LTT: Avocado Bacon Cheeseburger from The Money Pit Drive-Thru

What started out as a crappy rainy Saturday, turned into something magical in the form of dining at The Money Pit in San Marcos. This place was originally a bank. Owner Demetri Kesallinos bought the closed down bank and reopened it as a burger joint. As a sort of homage to the original building, the restaurant has a money theme to it, plastered with “money-related” movie posters. Coins are scattered throughout the floor, presenting a challenge of pulling out the cemented coins to children that come in. The original vault door that protected the vault (which is now, by the way, the food prep area) sits nearby the entrance, coins dotting the concrete base.

I can’t say enough great things about the decor. It’s a real treat just walking about and checking out the individual tables. Housed underneath a glass surface is a theme to each table. From Monopoly money, vinyl records, to International currency, every table has a story to tell. License plates drive you down memory lane (Black Cali plates?!?). Coca Cola memorabilia hangs out nearby the soda machine.

The food isn’t anything spectacular, then again… it is. Lemme explain. There’s no signature “Money Pit burger” here. There’s nothing on the menu you have to come down and try. However, everything is very fresh. The Money Pitt doesn’t make anything until you order it. As far as the sides go (fries, onion rings, etc.), they cook in small batches so your tasty onion rings are fresh. Another thing to point out is the price. With a name like The Money Pit I went in half expecting to get robbed. Amazingly, you can have a full mean for under six dollars! I’m talking a full order of fries, large drink, and one of the more “upscale” burgers.

I was trying to find a con to report back, which at the time I did. The patties weren’t that thick. However, after I finished my meal, I realized I was full! So I scratched that off the list. Of course, I wasn’t too full for a shake! For banana fiends like myself, The Money Pit serves up thick and frothy banana shakes that are lip-smackingly awesome.

With a vast menu of American favorites, fun decor, and a price range that would make a starving college student smile, The Money Pit in San Marcos, CA is an excellent lunch stop. Pay up, $ucka!