Smash burgers off the griddle.

A small black-brick burger joint at night after rain; a red neon sign, Griddlemere, over a window lit amber, the griddle steaming behind the glass

A hand presses a ball of beef flat on the hot griddle with a steel press

A spatula turns the thin patty over in the air above the griddle

A hand lays a slice of cheddar on the seared patty

A hand lifts the top of the bun out of the foaming butter and shows its toasted face

A spatula sets the patty with melted cheddar on the bun dressed with sauce, pickles and onion

The burger cut in half on its paper, the two halves turned to show bun, cheddar, beef, pickles, onion and sauce

The burger, cut in two and wrapped in paper, on a steel tray pushed across the counter