Red meat in the black

Home prices are tumbling and everyone seems furloughed or out of work. But there is one bright spot in the local economy: Nationwide Freezer Meats (1930 H Street) has dropped the prices of its burgers by a hefty 25 percent. This is nominally due to the eatery’s 40th anniversary, but Nationwide’s owner John Gonzales says that “the economy’s bad, so [the discount] will continue until it stops. How long? We don’t know.” This deal puts the price of a ground Frenchburger at a reasonable $4.99. And the burger is still the best in Sacramento: The bun is superb—crispy and buttery, and the condiments are utter perfection (so long as you dig old-fashioned, pink special sauce). Nationwide grinds the meat in house using USDA choice beef from Harris Ranch. And the thick-cut jacketed fries polarize Sacramentans quicker than a debate about firefighter salaries, but at least this price cut will stop the Yelpers from yapping about how Nationwide’s too “spendy.”