Who serves the best hamburger in Metro Detroit?
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Who serves the best hamburger in Metro Detroit?
Flashback burgers in Fraser
Best char-grilled burger is Damon's Place for Ribs...grilled seeded bun, cooked to order with lettuce, tomato, pickle etc. Good beef blend moist but not greasy and good char flavor. It is what it is...a great burger.
Now for a smash and gobble burger, still Elmer's System at West Chicago and Oakman Blvd...mustard,extra onions, greasy bombs wrapped in wax paper simply a greasy and wonderful burger. Great nuked the best day while still in the wrapper.
And for Kobe Beef Blend--hands down Bourbon Steak at MGM Grand. About 12.00 and just as good if someone else is treating! Great service if you spending 15.00 or 150.00 your treated with professionalism and courtesy. Everyone waiting tables should observe this place.
That Irish restaurant has good burgers...the name escapes me.....uhhh...oh I remember now MacDonalds....they dont serve adult beverages though...but they seem to cater the little ones...
Red Coat Tavern on Woodward in Royal Oak
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Royal-...rn/48333617908
My back deck.
Eastside -- Little Tony's; Downtown -- Nemo's; Western Wayne -- Miller's. Oakland County - Joe Cool's.
My personal fav in the area is Roy's Squeeze Inn in Ypsilanti.
Millers bar on Michigan ave @ Telegraph is the best.
Nemo's by Old Tiger Stadium is good also, followed by Bourbon Steak at the MGM Grand Casino.
Then you got the Hunter House up on Woodward in Birmingham, and Travis at 9 Mile and Mack. The only problem with those 2 places is that you pay the price when sitting on the toilet for the next 2 hours afterwards.
The only thing I can say is to watch Bourbon Steak is your going to easily spend $50.
I don't care for Little Tonys in Grosse Pointe Woods, and I don't care for Red Coat Tavern.
Steak and Shake at 14 mile and John R is good, but depending on the person you get the service usually sucks.
As I type this im getting ready to go to Millers in Dearborn before the Tigers Game.
Without a doubt...Redcoat Tavern...although the old Diamond Jim Brady's at 7 Mile and Greenfield had everybody beat.
As soon as I saw Eastland vote for Little Tony's, my mouth started to water. Little Tony's is the best! Wonder how late they are open???? A short road trip might be in order.
My recent favorite, 3 Nicks! Can't beat $1 1/2 lb burger! Or $2 for a fully loaded burger.
-Tahleel
Red Coat by far
Tel Way at Michigan and Martin plus they have the best coffee in Detriot
I agree with Tel way on Michigan ave!
Red Coat, I agree
Best burger I've had was at the Zingerman's Roadhouse in Ann Arbor...hear me out, Zingerman's is, in general, an overly-expensive purveyor serving the yuppie crowd in Ann Arbor, but the Roadhouse makes a DAMN good burger.
For you west siders, try Sandies by the Beech, on 5 Mile just west of Beech Daly. Great bacon cheese burgers. All their burgers and sandwiches are really good. Nice relaxed atmoshere, and outdoor patio seating. Yummmmmmm
Right now I'm partial to the Black and Bleu burger at Mill Street in Pontiac. blackened cajun style with bleu cheese melted on top and fresh veggies. add a sid of homemade chips -- yum
ps - Red Coat is great, esp. with burnt onions
Basement Burger Bar in Farmington.
The best burger I have EVER eaten is at the Howell Bar in Dearborn. Served with the hand-cut fries at only $3.75. Don't go on Tuesdays [[no cook) and plan on having a couple of drinks while you wait as the cook 'slow cooks' the burgers. But seriously, the best ever!
The Detroiter and the Bronx both have excellent burgers.
my vote is with the Foran Burger, at Foran's Irish Pub [[Woodward & Congress)
Miller's in Dearborn is awesome as well
Irish Coffee in GP on Mack a few doors down from the post office.
I have to 2nd Teleways at Michigan and Martin, Millers has a great burger also but Teleway is my favorite!
The "Hair of the Dog" burger at Detroit Beer Co.
Ford-Wyoming concession stand has some fantastic grillers.
Sabre Lancer Lounge on East Warren and Outer Drive had the best burgers ever!! [[Never tried Wimpy's)
But today I place my money on Red Coat Tavern.
Grand Trunk makes a surprisingly good burger. Probably the best I've had in the metro area.
Geneva's double cheeseburger...
I was raised on Millers, But I can say the Red Coat on Orchard Lake was good.
Jakes Again in Wayne to me gives Millers a run for their money, and as for Howells, Well I never hit it on the right night. But their Tacos on Monday night are excellent IMO.
You mean Howell's on Mason Street right?
Yea, the Burger and hand cut fries where awesome, I would go back again but the service sucked. I went in there around 8pm on a Saturday night and the cook making the food made it seem to me like he was doing me a favor keeping the grill open, as his after hours drinking crowd was starting to come in.
I was sitting at the bar, it took forever for someone to come around and offer a refill on my drink.
Again, good food but it was too much of a bar type atmosphere.
Now I did go to Millers again tonight and usual the service was great. Everyone at Millers is friendly, and if they see you need something, they ask. The best part is that its susposed to be a bar, but their burgers turned the place into a resturant.
Only downside about Millers is that they don't have fountain drinks and its $2 per can of Coke, but for some reason the Coke they serve in the cans taste better than the pop from a fountain or the cans of Coke I have at home. I think its a combination of the fact they chill the cans of Coke beforhand, and the glass of ice they serve it with.
I'm a big fan of both Miller's and Red Coat.
Thank you for the plug for Roy's Squeeze Inn [[I think the Roy's in the small town of Milan is the same Roy, but I've never had a burger there). The Squeezeburger may not be quite in the league of Red Coat et al., but it's a lot cheaper. You can get carhop service. And the place looks like it came right out of an Edward Hopper painting. On one of our many gloomy, foggy winter days, it's quite something.
Another vote for Red Coat!
I get mine like a steak: Piedmontese burger, no bun, with sauted onions and mushrooms, a slice of melted swiss cheese, and zip sauce on the side. AMAZING!!!!
Sidetrack in Ypsi gets my vote. Outside patio seating is a plus.
In Ypsi, I like the Chick Inn. Great burgers... but the shakes and chili are outstanding too. Plus, it's an authentic [[not a re-creation) 1950s drive-in restaurant.
Here are my picks. Some are obvious, some aren't, and some are more about fun than flavor.
http://detnews.com/article/20100511/...he-best-burger
I vote for the Shamrock Burger at the Shamrock Irish Pub in downtown Utica.
I think that Marcus Burger deserves an honorable mention.
Marcus rocks!!
West Side Telway and Red Coat [[swiss cheese, burnt onions, olives, zip sauce, grilled rye), too.
I had forgotten about Verne's Bierstube in Detroit. They had my favorite burger by far. For currently available burgers, it's still Red Coat.
If you don't mind driving through the hood, BB's diner on Conner east of Gratiot has, in my opinion, the best and most unique burger in Detroit. Carry-out only, with smothered mashed potatoes. Ummmmm....
I agree on Tel-Way. But The Hideout on 14 Mile in Clawson has some killer Bacon Cheeseburgers
Vinsetta Grill in Royal Oak. The choices are amazing. It takes some work to fill out the form and it's akin to taking the bar exam- it has so many choices!
For sliders I like the Giant System on Van Born and Monroe in Dearborn Hts best. Not sure why they have system in their name since they only have the one location. Great shakes, too.
I have to agree with the poster that said Nemo's on Mich. Ave. Mmmmmm......
Happy hour at Roast in the Book-Cadillac. $3 gets you a five once burger on an English muffin with bacon, cheddar, fried egg and pickled onion.
Though I prefer the fried chicken livers with polenta and mushrooms for the same price. They go nicely with a Manhattan cocktail.
Sorry, but burgers are not supposed to be served on English muffins.
Foodood try putting Tobasco on them fried livers. Gitterdone!
How exactly does one come to the conclusion that hamburger cannot be served on an English muffin? Is there some regulating body that I’m unaware of?
An insult? We’re talking about a ground meat patty here!
9mile, I have been wanting to fry up a mess of chicken livers to garnish spicy bloody Marys. That would be a party.
How are those Manhattan's at Roast? Are they making them with Rye whiskey, which is the new trend.
You can get them made with whatever American whiskey they have. I think the well is Jim Beam. I believe they have a rye behind the bar but I can’t remember the brand.
It’s a good cocktail bar but not a great one. Detroit doesn’t have a great cocktail bar yet.
Nemo's: Old bar, burgers & beer - a great combination.
It's not really the new trend, it's going back to the original recipe. The Manhattan originally was made with rye. Rye is "hotter" and more robust than Bourbon, so it complements the sweet vermouth better.
And if the dash or two of bitters is omitted, it's not a real Manhattan.
I hear that the bar at Roast has absinthe.
On the subject of drinks, opening this year a couple doors down from Slows will be Detroit’s only joint devoted to craft cocktails. Dude putting it together makes his own bitters, syrups, infusions, but also worships the classics. The menu will be a mix of old and new, and they’re planning on having live music on the weekends.
I love sliders, but are they officially considered burgers? When I want a burger I like certain places, when I want a slider I like Bates.
Anyone care to suggest the best slider places? There is one John R/12 Mile-ish that used to be a Top Hat, anyone know about that place?
What is Hot N Now like?
Joe's hamburgers in Wyandotte is a new venture. Not for me, way too greasy but from those that go for that sort of thing they love em. His version of sliders and they do slide.
Glad to hear that Chick Inn is still there. I used to frequent the place when I lived in the area and worked at Adams Elementary down the street.
Awesome shakes....strawberries would get stuck in the straw! They were quite filling and sometimes took the place of a meal!
I like Red Coat Tavern's burger. Back when I used to live near Wash. D.C the best sliders of all time were from a chain called Little Taverns . They are gone now. But they were the best. Anywhere. Actual ground round on steamed buns.
Fury- Watch out for the absinthe.... it'll rot your brain.
I don't know about that. If it's simulated absinthe it might be okay. I recall reading an article many years ago [[1970s?) in Scientific American about the dangers of genuine wormwood absinthe. It showed photos of brains with and without absinthe damage and the difference was noticeable.
I'm no fanatic about it. Just suggesting some research be done before going down that road. ;)
Some of the stuff they're selling now in the US is the real deal, with wormwood. The ban was lifted in 2007 with the caveat that the active ingredient in wormwood [[the stuff that's supposed to be poison), thujone, be limited to 10 mg/liter. The thing is, they went and tested a bunch of pre-ban absinthe [[before 1915), and found that many samples had thujone levels well below 10 mg/liter. So it wasn't the thujone that was causing the problems... it was probably dyes, toxins, and methanol that was added to the lower-end stuff before the ban. There was less regulation on ingredients, especially in Europe, back then.
Back to burgers... I'd like the westsiders to give us a comparison between Greene's, Bates, and Carter's... maybe include Daly Drive-In, too. Which one is best and why?
I've never been to Daly's, I have been to the other three many times. I ate at Green's today [[ 6-27 ) The burgers were great. I remember when they had a location at Seven Mile and Schaefer. The hamburgers taste the same as they did 40 years ago at that Detroit location. They even use the same white bag with the grease spots for there carry out orders.
Now that I think of it Econ that must be the place. Last year one day in the summer I was at the traffic light in front of the Telway and could smell the sliders. YUM! I need to check the place out, my aging stomach will of course rebel but maybe I can sneak in two sliders without the stomach noticing????
I have eaten at all of the above. I have no idea why you would want to include Daly's in this list as they are not a porcelain palace nor do they serve anything that by the wildest stretch of the imagination could be called a slider.You have also left out the best of the westside pocelain palaces which is Bray's.
My ratings are
1. Bray's. Most flavor in beef and onions. Not as greasy as most.
2. Carter's. Also lots of flavor and less grease.
3. Giant. Haven't had one in years but I remember them as excellent sliders.
4. Greene's. Getting greasy now and more bland.
5. Bates. While still a good slider, they are greasy and toward the bland side.
Might as well get 4, that's the 'special'
Warning- get home fast and dispose of the bag- you'll not only taste the sliders for awhile, that bag leaves a 'slider' air freshener odor in the car.
[[I still miss em' though. South/ Southwest US has very few 'Castle' type sliders. Krystal is not even close!)
BTW- The coffee from the Michigan Ave place seems to be much better, but the burgers, about the same.
I am appalled to admit that I have never been to a Telway. I have been to Bates and Geneva's but not Telway. I'm afraid my Detroit Card could be revoked.
You don't care for Krystal? Whenever I visit family in the South I make a Krystal stop. But to each their own.
I think Telway in Madison Heights and then Brayz in Hazel Park are my two favorite slider joints. [[Geneva's used to be... but I haven't been to the new place yet.) I've got to get over to the westside and try the sliders out that way.
Jman, thanks for the review. I was unaware of the westside Bray's. And you're right, Daly Drive-In is not a "porcelain palace."
Telway, Bates, Geneva, Carter's, and Giant I know to be 'hand crafted' burgers, even though they are sliders. I worked at Telway [[wow)40 years ago. Still visit the owner when I'm in town. Have rode with him when he picks up fresh meats and onions, etc. And the buns are local- Brown's. White Castle, [[now closed)Top Hat, and Krystal had pre-pressed frozen patties and dehydrated onions.
Guess I won't get a Confederate passport- never liked Krystal's or Krispy Kreme.
And, for a 'meal' hamburger, not a slider, I agree with Miller's!
Fury13, many years ago the Brayz in Hazel Park was Bray's. I have only been into Brayz once, but they still had the donkey on the roof. which was the Bray's symbol. Is the donkey still there? I do remember having an excellent hamburger there.
As far as a bar hamburger goes, it doesn't get any better than Sandy's By The Beech.
Daly's is the most unique hamburger in the area, in my estimation. The special sauce reminds me of the chili sauce my dad used to put on everything he ate.
I like the Stump Burger at Stempien's Sidestreet Lounge the best. And speaking of bagels, they make a "polish bagel": Canadian bacon with melted pepper jack on a poppy seed bagel. Not bad at all.
Fury, you should start a new thread about the virtues of absinthe. All I know is that stuff gave me the worst hangover of my life.
Yes, the donkey is still atop the Brayz in Hazel Park. That's part of the charm and amusement of going there. The sliders are very tasty there, if a bit on the greasy side.
Econ expat, good call on "hand-crafted" vs. "pre-fab" sliders. While I do love White Castles, there's no comparison with a good homemade slider. Let's face it: the slider is the Original American Hamburger -- the style of burger that first became popular across the nation in the '20s and '30s.
Oh, and I've had the burgers at Sandy's By The Beech. Pretty good, I agree, although I've had some really good bar burgers out that way. I also recommend the Timber Wolf on Plymouth or JR's on Fenkell. Seems like Michno's had a decent burger too. Mason's was over-hyped, I thought.
econ expat, I must be a few years older than you as I remember "6 in a bag for a buck". I also agree with you on hand crafted etc. However, just as I seperate sliders from bar burgers, I also seperate White Castle, Krystal, etc. from sliders. Don't tell me that you are going out for a bag of sliders and come back with White Castles or vice-versa. Different animals.
"Mason's was over-hyped", I agree.
It might be sacrilegious, but the Angry Polynesian at the Detroit Beer Company is actually much better than their hamburger. It's a turkey burger, but is very, very good, despite it's non-traditional ingredients. It's not s slider, but the DBC doesn't do sliders.
Red Coat Tavern and Millers in Dearborn. Red Coat's are way more healthy so I will go with them.
5 Guys,12 and Mound is supposed to be real good
The Shamrock in Utica, used to have a great burger, but since it burned in a fire, and was closed several months, their burgers are nothing like before. No longer fresh, hand formed, burgers. they are now frozen, uniform patties. I went there several times after the fire and tried them. I don't and won't go there anymore. Friends of mine do not either. They are still making a lot of money there, and have a brisk business, and you know, when you have a few brews, your taste buds get numb. That's why one likes spicy food, when having a buzz. Try them, you might like them. I don't.
Wendy, you win the Double Cheeseburger award for best first post on DetroitYes!
The Checker Bar & Grill....serves the best hamburgers on the Planet!!!
Years ago there was a small restaurant in Wyandotte called "Watkin's Burgers" on Biddle [[Jefferson). They had a fire, and it was torn down. Excellent burgers... so anyhow, the relatives of Watkins got involved in the "Joes Hamburgers" shop in recent years... and it is really great. Small place, maybe 4 tables... but really delicious hamburgers [[and varieties).
Beau Jacks on Maple and Telegraph beats Red Coat hands down.Sidetrack in Ypsi. is great too.