Genuine Burgers is not your typical burger joint. Owner Stephen Foster-Shaner and his team make almost everything on the menu from scratch, including ice cream for the milkshakes and ketchup for the hand-cut fries.

Every morning, the crew grinds only enough 100-percent grass-fed beef chuck for the day and bakes fresh buns from baguette dough. The cheese and bottled drinks are purchased; everything else is made in-house.

A former fine-dining chef, Foster-Shaner is intensely focused on flavor and ingredients at his four-month-old Silverdale restaurant.

Chef-owner Stephen Foster-Shaner and his team

“I want to serve the best quality ingredients at prices most everyone can afford,” he said. “It’s more important to me to put out something I care about, than to make a huge amount of money. If people keep coming back, then I can make a living doing something I believe in.”

Popular burgers include the Mushroom with garlic-sautéed cremini mushrooms, Swiss cheese and mayo, and the Barbecue with sharp cheddar, carmelized onions, barbecue sauce and mayo. Burgers are a third-pound of beef cooked to order and served with fries or a side salad for $10.95 or $11.95, depending on sandwich toppings. Foster-Shaner recommends ordering the burgers medium-well rather than well-done so they don’t dry out.

Don’t expect fast food. The hand-formed patties are cooked low and slow in a cast-iron skillet and take about 15 minutes. They are thick and juicy, and the buns have a nice texture that hangs together without getting soggy. While you’re waiting, slurp a chocolate, vanilla or mocha shake and check out the cool chalk-art octopus mural by Amanda Wearstter.

Not a meat-eater? Don’t despair. Foster-Shaner makes veggie burgers from scratch with black beans, mushrooms, onions, garlic, breadcrumbs, eggs and spices.

The restaurant is conveniently located in the Kitsap Peninsula’s retail hub and within walking distance of Silverdale hotels at 9517 Silverdale Way. Hours are 11-8 daily. Click here for a menu and more information.