fries. I couldn't taste the truffle flavor, and there was nothing special about the taste of the Dork burger. The tater tots were good - just really greasy and the fries weren't bad. I wasn't asked how I liked my burger cooked and it was partially my fault for forgetting to mention it. When the food came, the waiter says the default is medium however when I bit into it it was definitely well-done. Cute theme and I respect their creativity, but I would not come here again.
(2)Kuljit S.
To start off with, I'm a vegetarian and it's hard to find places that don't use the Boca burger garden patty for their veggie burger. So when I find a place that tries AND delivers on a good veggie patty, they have my business! I love their HH and always come here when I have a craving for burgers in Bellevue. My friends like their normal burgers as well. The normal price is little high for burgers, but with HH the sliders are a great price and will fill you up. Plus the servers are always great.
(4)Tony L.
We stopped by Lunchbox Lab after the main lunch rush, and were seated immediately. Although the place is a little hidden, I like the fact that it is away from the busier parts of Bellevue, and I like the fact that there is a lot of free parking available in the underground parking lot. We ordered: Churken burger with avocado and mushrooms: this burger was ok, but it would probably taste better with a full chicken breast, instead of chopped (ground) up chicken and turkey. Truffle Love burger: this burger was good, and came with Swiss cheese and bacon, although I couldn't taste any truffle flavor. We got both the shoestring fries, as well as the tater tots, and the tots win hands down. They also take the Passport card, but since it was a holiday, I couldn't use it. I would probably come back and try their happy hour deals next time.
(3)Bryan B.
5 stars to the GM Mike Mercer. After having an average visit during my first stop, in which we never received our app, Mike reached out to us and wanted to make sure we had a satisfying experience. After receiving a gift certificate in the mail we visited for dinner and had an great time. I couldn't shy away from the Tearjerker burger and tots, which was top notch. We also ordered the Hong Kong Hot Wings which were delicious. It was almost like buffalo chicken wing dip inside an egg roll. While eating, Mike swung by our table for refills, not knowing who we were in person. Always awesome to see a GM or manager who cares about helping out their staff. Thanks for allowing us to have an awesome dinner! We'll be back soon for a burger and shake.
(5)Niki H.
The Pros: The theme of the restaurant is very cute. There are cute Lunch Boxes everywhere. The menu is filled with interesting sounding options. The Tang was served in a laboratory beaker (loved it); the seasoned salts are a great touch. Our waiter was super helpful and friendly. Portions sizes are good. Kids would probably find this place interesting. The Cons: The price to quality of food ratio is a bit too high. I could have the same experience at In/Out burger for a fraction of the price. I didn't like my Whopper Shake at all...it had a slimy consistency. I wasn't wowed by either the taste of their hamburger, tater tots or Mac & Cheese. This place was Ok to try once, but I probably won't eat there again. However, I am going to put Tang on my shopping list...I forgot how much I love the stuff.
(3)Sarah R.
Let me just say - I really like the food here - I do! Tater tots are my jam and the tots here are always hot, fresh, and perfectly salty. I dig on veggie patties as well, and the black bean patty here is legit. Normally veggie patties are heavy on the mushroom (not my fav) so I am happy to report not a mushroom to be found here. The toppings are fresh and tasty - there are just a LOT of them. The cooks have a very heavy hand when it comes to topping your burger which is fine until your burger is just TOO slippery you cannot eat it with your hands, you now have to fork & knife it. The amount of sauce they add is just TOO much. Ask for your sauce on the side. I promise you, you won't regret it. The buns, as said in previous reviews are really greasy - if you're not down with a sopping wet bun, perhaps you should order it "dry". The milkshakes are fun and whimsical and every now and then you may catch me ordering one... More often than not, I'll stick with my beloved PBR. The Service: Eh, hit or miss. One server lost my credit card once and tried to convince me for 10 mins I never gave it to her, only for it to be found by a trusty customer ON THE FLOOR where she walked away to. She didn't say "sorry" or "ohmygosh, I am so embarassed"... just an "oh, that's weird". Rude right! In my opinion, you get better (faster) service in the bar. Now here is where I am not so keen on LBL - see, they have a no substitutions policy. Like, not at all. You can't swap the cheese, toppings or the sauce. They have a build your own burger but that ends up being like a $16 burger. I have found that you can ask for sauces to be "held" and then order a different one on the side if you want to go that route. The servers are like "oh, we can't do that because then the so and so burger isn't really a so and so" which would be fine BUT they let you add toppings so in theory, the so and so isn't a so and so anymore but that's okay because they're now able to charge you more.
(3)Monica N.
I am trying to diet, otherwise this is the place i would like to go to every weekend. Food quality is great and above that people working there are great and lively, they listen to you as what you want and they take initiative to deliver to your choice. I was impressed with them :) Monica Nagar / Monica Choudhry !!
(5)Amanda S.
The milkshakes here are good and really thick. The burgers we ordered were cooked well but they were pretty greasy. Tons of bacon. This is not like the original one in Greenlake area. It's much more classy but they lost the unique crazy sauce bar. Pricey as well. Would not be my go to burger place.
(2)Mel R.
Pleasantly surprised. We decided to visit this restaurant at the last minute and went in not knowing what to expect. We got seated right away. I was pleased to see they offered more than just burgers. Our waitress was kind, attentive and efficient, and our food came quickly. My kids gobbled up their food which is always a good sign that the chef is doing something right :) I ordered the Mac and greens, my husband ordered the homage to dicks deluxe. Both were very tasty. Thank you LL for a great first experience.
(5)Arvin K.
Interesting menu /concept...! The burgers are good but on the expensive side. Like reviews suggest, get toppings on the side or the bun gets soggy. We were a bit disappointed with the Totchos because the sauce/ topping made 'em pretty soggy. Nothing to write home about. The milkshakes are good.
(3)Shirley W.
1. Love their tachos, it's like nachos but with tots insted. 2. Burgers and sandwiches are pretty big 3. The orders comes with skinny fries and I Love skinny fries 4. Price is pretty reasonable for the portion they give (entree portion) 5. Really busy during lunch hour
(5)Nicole J.
I freakin love this place, simple as that. I love that they have unique burgers and appetizers you can't find anywhere else, perfect for the adventurous type. (Gotta love truffle mayonaise or 3 cheese fries!) But honestly I love being able to build my own burger from top to bottom. I can get as greasy and as big as I want and it never fails to be delicious. Everything about this place is just cool. The waiters, the food, the decor... Every time I want a burger here if my first option. And the shakes are amazing!
(5)Sandy K.
Checked out this place and had quick stop in for take out. Burgers are very juicy, best advice is get all toppings on the side! the burgers soak the buns and makes a messy eat. Flavors are good, not the best but not worse.... the set up is pretty cool and drink ideas great. fries and cheesy fries pretty good but not suggest take out....
(3)Anna P.
I don't live in Bellevue, but I work just up the road at Salon Tewl. I asked a coworker where she would recommend for a good lunch. She said to come here, and I'd heard the name before, so I went. It was tricky to find, tucked in, but it does have parking. The decor is certainly adorable- they keep their condiments in spiffy, old fashioned lunch-boxes. The service was ok. Most importantly, the food was good and bad at the same time. I had a veggie burger. The patty was delicious, and though the sauce was good, there was too much of it. The bun was disappointing; too greasy. By recommendation of the server, I chose to get their macaroni and cheese special. I was very disappointed. It was very greasy and had little flavor, and, of course, it was an expensive upgrade to my already-pricy meal. What I do recommend it their milkshakes. I purchased a Nutella Shake. I'll admit, it's by far the best shake I've ever had. Certainly opt for the smaller size though.
(3)Selena P.
So! I think this may be a go to place for people who are visiting Seattle Washington it's a really fun new restaurant to try. I had a pleasant experience I took note of other people's reviews about food and service and it seems to be very true food was excellent I order the James West burger with fries, I don't typically order burgers in general but this looked so appetizing and good so I thought I'd try it out. I'm a small 5" girl and I was only able to finish half of it haha it was so good savory and tasty I'd recommend this dish. The service however is a bit hard to determine considering it was my first time dining but everyone seemed happy, just were low on staff so It was hard to see if someone had arrived or not. Nevertheless it is a great place to stop by.
(4)Randy P.
I've been here a few times in the last year or two and I think it's just alright. The first few time I was here, service was great. I remember when the host forgot about my friend and I and actually ended up Gavin's us a free appetizer. That was very nice of him. Now, it seems like they have been getting worse and worse service wise. The server was slow and I felt like she forgot about us. Checked on us once during our whole time there. When we wanted to get a box to go, she forgot and we actually had to remind her. Food wise, the burgers are great. Smaller than most bugger places but I don't get that gross feeling after eating a burger compared to other places. I believe they are a little more healthier. Not that greasy either. Get to choose your side too which is great. The milkshakes are also amazing. The Oreo is amazing and so is the whoppers. All of them are great honestly. Except the salted caramel. I've had salted caramel drinks before and this one was just overly salty.... WAY too salty. I like to be brave and try items off their "experimental" menu and the salted caramel was on it. Maybe next time, I won't be that brave. Overall 4 stars. Definitely a place worth checking out. Minus once star just for the service. Everything else is amazing. Keep it up :)
(4)Connor A.
This is a great burger spot. Of the burgers I've tried, my favorite is the Hothead, which is beef, pepperjack cheese, spicy ranch, and bacon. The mac and greens is also a really good entrée. The drinks are fun as well- I like the 'Too Cool for School' which is made with their Koolaid flavor of the week. A word of caution: this place is a little pricey.
(4)Theresa D.
I've been a Lunchbox Lab fan since back when it began in Ballard. I have fond memories going there with my co-worker and splitting a burger and fries, and getting my own milkshake. I remember how juicy the burger was, how it fell apart, and the ENORMOUS flavor. So I came here last night with a my bf and a buddy and I kind of thought it was just okay. We started off with the pork rinds and onion dip (my favorite part of the meal), but when I got to my blue cheese burger, I found it to be a bit bland. And it's BLUE CHEESE. Blue cheese is never bland. The salts were running very low, which is too bad since I think that was part of the old lunchbox lab experience, and I didn't think the tater tots were much better than the frozen variety. All in all it was okay time, but it wasn't as mind blowing as I remembered back in its Ballard days. I was a bit disappointed and think there are better gourmet style burgers available. Don't laugh but I kind of love the burger at Nordstrom Grill in Bellevue Square.
(2)Vishal S.
Bad service but food is good. Had to wait on the table for 15 mins to get anyone's attention
(3)Joop V.
Great place to go for burgers. Lunchbox definitely has a great selection of burgers and even if you can't find one that you like, you can assemble your own burger with the ingredients you want, too. I especially enjoy seeing the special menu that Lunchbox comes up every few weeks or so. It's just an interesting take on their burgers on whichever theme they come up at that time. Their drinks selection is also quite great. There are different types of beer, as well as their boozy milkshakes. I don't usually drink, but even their plain milkshake (I go for malt!) tastes quite good. The only drawback is that the price can be steep for a burger, especially if you try to build your own burger based on the ingredients you want (some toppings cost quite a bit and can add up quickly). Your burger also doesn't include a side (I don't think)..so say you want to add sweet potatoes fries as a side to your burger, it's going to cost you more, too. Overall, though, good burgers with interesting flavors. Quite a large portion, too!
(4)Beth F.
What a disappointment! Let's start with the burgers: I'm a fan of good, greasy burgers, but these things were way. too. greasy. The local, organic bun was drenched and soggy from oil so I ended up peeling off the last bit of it. (I had the sauce on the side and didn't add a tomato so there really was no other reason for the sogginess.) My burger came with bacon which was completely under-cooked (floppy). The husband had The Dork (duck + pork) which had an interesting flavor, but featured the same soggy greasiness. We both had tater tots for a side, which were good, but nothing spectacular. We could pop some frozen tots in our oven at home and come out with a similar result. Because we had heard that they have amazing milkshakes, we ordered an Oreo shake to share. A little on the runny side for our taste (we like a thick shake). Not awful, but nothing to write home about. They seem to pride themselves in their special sauces. I'm pretty sure their spicy ketchup is just Sriracha + ketchup. I don't know why that is so special. Finally, let's talk about the price. For two burgers and one shake, we paid $35 before tip. That seems pretty steep to me, especially given the poor quality. When we left, we were lamenting that we didn't just go down a few blocks to Red Robin (yeah, Lunchbox Lab was that disappointing).
(2)Erica T.
I was overall pleased with our visit to LL. The food and service were great. We shared the "dork" burger (duck and pork patty with cheese and onion), and one of the special burgers, which had a beef patty with onion, bacon, cheese, BBQ sauce and pineapple mayo. The special burger was awesome - sweet while a bit spicy. We also shared the tots and side mac and cheese. The tots were crispy, and went well with the flavored salts. This time I tried the rosemary and the habanero salts. The mac and cheese was rich and creamy, but was a bit much with the burger. The shakes are also very good. Imaginative yet not too wild to taste bad. We've tried several with good luck. I tend to lean towards the cocktails, which are mixed with flavored liquors and mixers like tang and kool aid. Surprisingly good! One annoying thing was the bathroom. It's outside of the restaurant and down the hall. Ask for the code to get in before you walk all the way down there!!
(4)Maren H.
If you are doing an event and need a party venue, CHECK THIS PLACE OUT! I just hosted a baby gender reveal party here in their private party room and even though there was a snafu (my fault) Mike and his team worked with me to find a solution that was awesome. The day of the event, the kids loved the free retro video games to play, (Pac Man, Super Mario Brothers 3, etc...) and the adults liked it too. The Bartender, Jennifer, was awesome and the food was super tasty and fresh. (veggie platter, Falafel and my favorite some kind of chicken wing ball thing that was TO DIE FOR) I can't say enough good things about the space and the group ... not only helping me in hosting a very fun event, but also for working with me even though I made an error. Excellent job! I will be back! PS AND they have gluten free buns!! YUMMO!
(5)Lemme K.
This was actually a pretty good place. Service was great - borderline excessive though but that's better than not coming over at all. Food was good. We had the dicks and the dork burger. Both had their unique flavors so it was hard to compare. The dork burger was a little on the bland side but it was still pretty good. The dicks had a little too much sauce for my taste. The tots and garlic fries was just ok, nothing special, I had better ones at some fast food chains. We also had the salted caramel and the almond joy shake which was both really good. The salted caramel was the right balance and the almond joy tasted like almond joy.
(3)Melanie A.
If you don't like corn dogs you will still like these. If you don't like pork rinds you will still like these...and if you don't drink you will want too.
(5)Landon N.
Creative concept. Enjoyed the feel of the restaurant with all the old school lunchboxes. The bar area where we were seated wasnt too crowded during the lunch hour which was nice. In a rather nice location in Bellevue. If you're not use to that area it might be difficult for parking although in sure there's a structure near by. The food was creative. I personally thought the menu was overwhelming but the waitress recommended a couple items and sauces for me and my friend. Heard the restaurant was more know for their mixed drinks so next time I come back I'll try that. Otherwise a nice place for a casual lunch
(4)Catherine G.
Cannot tell you if the food was good because we ended up not eating here. Went there last Friday afternoon and the service was horrible. No one was at the front and we waited a few minutes before anyone showed up. The guy wasn't friendly and actually took us and the couple waiting behind us to a table at the same time! He just dropped off our menus and kept walking. I didn't like the small two seater table so I suggested we just go to the bar. Not much better there. We sat down looking at the beer selection as the bartender continued her conversation looking at her phone with another coworker. At that point we decided to take our money elsewhere. Someone shouted "have a nice day" as we were leaving. Oh they do care? Maybe not because I wrote an email to the manager and did not receive a response. Looking for a great burger and fantastic service? Check out Tipsy Cow in Redmond!!!
(1)Chris C.
Went here one time about a year ago and it was ok, but thought it was relatively 'meh' for the price. Service was OK at best. Decided 6 months later that maybe it was an 'off' day and we'd give them another shot. We tried them again and it was even less impressive than the first time. I don't get the hype over this place. The burgers are "OK", but not fantastic. They seem like unique combinations, but nothing really wowed me. Way too pricey for the food and service they provie.
(2)Yekta A.
'merica f--k yeah! Get the 'Merica you wont regret it! Yes the tater tots are good, but the food is much better. My better half ordered the burger of the gods and he was in heaven, like moaning it was so good! Parking isn't that hard, just park in the Elements parking lot and take the elevator upstairs or walk up the stairs, either way you will end up at the sweet spot :-) plus just follow the amazing smell lol, you cant get lost!
(5)Denise S.
We just ate here ( 5/16/15). The burgers are really good, surprisingly good. Way better than your average burger. The sides are just ok. This place is pretty large and I wish we could have sat by the windows instead they sat in a booth in the corner. The burgers start at $10.99 which is a little pricy but really good. No lunch specials ( at least I didn't see any specials listed anywhere) but overall a good experience. I gave it 4 stars for the burger, but our experience was about 3 stars. I would come back but I'm not sure it would be on the top of my list.
(4)Stephanie B.
We visited this past Sunday. The location is on the second floor of The Elements. We missed it driving by the first time but we are new to the area. I appreciated the abundance of free parking below. I loved the retro lunch box decor as well as the drinks in the beaker glasses. For the app, we had theI ordered the Churken which was very delicious albeit messy. It was drowning in ranch. My boyfriend ordered the Hothead. For a dish to be named Hothead, it wasn't spicy at all. We both ordered the sweet potato fries which were perfect! Service was good except the server kept trying to up-sell us on everything. We already had a couple glasses of wine, an app, and two entrees and extra sauce. I just felt it was unecesary to keep asking if we wanted anything more. I'm all about doing it moderately and I understand it is part of the job but it just felt over-bearing. I wouldn't mind coming back but my boyfriend was not very pleased with his entree.
(3)