News You Can Eat Classic Burgers

Intown serves up some of the best burgers around

By Isadora Pennington

It’s rather a mystery, the popularity and masterpiece that is the hamburger. It’s one of those meals that can be a quick, late night, cheap eat from a fast food place, or a fine dining experience at a top-rated restaurant. At its root, a grilled meat patty between bread with some toppings doesn’t really sound all that glamorous. But there’s no denying it, burgers are a true American classic.

The juicy, flavorful, hot beef patty is perfectly matched with a buttery bun, the crispness of fresh lettuce, a juicy slice of tomato, and (for me, of course) ooeygooey cheese melting down to unite them all. Dress it up, or dress it down, the burger is dang fine eats and has done its job pleasing folks since its inception way back in the 1880s.

The true origins of the burger are up for some debate. With ties that link back to Hamburg, Germany, this combination of grilled meat between bread has been a contentious invention from the start. Claims of origin and use of the term “hamburger” can be traced back to Chicago, Boston, Connecticut, and the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis, where it was described as “the innovation of a food vendor on the pike” by the New York Tribune.

Hamburgers exploded in popularity, and fast food chains quickly caught on. Due to America’s contentious opinion of Germany post WWI, the first chain to sell a hamburger did so under the moniker “slider,” at a small, fast food restaurant by the name of White Castle in Wichita, Kansas, back in 1921. In the next 20 years, fast food chains and restaurants quickly adapted this affordable, quick and delicious meal, including McDonald’s, Krystal and Bob’s Big Boy.

These days, you can find a burger on the menu of most bars, pubs and restaurants, plus nearly all fast food chains. So what’s to differentiate between them? How does one sit down and say, “This, this is the best burger?” For me, the distinction comes in the balance between the ingredients. Each of the burgers I sampled for this piece has its own unique personality, if you will. The flavorings of the beef, the sweetness of the bun - every attribute adds something to the overall effect of the meal. That, combined with an overall experience and atmosphere at the restaurant, is what makes these burgers stand out among the rest here in Atlanta.

B. Big Al’s Butter Made Burgers

The Original Butter Made Burger, lettuce, tomatoes, American cheese and Big Al’s gourmet sauce: $5.78 2221 Peachtree Road bigalsbuttermadeburgers.com

C. Grindhouse Killer Burgers

Beef Burger (Jr.) One 1/4 lb. patty: $4.50 433 N. McDonough Street, Decatur www.grindhouseburgers.com

D. H&F Burger Ponce City Market

Double patty, bread and butter, pickles, red onion, American cheese: $12 675 Ponce de Leon Ave. NE hfburger.com/ponce-city-market

E. The Vortex

Ground sirloin, lettuce, tomato, sweet red onion, American cheese: $10.15 438 Moreland Ave. thevortexatl.com

A. George’s Bar & Restaurant

The original 5 oz. ground chuck burger: $6.50 1041 N. Highland Ave. georgesbarandrestaurant.com