Ever since I found out it was possible, I’ve wanted to get a reader’s ID for the Library of Congress.

This past weekend, I finally headed over to the Jefferson building, took a truly awful picture for my new card and went through all the security and coat checks before I finally reached the beautiful Main Reading Room, lined with dark marble columns and flanked with looming statues. Although I was never a huge fan of the National Treasure franchise, a part of me did want to leave the work I brought so I could search for the president’s secret book and unlock all the mysteries of this great nation.

Another reason — probably the more important reason — that brought me all the way down to the Capitol South Metro station from Georgetown’s little bubble was Good Stuff Eatery, the now-famous burger and milkshake joint helmed by Spike Mendelsohn of “Top Chef: Chicago” fame. Located about two blocks away from the Library of Congress on Pennsylvania Avenue, the restaurant reminded me of a spiffed-up Five Guys.

The ordering and pick-up system is actually pretty similar except that instead of calling out your number, they give you a snazzy little buzzer that vibrates once your order’s ready so that you can go hunt for free seats, a rare occurrence even on a Saturday afternoon.

You would think that the lack of congressional staffers would make the place a little less busy on the weekend, but this place has enough pull for tourists that it’s still pretty busy at odd hours, such as two or three in the afternoon. Although the restaurant does have an upper level, most of the space is taken up by a ridiculously large cow bell, which forces you to sit elbow-to-elbow with other patrons.

On the plus side, there are usually about 12 people working the line (and when I went, not one of them was Mendelsohn) — so don’t be discouraged by the long lines when you visit.

In terms of the food, there are plenty of artery-clogging burgers available. My choice — the Colletti’s Smokehouse burger — had Applewood bacon, sharp Vermont cheddar, a fried Vidalia onion ring and chipotle barbecue sauce sandwiched in a buttery soft Pennsylvania Dutch bun. It wasn’t even the most indulgent, heart-attack-inducing of the menu options. Spike’s Sunny Side comes with fresh cheese, maple-candied bacon and a farm-fresh, fried egg on top of a super rich brioche bun with “Good Stuff sauce,” whatever that may be.

The beef patties are on the thin side and aggressively seasoned, which I happen to like. One of my pet peeves is a bland burger, or even worse, a fat, bland burger with juices that soak into the bun and create a huge, sopping mess. Luckily, the beef burgers at Good Stuff do not fit that description, and actually evoked memories of my beloved Shake Shack in Madison Square Park, N.Y., which is known for its smaller but expertly cooked burgers.

My friend Emily decided to opt for the lighter, turkey version of the Good Stuff Melt (cheddar, muenster, caramelized onions and mushrooms with “Good Stuff sauce”), but any health-consciousness was definitely canceled out by the custard-like milkshakes we ordered, which are the real stars of Spike’s restaurant.

The Soursop Hop Strawberry had a great balance of fresh tartness and creamy richness (the ginormous dollop of whipped cream probably contributed to that part), and the chocolate milkshake thankfully wasn’t cloyingly sweet. There was just enough dark bitterness present that made the shake much more than simply a frozen version of Yoo-hoo. However, it did take some effort on our part to smush around the extreme denseness until the custard become drinkable with a straw. One other choice that seemed particularly popular was the Toasted Marshmallow shake, described as “drinkable crème brûlée” and considered a signature Good Stuff creation among customers.

So if you ever need a place that motivates you to study, I’d highly recommend going down to the Library of Congress and getting a reader ID — the entire process doesn’t take more than 15 minutes. If you stay there for a couple hours and work up a good appetite, which I always do after only 45 minutes of reading, you can just mosey on to Good Stuff and sample one of their many delicious burger and milkshake options. Note: Don’t plan on resuming your studies afterwards. A food coma is inevitable.