We use a phrase “it’s not worth it” too often just by looking at the attached price tag, and without really thinking about what “worth” truly means to a person.

Most people would probably look at a $5,000 Hermes bag and think it’s so not worth it, but if that Kelly bag makes someone feel like a million bucks and feel truly happy sporting it, then maybe it is worth all the money. On a flip side, you might buy a $20 bag because it was on sale but never use it, then that bag truly wasn’t worth it, however much money you might have saved.

When I purchase something, I always do a simple math in my head. I take the cost of the item in question and divide it by projected usage. If I’m looking at a $200 pair of shoes and I know that I will wear it every day until the heels fall off, then I will happily dish out the money even if the price tag is in triple digit. This goes both ways. I won’t even accept those free gifts with purchase if I am certain that I won’t use them. It’s just not worth the space. (It took me a long time and many, many, complimentary bright pink lipsticks to get here.)

I take the same philosophy when I go out to eat. Although I’m trying to be as cost conscious as possible, I will dine at high-end restaurants and order expensive items on the menu if I feel that the dish will truly provide me with the one-of-the-kind experience. If the flavor of the dish takes me to a place where my palette have never gone before, or takes me back to a familiar place, I would consider it money well spent.

For this reason, I never hesitated spending outrageous amount at Father’s Office, a local burger joint that serves, as some put it, The Best Thing I Ever Ate. Its signature hamburger is legendary – with juicy medium rare patty atop caramelized onion and arugula (or was it spinach?). Both Santa Monica and Culver City locations are always packed with loyal patrons looking for the signature burger, a glass of ice-cold beer, and a good old time, and I have been dying to take a bite into that phenomenal experience that people’s been raving about for many, many months!

I finally had the chance to experience it when my boyfriend, his friend D, and I went to the Culver City location, for a late lunch last Saturday. My heart was jumping in joy as we walked up to the counter and I ordered my burger, a side of famous Sweet Potato Fries, and glass of dark, porter beer. I will admit that I became speechless for a second when the total for three burgers, one regular fries, two sweet potato fries, three beers, and a plate of beet salad came out to a whopping $90, but I knew that it will be worth every penny … or so I thought!

What I’m going to say now will probably upset many (and I mean many) Yelpers and Father’s Office worshippers but I would have to say … that it was SO NOT WORTH IT! I’m even going to go as far as to say that In-N-Out Burger is infinitely better. There, I said it. Please don’t be hating.

I have been to 25 Degrees, a hip, trendy, over-priced burger joint inside the Roosevelt Hotel in Hollywood, and spent the same $12 and although, in my opinion, no burger should cost that much, I actually liked it. I probably won’t go there regularly, of course, but I will definitely go back.

But it is with great sadness that I say this — that Father’s Office did not live up to the hype, and I probably won’t be coming back any time soon, if ever. The patty was dry, flavorless, and overcooked (I ordered mine medium rare but came out medium, and my boyfriend, who ordered medium, got one that was raw.  We had to swap them.) and the sweet potato fries with the $8.50 price tag were soggy and not impressive, and way too expensive for just wedges of potato! I would have to say that the salad and the beers were exceptional and I certainly won’t mind having them again but that’s pretty much it.

Would I go back to Father’s Office if the burgers and fries were cheaper? Maybe (and I even say this with great hesitation). Would I rather spend the same amount and buy myself and 30 of my friends a round of Double Double at In-N-Out? MOST definitely. But this place has nothing to worry about. There are plenty of Angelenos who’s willing to eat away their hard-earned paycheck on a mediocre burger, even in this tough economic times.

I’m just not one of them.

Father’s Office
3229 Helms Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90034
★★☆☆☆