Traditionally, hamburgers are cuisine for the casual diner. Resting in between two pieces of bread is a thick and juicy patty just waiting for consumption.

Slap on a piece of American cheese and whatever choice of condiments desired, and you have yourself a cheeseburger.

At Elsa’s on the Park, 833 N. Jefferson St., they take the hamburger to a higher and tastier level.

Walking in through the glass doors on a Friday night, I found myself standing among hordes of people. Some were at the bar sipping mojitos and gabbing away to their friends, while others were seated at the beautiful tables, each adorned with a white rose in a black vase and a glimmering candle.

My dining partner and I were promptly seated by the wandering hostess/server, despite the bustling crowd. While waiting for our server (which did not take long, despite the crowd) my eyes wandered over to the unique artwork on the walls.

Graffiti-like painted canvases hung against the tall white walls of Elsa’s interior. Interesting at best, the artwork made me feel as if I was inside an abandoned building, not a classy cocktail lounge and eatery. Thankfully the food is fantastic.

Looking at the menu, I was quite pleased with the options available. Tasty burgers were on my mind and that is what I ordered on my first visit.

The Las Brisas burger ($9.50) was everything I expected it to be. The burger came topped with Monterey jack cheese, avocado, salsa, lettuce and onions. Not the healthiest choice on the menu, but at this point, there was no going back. The burger was so tasty; it was gone in 15 minutes.

My dining partner, somewhat of a vegetarian, ordered the Portobello Mushroom Sandwich ($8.50) and was also quite pleased. The usually overwhelming taste of the Portobello was balanced nicely with tomato and blanched potato toppings. Both of our sandwiches came with homemade waffle fries and fruit.

To end the evening we decided to take a look at the dessert menu. Among the many choices we went with the Strawberry Cheesecake ($6.75) which is imported from the famed Carnegie Deli in New York City.

One look at this gigantic piece of creamy heaven said that there was no doubt this was from New York. The size itself could easily feed a family of four or in our case, two 20-something females.

After fighting over the crust, we finished our dessert and were ready for the check. This affordable eatery did not empty my wallet and I left with a satisfied stomach. Later that evening, after a night out on the town, we went back to Elsa’s at 12:30 a.m. To our surprise, they were still serving food until 1 a.m.

Tempted to get the cheesecake again, we decided against it. We saved our waistlines and got a nightcap instead.

Elsa’s on the Park is a classy burger joint to gather with friends, family or even to impress your date. The prices are unbeatable and the food is finger-licking good.

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