Corner Post restaurant review—
A gem of a burger joint

by Joe Pecoraro, posted April 26, 2010

If you have been in Columbia for any prolonged amount of time, you have probably either heard about or eaten at the local pool hall and bar Booche’s.

One of the cornerstones of an already robust restaurant town, Booche’s provides low-key aesthetics with a big-reward dining experience. If you are expecting to be waited on hand and foot or if you enjoy any eye contact from the employees, then you might want to try somewhere else. The service is minimal at best. But, that can be traced to the fact that they have one of the best burgers around, and they know it.

The bar is full of history that goes all the way back to 1884, but until the 1980s, women were discouraged from entering the pool hall. As you walk in off 9th Street, you are greeted by the print on their front door that reads, “Closed on Sundays: See you in church.” Upon walking in, you are greeted by unique decorations and portraits of baseball players ranging from Roberto Clemente to Stan Musial, bringing a touch of the past to the décor.

The wall opposite the bar is full of frames and signs, including food reviews from USA Today and their main menu. Their course list is very simple to say the least, and it includes the basic burger, corned beef, hot dogs and breakfast sandwiches. Their selection might be limited, but the price is also low, which includes the sales tax. Their most expensive meal is $7, and it is also known as the “King Tut,” which includes two eggs, sausage, ham, and cheese.

I looked over the menu for a bit and ordered the most common meal: two cheeseburgers with everything and a pop. No need to ask to have your burger cooked a certain way either. All burgers are automatically cooked medium-well. While waiting on the meal, I made the mistake of using the bathroom there. The best way I can describe their restroom is that it was a closet with a toilet shoved inside. There is one sink outside of the water closet that is shared by both the men and women. Walking back to your table, you pass three pool tables and a large amount of pool sticks. Also toward the end of the restaurant part of the building is a table with a sign that says, “Reserved for regulars.”

I arrive back at my seat just as my meal arrives at my table. The two burgers are placed on waxed paper, and the employee kind of grunts as he walks back to the bar. A little bit put off by both the service and grungy back area, I take the first bite out of one of their palm-sized burgers.

Words cannot describe what transpired in my mouth. As the combination of condiments and beef hit my tongue, I felt that any negatives from before had disappeared. The burger was perfectly grilled to medium-well, but still kept all of the flavor and then some. The meat was a bit salty, especially from the grilled onions and condiments, but there was something about this burger that seemed just right. After one of these tiny burgers, I was craving a second. After the second burger, though, I was more than stuffed. I gave the man behind the bar cash for the meal, which ran me eight dollars. I brushed past the old wooden bar that was engraved on the underside and headed back out onto 9th street.

I left, not only satisfied, but also looking forward to my next visit at this unique hamburger gem.

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