Sometimes, the big cheese just has to have a big burger.
Health-nut-in-chief President Obama — who regularly rises before dawn to work out — stunned diners at a Beltway burger joint yesterday when he strolled in and ordered up some beef patties with Vice President Joe Biden.
“Who wants a burger?” Obama asked reporters following him as he walked into Ray’s Hell Burger in Arlington, Va.
Then, the leader of the free world jokingly bossed around a Reuters reporter, telling her to take orders for her colleagues.
Two clueless guys in line perused the menu, oblivious to Obama’s presence behind them.
By that time, most of the crowd had recovered from their amazement. People started taking pictures with their cellphones and pointing at the prez and veep.
Obama ordered one of the restaurant’s famous 10-ounce, aged-beef burgers topped with white cheddar cheese, while Biden partook of the Swiss burger with jalapeños.
Obama — or “Number 42,” as he was called yesterday at Ray’s — picked up the tab for his ever-present aide, Reggie Love, and also paid for some of the press, who insisted they were donating the money he spent on their lunch to charity.
“We’re paying, or these people [the press] are gonna write about how we’re freeloading,” Obama joked.
Then he turned his attention to the reporters.
“You guys are cheap dates,” he said. “I can’t believe I couldn’t get more of you to order a burger.”
Obama left a $5 tip in the cashier’s jar, then plopped down with Biden for lunch. Around the time the president finished chomping his massive burger — which clocked in at an estimated 650 calories — his better half, Michelle, was filming a public-service announcement in New York, joining Sesame Street characters to urge kids to eat healthy.
After Obama downed the last bite, the crowd at Rays cheered as he waved goodbye.
Ray’s Hell Burger, a short motorcade ride from the White House, is no greasy spoon.
Although a burger goes for a reasonable $7, the yuppie hot spot boasts an extensive selection of artisanal cheeses that cost extra, including aged Danish blue, Chimay a la Bere and Epoisse. They’ve even got an $18 foie gras-topped burger.
The eatery, which has been open less than a year, did rack up some minor health-code violations on a visit from an inspector in December, including one for mouse droppings in a dry-storage area, and another for not having a sign warning of the dangers of eating rare meat.