The Best Burger
Decatur Metro | June 17, 2010 | 9:56 amYou don’t need AJC food writer John Kessler will tell you that hamburgers are the current “it” food. Are they even called hamburgers anymore?
In a Recession, what’s old is new again. And just like the traditional neighborhood is back en vogue with a vengeance, traditional comfort foods are also now the hottest ticket in town.
Enter the burger. That old menu-standard saw its opening, got itself a new agent, and pulled a Beyonce on the chicken and fish.
Now there are entire restaurants and food stands all over the Metro dedicated to coming up with the most delicious variations on this most basic of ‘wichs. From the old greasy standard to new-age, local, grass-fed version, the burger is hot.
“Yes”, you think, “I know all this.”
Well, all right then smarty-pants, let’s cut to the chase then. With a trillion and one options today, where’s the best burger in Atlanta?
My fave is still the grassfed at Flip.
Melton’s
I didn’t ask the cow what it had been eating.
AMEN!
George’s in the Highlands will ALWAYS be the best in my book!
Those that have had the rare Holeman & Finch burger say that’s the one. Me, I’m sticking at home with the Iberian Pig. I think they use the babyfat of angels in their grill.
I have become a fan of Farm Burger but last night I was finally able to find myself on the west side of town at 10 PM without having had dinner so I made to Holman & Fitch for their hamburger (they only serve 25 of them after 10 PM) and it is very very good.
The others I like: George’s and the Flatiron in East Atlanta.
Relatively healthy: Farm Burger – great flavor, great list of toppings, and beer
Not relatively healthy: Five Guys
Not relatively healthy in Decatur: Eddie’s Attic and Brick Store
Onion flavored Bubba Burger from my backyard grill… with arugula and this really good French sauce that I can’t remember the name of.
Tie between Farm Burger and Yeah! Burger
#6 at Farm Burger – braised pork belly, BBQ sauce, house-pickled jalapenos, and a fat onion ring.
Black and Blue Burger from Vortex in Lil 5. Gotta have the tot mountain!
D-14 Angus Burger at Marlay House is also great.
I am hoping the next topic is FRIES, something in which Decatur truly excels! Who’s up for a Decatur Fry Crawl this year?!?
We’ll print the t-shirts
People….please try the Cakes and Ale burger. I think its the best and I have had all the others mentioned here.
omg yes to cakes & ale. the very best…but it’s off the menu.
The burger at my house is still my favorite
The Marlay – their burger, turkey burger and lamb burger are the best I have had
Amen to that! The Marlay has the BEST burger (and fresh-cut chips, a.k.a. fries) out there…the D14 will flat out knock your socks off.
Agreed – love the D14. And unlike Farm Burger, I get table service!
Also: for the home cook – America’s Test Kitchen (on itunes) had a special program recently on how to make perfect burgers at home. They looked amazing.
Table service is part of your criteria for a good burger? Really? Does your favorite burrito place change out the silver between courses?
Ditto on their turkey burger– they actually understand how to season a turkey burger so it’s not just some tasteless blurb of meat. Get it with melted cheddar on it…mmmmmm!
Farm burger
There are many fantastic ones to choose from. So far though, the namesake burger at Grindhouse, as well as the one with Yankee in the name were 1 and 2 on my list.
I haven’t tried Yeah! burger though. I’ve loved every restaurant Shaun Doty has done, so I have high hopes.
Tie between the Holeman and Finch and the Farm Burger….although Steinbeck’s pimiento, bacon and jalapeno burger still wins my heart every time. Because of them, I get jalapenos and pimiento cheese on every burger now.
Ding Ding Ding! We have a winnah (in my book at least)!
I actually went to Farm Burger today and ordered up the their version of this. Not nearly as good as Steinbeck’s. However the fried okra was awesome.
For those of you who don’t stay up past 9:30 p.m., H&F also serves their burger as a regular brunch item. But I suspect it may be more delicious if you’ve had to wait up for it.
H&F rules. All other drool.
Skinny double patties. Cheese. Fresh buns made at the bakery in the same building. Pickles and caramelized onions!
No non-sense with exotic ingredients. Eating it makes you a better person.
My favorites: Holeman and Finch and Farmburger.
My favorite is George’s. Went to YEAH! BURGER last night for the first time and the Turkey Burger is really good. Kudos to Shaun. Still want to try H&F’s though.
I vote for George’s. Best value in the city by far.
5. Farm Burger
4. Graveyard Tavern
3. Flip
2. Watershed
1. Georges
5. 5 Guys can’t be denied
4. Farm Burger
3. Spanish Fly @ Vortex
2. House Burger @ Steinbeck’s (housemade pimento cheese, bacon, and pickled jalapenos y’all)
1. Ghetto Burger @ Anne’s Snack Bar (rated #1 burger in the country by several national publications)
I haven’t tried H&F, Yeah!, or Grindhouse yet, but I certainly will and report back.
Whoever said FRIES: The Porter in Little 5, no contest.
I can’t believe Ms. Ann’s Snack Bar hasn’t gotten more mentions! There’s no question that the Ghetto Burger is the best burger in town.
Show up (real) early. Wait until she flips the sign. Follow the rules. Watch the master create bliss on a bun. Savor the first half of your burger and save the second half for another meal.
The Miss Ann’s experience is fun and she’s sweet, but a lot of places use better meat and better bread.
I can’t make it through a week without the burger from Steinbeck’s.
Holeman & Finch is my choice. They baste it in butter, people. What else do you need to know?
That said, I do often crave the fine and more varied offerings at Farm Burger and the Vortex. 5 Guys will do in a pinch, especially when you’re on the road.
Lumpy, I need that.
This thread inspired me to go to Yeah! Burger for lunch. Um…yeah. Gets #1 vote for me. Phenomenal.
PLUS – they have a gluten-free bun. Take note, Farm Burger!
I can’t believe no one has listed the Vortex yet. They’ve been selling great burgers in Atlanta long before any of the new burger joints opened up, and they’re all fantastic. But for something new, I’d recommend the burger at Parish, in Inman Park. Unbelievable.
Actually, Patrick, Eddie, and I all mentioned the Vortex.
You absolutely did. My bad.
I’m gonna give some love to the Thinking Man. Not as a flat-out best burger but more like a pub mainstay that’s consistently good. Similarly the U Joint.
George’s still rules as the best! Especially the Lemon Pepper Burger – YUM.
Watershed’s burger is a fine example – I used to say it was the best before the current blitz of joints came about -I think it depends on the mood much of the time.
I’ve discovered a key to a great burger at home. Get your own grass fed beef from Tink’s at the Decatur Farmers Market. Add a little salt and pepper and form your patties and grill ‘em up.
Love Tink’s. We get our beef pretty much exclusively from them at this point.
I just don’t understand the Miss Ann’s thing. Her burger is inferior quality and gross. Even before the opening of all the new burger joints, I still thought that. And she’s unbelievably rude even to very nice, quiet, obedient people. Must be some sort of colloquial, southern-cultural fetish.
On a happier note: Farm Burger has FRIED OKRA?!?!?!?! I have got to get some of that.
Had the fried okra today. Farm Burger should just sell that and they would be fine. It was AWESOME!
Burgers on the other hand… I’ll order one again when the line at the Taco Nazis are too long and I am too lazy to drive back to Chef Andy at Steinbeck’s or head out to Vortex.
Miss Ann’s has been an institution in Atlanta well before this became a “foodie” city. The burgers are great and so was going there until all the white people made it a novelty. After that creative loafing article about it, the gig was up.
George’s!
Little flashback – the same Wall Street Journal article that called Miss Ann’s the best burger in the U.S. also rated The Earl and Vortex in the Top 5.
It’s not really fair for compare the gourmet burger places with bars. The local pubs with great burgers also have broad menus and are great for hanging out. When I’m done eating at Farmburger, I leave.
Good Burger- Dairy Queen- Double Cheese. Can’t beat the price and the service is outstanding.
Great Burger- Corner Pub- Can’t beat quality and what’s not to love about Dave K, Spencer J, and Ernest H. stopping by for a chat.
Best Burger- What Decatur dads make on the grill. It doesn’t get any better! Happy Fathers Day!
Outside of Atlanta the best is Dyer’s in Memphis.
Their burgers are deep fried in 70 something year old grease. I can attest to this since I cooked and managed there in a past lifetime.
Dyer’s is now only on Beale St., and that operation is tourist trap and an abomination of its original self, but cooked the same way.
Literally the burgers cook in their own fat in a custom made skillet. The best burger I ever had was a double double dipped. Two burger patties deep fried in 70 year old juices, two slices of cheese, and then buns dipped into the grease. Ms. Ann has nothing on this, although she rocks too.
H&F. hands down. best burger ever. although, it’s getting more hit and miss these days. the miss days, are still pretty darn good though.
Watershed is up there too.
HATED FARM BURGER. tasted like bland crap.
As someone who just moved from Decatur to New York City, let me just add that there is no burger up here for under $15 worth eating. So next time you’re at Farm Burger, buy two and send one to me.
Dude, two words, ‘Corner Bistro.’ A messy, meaty, bacony, cheesy, oniony, tomatoey, bistro burger for $6.75 and a McSorley’s for $2.50. If you eat it at 2AM on a work night it’s even more delicious.
Sound delicious but not burgery.
Thanks for the tip. Will check them out, and found a burger that sounds good in Harlem for $13, so maybe there really is a good burger up here for under $10. I’ll keep you posted, Decatur.
Farm Burger, can’t stop dreaming about them! with blue cheese, bacon and caramelized onions… so good!
Hands down…George’s in Virginia Highlands
The Grindhouse is perfection. I dream about the single cheese with pickles and grindhouse sauce.