10 great places to sink your teeth into a burger
— -- Instead of firing up the grill this Labor Day weekend, why not go out for a burger? Writer George Motz has sampled hundreds of incredible variations, many chronicled in his book Hamburger America (Running Press, $20) and in his free app, Burger GPS. He seeks places that have been in business at least 20 years and favors uncomplicated offerings made with fresh ground beef. "The burger's not fussed over at these places. There's no truffle oil. It's very simple, and extraordinarily satisfying." He shares some favorite places with LarryBleiberg for USA TODAY.
J.G. Melon
New York
New York has no shortage of fancy restaurants, but Motz prefers this friendly Upper East Side neighborhood bar, which serves a standard, straight-forward burger. "A lot of burger places in New York City have trouble coming to terms with the white square bun, but J.G. Melon has embraced it," Motz says. "They offer cheddar cheese. That's about as highbrow as it gets." 212-744-0585
The Apple Pan
Los Angeles
The restaurant's U-shaped counter, with its 26 red-leather stools, is a throwback to another era. So are the burgers served wrapped in wax paper. "It seems like the 1950s came to a close and nobody told them. It's almost freaky how authentic this place is," Motz says. He makes it his first stop whenever he's in L.A. and recommends the hickory burger, served with mayonnaise, special sauce, pickles and lettuce. The Apple Pan is open late, and it occasionally serves Hollywood stars. But be warned: It's closed on Mondays. 310-475-3585
El Mago de las Fritas
Miami
This Cuban hamburger, served in the Little Havana neighborhood, comes on chewy Cuban bread and is topped with julienned fried potatoes. El Mago's version, which includes spiced ground sausage, came from the island nation, where it had originally been adapted from an American version. "It's a genuine expression of the Cuban-American experience," Motz says. 305-266-8486; elmagodelasfritas.com
Guy's Meat Market
Houston
Unlike most burgers, these are smoked at low heat like barbecue, and not grilled. The meat is "moist and smoky. One of the most unique hamburger experiences I've had in my life," Motz says. He suggests skipping lettuce and tomato and sticking to barbecue sauce, onions and pickles. And come early. The market runs out of burgers most every day. 713-747-6800
Motz's Burgers
Detroit
Although he is no relation to the owners, Motz says he applauds the authenticity of this restaurant, where small balls of ground beef and chopped onion are grilled into American sliders. "They're doing it the exact same way burgers were made back in the 1920s," he says. The neighborhood, across the street from the city's produce terminal, is off-putting, he warns, but not unsafe. 313-843-9186
Keller's Drive-In
Dallas
This local chain serves what Motz calls a smashburger — a ball of ground beef, smashed flat on the grill. "It's great, fresh food, and it's extraordinarily satisfying," particularly when accompanied by an ice-cold beer, he says. Motz suggests ordering the No. 5 — double meat, cheese, lettuce, tomato and special sauce on a soft poppy-seed bun, delivered to your car. 214-368-1209
Mr. Bartley's Burger Cottage
Cambridge, Mass.
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