OT: Connecticut Magazine Best Burger Places

[Ewekon]

If I am in the area I would give it another shot but I'm probably not going to drive from Fairfield to visit. It was an accumulation of bad experiences, from the burger itself, to the rudeness of the staff, to the fact that had built it up in my head to such a high degree and I had brought my father there on Father's Day.

I love Shake Shack especially if I'm in a pinch so that should say everything about my salt preferences.

Folks always say that the best chili or the best barbecue is whatever they cook and that is probably true but you actually have to have a high level of skill to pull them off. Burgers are so unbelievably easy that there's no reason for the best burger to be the one that you prepare yourself.

Chili Bomb in Fairfield makes a pretty good burger and Plan B and Little Pub are solid enough. There's an incredibly divey little place on the Post Road in Westport near Stop & Shop that made me a great burger one time as well but I cannot remember the name.

As for the divey place, you may well have been at S&S dugout in Southport on the Westport line. Lots of formica. The Black Duck is a serious burger contender in Westport.

 

[superjohn]

This is a perfect burger from Au Cheval.

 

[superjohn]

And another perfect burger from Johnny's Grill.

 

[NielsisGood]

Farrells in Portland makes a really good steamed burger, definitely list worthy.

 

[CTMike]

Louis Lunch being on this list just makes me irrationally angry.

Goldburgers is outstanding.

 

[Robertelamin]

And another perfect burger from Johnny's Grill. View attachment 22166

Yeah no one cares about your Chicago burgers. Start your own thread.

 

[Walker11]

Yeah no one cares about your Chicago burgers. Start your own thread.

Those look stupidly good, but yea, the post is a tease for me.

As for the divey place, you may well have been at S&S dugout in Southport on the Westport line. Lots of formica. The Black Duck is a serious burger contender in Westport.

Thanky you, yes, S and S is what I was thinking of. Never actually got the burger at Black Duck, always go with wings or nachos, have been there as recently as Friday night.

 

[storrsroars]

I don't go to burger places often during my stops in CT, but I have been to Plan B and if that's on a "best" list, you guys need to get your burger act together.

Never had a steamed burger that I recall. Might have to try that out of principle.

That Munchies food truck photo looks up my alley.

Speaking of food trucks, was in Danbury on Saturday to visit my brother, had a Cali burrito at the Green Grunion truck. Now that was delicious food.

Anyway, if you find yourself in Pittsburgh, Butterjoint, Wingharts (so loosely packed you should wear a poncho) and Eleven (short rib mix) are the go-tos.

 

[8893]

I don't go to burger places often during my stops in CT, but I have been to Plan B and if that's on a "best" list, you guys need to get your burger act together.

I've had several burgers that I have enjoyed very much at Plan B.

Prime 16 remains my favorite burger joint in the state.

At places like both of them, though, with lots of different choices for meat and toppings, it can depend a lot on what you get. For the meat itself, I think Plan B is pretty good.

 

[Waquoit]

They missed ABC and Catsup & Mustard in Manchester.

 

[boog204]

Been to a bunch of these places and I'd probably put Goldburger at the top. Still not that good, though. One add, although it is a restaurant and more expensive, is the Four Mile River Burger at The Bistro at Chamard Vineyards. Very, very good and the fries are delicious, too. The wine is pretty pedestrian but the burger is nice.

If we're going to go extra d-baggy, DB Bistro Moderne in NYC has a ridiculously good burger. Sirloin filled with braised short ribs, foie gras, and black truffle. Paying $35 for a burger is stupid in every way but this thing was stupid good.

 

[HuskyHawk]

I've only been to Shady Glen of those on this list. Grew up in Manchester, so it was a regular stop as a kid.

Best burgers I've had recently have all been in Vermont. All grass fed beef. Worthy Burger is awesome, cooked over a wood fire grill. Farmhouse Tap & Grill was also an amazing burger. Great tap lists at both places.

 

[whaler11]

Shady Glen and those steamed Meriden abominations are some of the most overrated things this state has to offer.

 

[8893]

Shady Glen and those steamed Meriden abominations are some of the most overrated things this state has to offer.

Yeah, I've never gotten the steamed cheeseburger thing. Something about eating grey meat that is unappetizing to me.

I love the cheese at Shady Glen, and I'm guessing that's the reason it's on the list (not because I love it, but because most people do). But yeah, at the end of the day you're simply eating crisply griddled American cheese.

 

[mauconnfan]

Deepster, have you ever had a Spooker Burger?

 

[boog204]

Yeah, I've never gotten the steamed cheeseburger thing. Something about eating grey meat that is unappetizing to me.

I love the cheese at Shady Glen, and I'm guessing that's the reason it's on the list (not because I love it, but because most people do). But yeah, at the end of the day you're simply eating crisply griddled American cheese.

Yep, years ago I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and went to Meriden to try out Ted's. Very, very underwhelming. Now I essentially live across the street from Ted's in Cromwell and I have never even considered going once. Really do not get the fascination.

 

[CTMike]

I've had several burgers that I have enjoyed very much at Plan B.

Prime 16 remains my favorite burger joint in the state.

At places like both of them, though, with lots of different choices for meat and toppings, it can depend a lot on what you get. For the meat itself, I think Plan B is pretty good.

I really want to try Prime 16.

 

[CTMike]

Shady Glen and those steamed Meriden abominations are some of the most overrated things this state has to offer.

List seems to conflate "unique" with "best".

 

[Waquoit]

I love the cheese at Shady Glen, and I'm guessing that's the reason it's on the list (not because I love it, but because most people do). But yeah, at the end of the day you're simply eating crisply griddled American cheese.

The burger itself at Shady Glen is not the best but I always enjoy going there. But they don't have beer.

 

[Deepster]

Deepster, have you ever had a Spooker Burger?

All of these burgers look absolutely disgusting.

 

[August_West]

I really want to try Prime 16.

Prime 16 is good.


Shady glen is incredibly overrated. Like Star Wars the force awakens they are simply lauded because it induces memberberries, but is unequivocally mediocre.

 

[NielsisGood]

Yep, years ago I wanted to see what all the fuss was about and went to Meriden to try out Ted's. Very, very underwhelming. Now I essentially live across the street from Ted's in Cromwell and I have never even considered going once. Really do not get the fascination.

Because Ted's is incredibly average. A good steamed burger is still extremely tasty though.

 

[8893]

I really want to try Prime 16.

I've never had a bad burger there, but the NY Steakhouse is probably the one that has remained my favorite over time. It's the first one I had there, and every time I go back to it it holds up well to the others, including several newer ones they've added over the years. Cowboy, Smoker (w/no onions), Honey Truffle, Sriracha Bacon, Cajun Patty Melt and Wild Mushroom and Garlic have all been excellent as well.

 

[cohenzone]

I haven't been there in decades, but Harry's Place had always been hands down the best tasting burger, probably 35% fat. It used to be only burgers and cheese burgers, but from the description they've modernized a little. At Harry's you always got burgers with bees swarming the picnic tables. But at the time it was on the main road from the Hartford area to the shore East of the river, there would be totally empty places in Colchester and Harry's was packed. That was 1950's and 60's. They tried a franchise on Asylum St. in Hartford near Main maybe late 70s early 80s that didn't last.

True story. When Rt. 2 was being constructed, for many years, it stopped on one side of Colchester and began again on the other. The reason was so as not to by-pass Harry's. Why? The owner of Harry's was a gentleman named Ruby Cohen (no relation) who also happened to be a state legislator. Funny how that worked.

 

[CTMike]

The inherent problem with steamed burgers is that I like a nice seared exterior to the burger. I wouldn't describe them as bad... just... very different.