Considering the huge variety of good local cheeseburgers available in Topeka it is amazing that anyone would open a Cheeburger Cheeburger franchise here. That made me want to give it a try. The trial quickly turned into an error!

The Experience: On being seated the lively young hostess asked if I had been to a Cheeburger Cheeburger and upon my reply in the negative decided to give me a lesson in menu reading. I don't mind being reminded of specials but, of course, there weren't any, just a standard menu. The diner is well lit and seems like something is missing, perhaps its flamingos. I am a shift worker and I dine at many Topeka restaurants at or near closing time. This one exhibits a familiar trait for low margin establishments. The staff seems bent on cleaning and closing the restaurant rather than providing a good, well prepared meal, service, and consideration of the customers remaining. The chairs were being placed on top of the tables before the doors were locked to more arrivals, long before several of the customers had left, and even before my order was taken. I ordered french fries and a chocolate milk shake with the highlighted Cheeburger, 1/3 lb., medium, with toppings of cole slaw, roasted red pepper, avocado, onion, and tomato. Of the 10 available cheeses my second choice was cheddar because I was informed that they had run out of pepper jack earlier in the evening! It's absolutely amazing that an obviously popular cheese choice can remain unavailable for even 10 minutes at this restaurant. (For those of you who have not been to the location it is in the parking lot of the Hy-Vee grocery store.)

The Food: The chocolate milk shake in a parfait glass was served first, along with a mason jar of water. what, really, a mason jar? The shake may as well have been pure chocolate syrup. Some may enjoy that but they are probably dining at Chuck E. Cheese and not at a premium cheeseburger restaurant.

The french fries were actually quite good, being the old fashioned kind with the skins still on them. It is a shame the tasty fries were delivered well after the cheeseburger. That was because they were started very late, after the cheeseburger was sitting dressed on the counter ready to be served. I observed this was common as the manager was consistently asking the kitchen for onion rings or fries after the cheeseburgers were prepared and set on the counter for serving (or bagging).

When the cheeseburger was served it appeared as though it might be overcooked, and it was. It was not medium, but beyond medium well, even beyond well done. Ground shoe leather is about the correct description. Although the toppings were fresh and tasty, even the cole slaw could not give this cheeseburger a feeling of moistness. To be honest, I would rather eat a cheeseburger from some fast food drive up window than another one of these dried out hides.

The Service: To be fair, my server did a good job in a bad situation. She informed the manager of my dissatisfaction with the overcooked beef patty and he did not charge me for it. But I am not a complainer and I don't go to restaurants to try to get a free meal by making some silly complaint. I see that all the time and it sickens me.

Bottom line: Avoid this restaurant until the management replaces its young, obviously well to do, "I don't need a job but my dad said I had to work this summer," kitchen staff with some good conscientious young people having at least a hint of a thought for the customer. Go somewhere else in Topeka for a good cheeseburger. You have plenty of choices and you know what they are already. If you need a suggestion, then I'll recommend the Red Robin because they have the widest variety of toppings. That seems to be what the Cheeburger Cheeburger is trying to imitate.

Everything we had here was wonderful, fresh and tasty. Great service, good employees. Loved the choices in cheeses, toppings, drink flavorings. Lots of fun, personalizing our meals.

Waiter doesn't have to be inconvenienced when you want to add/remove something from your order because they make everything to your specifications!

This will be a regular dinner stop.

Food was pretty good, though not great.

Couldn't stand the atmosphere though. Diner theme is lame and over-used. Then they serve your drinks in mason jars. MASON JARS. So is this diner set in the Ozarks?? then to top it off, most of the place is carpeted. Never been in a 50s diner with carpet until now.

If we go back, we'd probably get it to go.

Also not quite sure why you have to pay 99 cents extra for sauteed mushrooms and sauteed onions. They have artichoke hearts, onion rings, and other pricier options available for free....guess they figure enough people will want them they can get away with charging.