photograph of burger by istockphoto.com © ansonsaw
You’ve probably noticed there’s a hot new menu item in town, served everywhere from burger joints to luxe locations. So we took on the task to taste what we could. And no sooner had we thought we covered what was out there than Harlan Social opened, offering plenty of meaty tastiness. Clearly we’ll have to do another roundup very soon. In the meantime, enjoy!
“Fast” Food
Five Guys
We’re sure you’ve heard of Five Guys. Maybe you’ve even trekked to Westport to try one of their burgers. Well, trek no more! Five Guys opened a franchise in Stamford over the summer. The joint’s no-fuss menu means that all the toppings are free and all the burgers are well done. The only thing you have to decide between is getting a “little” (one patty) or a regular (two patties). Leave room for their very generous portions of fries. 1201 High Ridge Rd.
Melt Mobile
The menu for the food truck serving high-end grilled cheese sandwiches includes the Insanewich: a 6-oz. burger with bacon, lettuce, tomatoes and Melt Sauce between two classic grilled cheese sandwiches. Our mouths are watering all over again! Want another reason to check this truck out? Melt Mobile was featured on Bobby Flay’s show 3 Days to Open.
New Kids on the Block
Jake’s Wayback Burgers
Here’s a national chain that has finally graced our area with its presence. There are almost fifty Jake’s nationwide, and now we can see what it’s all about. They keep their menu simple: pick one, two or three (!) patties with cheese or without. And getting “everything” on your burger means ketchup, mustard, pickle, raw onions, lettuce and tomato. Here, they like to keep their handmade burgers humble. 324 Hope St.
Plan B Burger Bar
This chain is all over Connecticut, but the location that opened in August at the mall is the first in Fairfield County. Plan B offers more than twenty burgers and the choices don’t stop there. Choose your side and your bun, or choose to have no bun—they won’t judge. Quite a few menu items caught our eye including the New Englander, a burger topped with lobster, and the West Coast, with a fried egg, avocado and Kalamata olive mayo. 230 Tresser Blvd.
Station Eats
Station Eats fans, rejoice! The burger joint opened a second location right next to the Landmark Theatre. They offer their delicious and organic house burger, with American cheese, Station Sauce, lettuce and tomato, as well as one of our favorites—build your own burger (or veggie burger, or double cheeseburger, or double veggie…you get the idea) Choose from almost twenty free toppings and eight premium toppings. It’s time to get creative. 60 Atlantic St.
Oldies But Goodies
City Limits Diner
The place to go when you want a burger but your lunch buddy still wants breakfast. They have a selection of nine charbroiled half-pound burgers from the traditional to the grilled salmon burger (we are split on whether this one counts as a burger). Their beef is ground in-house every day, and all the burgers come with fries—win! 135 Harvard Ave.
Lucky’s Classic Burger & Malt Shop
Everyone knows Lucky’s serves great burgers with a side of 1950s nostalgia. Choose from over fifteen, ranging from the Classic, with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle, to the chili cheese fries burger (exactly as it sounds). Order a malt, too, and flip through the music choices on your own little jukebox. 209 Bedford St.
Upscale Tables
Napa & Co.
You might be surprised that Napa has a burger on the menu. But they did win Best of the Gold Coast for American restaurant, and what’s more American than a good burger? But this is not your ordinary patty. It’s made with Wagyu beef, topped with onion jam, aged Gouda and black pepper mayo and served with rosemary fries. Impressed? Expect nothing less from Napa. 75 Broad St.
Grand Restaurant & Lounge
Grand was voted the best burger in Best of Stamford and it’s easy to see why. There’s a burger for everyone, with beef, turkey or veggie patties, and signature burgers that are creative and delicious. There’s the Bacon Egg Burger, with deviled eggs; the Bing Burger, with cherry preserves and fresh mozzarella; and the Grand Burger, with blue cheese, caramelized onions and fig balsamic. If that isn’t enough, you can build your own, too. 15 Bank St.
The Capital Grille
The high-rolling place that serves up steak should have a darn good burger too, right? Right. The Grille’s Signature Cheeseburger is “almost too big to wrap your hands around it” say the lunch and bar menus. Topped with sweet onions, smoked bacon and Havarti cheese, and served on a toasted onion roll, this is a burger taken to the next level. 230 Tresser Blvd.