TNT Diner reader agtoth has been telling me to go try the Lakewood Pub & Grill since I took this job. Recently, I took a bite out of the pub’s one-pound burger. Click “more” to hear all about it.

Sometimes a one-pound burger sounds like a good idea; like a fried turkey for Thanksgiving. It’s rarely a good idea to eat the whole darn thing. Out of morbid curiosity, I ordered the LPG Monster, which is the house specialty and one-pound giant on the menu at the come-as-you-are bar.

The LPG Monster burger ($12.95) dwarfed the half pounder that my dining mate ordered. You know a burger is going to be unwieldy if it comes with its own knife stuck through the bun (my nod to the kitchen, that was handy). What I liked about the burger was the nice char on the exterior. That is, until I bit inside. It was dry and overcooked, a sad consequence of trying to fully cook something so large. I did appreciate the basic composition of the burger: chewy bacon, cheddar cheese (thankfully not processed American, I appreciated that), and crisp, cool condiments. It was tasty, but dry. House-made chips on the side were light and crunchy. I’d go back just for those.

Another reason to return: The Desert Heat burger ($8.95). The half-pound burger came with grilled pickled jalapenos, pepperjack cheese, grilled onions and a heavy smear of salsa-spiked mayo. This was a big, fat juicy mess of a burger. Add it to your list.

Lakewood Pub & Grill
Where: 7505 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W., Lakewood
Info: 253-582-9195