Over the past couple of years, Madison has seriously raised its hamburger game. No longer will you find floppy fries, poorly-cooked patties, or limp lettuce with so much healthy competition and high-quality grub to be found. But what exactly makes a good burger? We searched high and low on the streets of Madison to create the ultimate list of burger joints in town that tick all the boxes for burger lovers on a mission.
Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry
If you’re looking for a relaxed and friendly place with a pub atmosphere (and a great selection of local craft beer to boot), head on down to Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry. The burgers here are super fresh and made to order, so you can have medium-rare, well done, or however you like it best! And although we’re all about the burgers, you simply can’t leave Dotty’s without trying the cheese curds. We also highly recommend the Heart Throb burger for those who like to spice things up a little. Deliciously juicy, and loaded with Pepper Jack cheese and bacon – a true match made in burger heaven. Come hungry, leave satisfied.
Graze
We love Graze, not only for its outstanding food but for its ethical and forward-thinking outlook, too. As suggested by the name, grass-fed animals and rotational grazing are championed by this restaurant, which sources pretty much all of its meat, dairy, fruit, and vegetables locally in Wisconsin. A happy cow makes for a very tasty burger. The Double Cheese Smash Burger proved to be just as good as its name promises, and you can even go along with your vegan pals, as Graze is happy to substitute meat for The Impossible burger. So, the local farmer is happy, your vegan friends are happy, and believe us, you will be very happy too.
The Old Fashioned
You may casually drop in to The Old Fashioned, enticed by the name and in search of a well-muddled Old Fashioned (which, coincidentally, you are sure to find), but one of the most pleasant discoveries of this Madison restaurant is its delicious burger selection. We were crazy about the olive oil mayonnaise in burger no.28 (yes, they’re numbered), and the char-grilled flavor of the patties. The Old Fashioned celebrates simple yet high-quality food, just like your Grandma used to make. Oh, and if you’re a fan of bargains as well as burgers, drop by on Monday night for buy one, get one free on cheeseburgers. You can thank us later.
After eating our way around Madison, burger by burger, we have narrowed down what makes a burger stand out above the rest. Starting with high-quality protein, it needs to be cooked to perfection in order to leave that juiciness (read: messiness) that is essential to the burger-eating experience. Locally-sourced meats are a plus to ensure optimal freshness, and although we like to keep it simple, quality cheese and condiments give it the make-or-break factor. Top it all off with a bun (we love a shiny brioche) and tuck in – no cutlery, please!
“Mushroom Swiss Burger 1” via Flickr by Mosespreciado. Used with permission via CC BY 2.0 / cropped from original
Connect with us
