Playboy's Top 10 Burger List

Well, here's another to 10 burger list, this time from Playboy online. http://www.playboy.com/style/a-list/best-burgers/index.html
Noted by me because my hometown favorite Town Topic in KC is included
Occasional Roadfooder Holly Moore also loved it, and I was happy since I suggested it to him when he was in KC last year. Phew! (wipes brow).
http://www.hollyeats.com/TownTopic.htm
It is somewhat scary to suggest places to a noted grease expert, but it met his expectations too.
Long live Town Topic. Not everywhere has to be a upscale burger to make a best of list.
What do you all think of the rest of the list, a few which seem to be on most of the other lists of this sort?

I'm gonna go there right now, but just to read the articles, I swear.

Warning: Note that the playboy web site will pop up on your computer. If you are an idiot like me and did not pay attention to the link and open it at work.

I'm always happy to see my hometown great burger, Tessaro's, make the list.

MilwFoodlovers posted this in another thread -
For those of you who can't click the link:


Here is the list in its entirety (in alpha order):

Ann's Snack Bar, Atlanta
Christian's Tailgate Grill & Bar, Houston
Dyer's Burgers, Memphis
The Hungry Cat, Hollywood
Kuma's Corner, Chicago
The Meers Store & Restaurant, Meers, Okla.
Shake Shack, New York
Solly's Grill, Glendale, Wis.
Tessaro's, Pittsburgh
Town Topic, Kansas City

I'm surprised Solly's made the list - I'd've chosen Sobelman's.

Sorry D, all I saw was a liquor ad on the side of the article.

Bill my boy, I think lists are lists---I'll bet the writer hasn't
sampled most of them but saw them on another list or heard about
them from someone. You have been around and have your own favorites
based on where you live. So your top ten would be the Town Topic
and 9 places no one else has heard of.

Beauty is in the eye (or the taste buds) of the beholder.

I have had burgers in two places that were recommended on Roadfood
in the Tampa-St Pete area and I would not recommend either place---
in fact one is gone to restaurant heaven. I'm still looking around and
until I find a really great place I will make my own.

quote:

Originally posted by X1

MilwFoodlovers posted this in another thread -
For those of you who can't click the link:


Here is the list in its entirety (in alpha order):

Ann's Snack Bar, Atlanta
Christian's Tailgate Grill & Bar, Houston
Dyer's Burgers, Memphis
The Hungry Cat, Hollywood
Kuma's Corner, Chicago
The Meers Store & Restaurant, Meers, Okla.
Shake Shack, New York
Solly's Grill, Glendale, Wis.
Tessaro's, Pittsburgh
Town Topic, Kansas City

Didn't see that either.

The author - I believe his name is Jeff Ruby - is he identified as the owner of several high end restaurants in the Cincinnati area?

I can't click the links, porn filters and all that.....:-)

Nice looking burgers for the most part but, "We scoured the country for our 10 favorites -" means they researched the hype and drew up a cross country list. Just another promo piece to make the magazine interesting and give men an excuse to say they read Playboy for the content and not the pictures.

I'd have thought a review of the 10 best hotdogs would have been more appropriate.

quote:

Originally posted by juleebella

I'd have thought a review of the 10 best hotdogs would have been more appropriate.

*snicker!*

Somehow I had a feeling this would bring out all the "silly threaders".
Actually, TJ, the author is deputy food editor of Chicago magazine.

Chicago is another city magazine, just like New York is a city magazine.

Remember how the Americans used to catch the German spies during World War II? They would ask trivia questions a spy could not possibly know. The photo accompanying Jeff Ruby's writeup on NYC's Shake Shack (covered on this board and several NYC-focused boards) was from Danny Meyer's company. Now unless Playboy's editors cut out the sentence, I am surprised that Chicago-based Jeff Ruby did not mention that the Shake Shack is one of the few places around here that brings in, from Chicago, Vienna Beef franks, rolls, and condiments.

Playboy also credits Jeff Ruby as being humor columist for Chicago magazine. As Bruce and Sue wrote on a recent top 10 thread, don't take these lists too seriously. Which is another way of saying they are a joke.

<<Ann's Snack Bar, Atlanta
Christian's Tailgate Grill & Bar, Houston
Dyer's Burgers, Memphis
The Hungry Cat, Hollywood
Kuma's Corner, Chicago
The Meers Store & Restaurant, Meers, Okla.
Shake Shack, New York
Solly's Grill, Glendale, Wis.
Tessaro's, Pittsburgh
Town Topic, Kansas City>>

OK, so by extrapolation, Shake Shack serves the best burger in NY City.

Um, no, not by a long shot. Unless you happen to be a writer from Chicago who maybe got the Vienna Dogs confused with the Burgers. It's probably in the Top 3 Vienna Dogs in NY City, assuming there are two others. The again, if there were two others, Shake Shack would probably be 3rd. Even their dogs are not that great.

Hustler's "Top 10 Burgers" was a completely different list.

quote:

Originally posted by the ancient mariner

...Beauty is in the eye (or the taste buds) of the beholder......

Boy, ain't that the truth.

In Milwaukee, I prefer Mazo's, The Night Owl, Solly's (only on a pillow and it must be a double) and Sobelman's in that order yet a glorified fast food type patty, Kopp's consistantly is voted Milwaukee's favorite hamburger. Granted, Kopp's is covered with delicious semi-carmelized onions, but the patty itself tastes right out of the freezer. It has, however my favorite frozen custard in the world.

My all-time favorite hamburger is served in a country tavern maybe twenty miles from Green Bay called Basil's II in a one tavern town called Fontenoy. Mmmm. If anyone ever wants directions, pm me, it's not ten minutes or so off of I-43, Town of Denmark exit.
Kewpee Lunch in Racine rocks too!

quote:

Originally posted by uncledaveyo

Hustler's "Top 10 Burgers" was a completely different list.

I thought Hustler's top 10 was a complete bust!

I have not been to one of these place. Can't wait to hear what other people think of these places in the meantime.

I like Town Topic very much. Some may disagree, but I don't find their burgers to be overly greasy. The fries are good, the service is great. The meat always tastes extremely fresh, with just the right amount of salt and pepper.

This list is more than a bit bogus.. sorry folks. I have eaten at the hungry cat and you know what? It's good but Knowlwood's out in Anaheim is tons better.. plus they have irish nachos! Also good places to eat around CA are the hat in Simi Valley and of course Tommy Burgers out in Los Angeles

The only one on the list that I have had is the Original Kuma Burger from Kuma's corner. All I can say is that it is the best burger I have ever had. Cooked perfectly, (med.rare) fried egg (up) on top, on a Pretzel roll

quote:

Originally posted by Bluemaxx

I have not been to one of these place. Can't wait to hear what other people think of these places in the meantime.

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=18430&SearchTerms=ghetto

A couple of years back the original Glee Club folks met in Memphis before heading out to Dennis Hays BBQ place the next day. We wandered around Beale St for awhile tasting brews and BBQ's and listening to the music at various stops.
A couple of the guys tried the Dyer's Deep-fried Burgers, saying the Burger was "OK". (NOT Great!) I passed on that one, and haven't regretted passing on by since that night.

Heph is crazy if he thinks Town Topic is a better KC burger than Westport Flea Market.

I live in Houston Now and Christians is good (not as good as Westport or Port of Call in New Orleans, but the best burger in Houston)

I will try Tessaro's when I go to Pittsburgh this year

cbk21,

We just got back from Pittsburgh and I can tell you very enthusastically that Tessaro's is a MUST stop! Amazing burgers, great slaw and excellent potato salad. We got there too late for an order of home fries, but if they put as much effort into them as they put into everything else, they must be out of this world!

I don't know how long you'll be in town, but if you have time, get over to Tessaro's, Fat Heads, and Larry's Road House. Reviews and details can be found here:

http://www.roadfood.com/Forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=26848

If you have extra time you can try Primanti Bros. and The Original Hot Dog Shop. But I'm tellin' ya, make the first three your real priorities!

Have a great trip!

Buddy

Tessaro's is a great burger...But, it's ain't The Bob Cat Bite. Interesting list..thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Al-The Mayor-Bowen

A couple of years back the original Glee Club folks met in Memphis before heading out to Dennis Hays BBQ place the next day. We wandered around Beale St for awhile tasting brews and BBQ's and listening to the music at various stops.
A couple of the guys tried the Dyer's Deep-fried Burgers, saying the Burger was "OK". (NOT Great!) I passed on that one, and haven't regretted passing on by since that night.

I was one of those that tried Dyer's Burger--not a bad burger---BUT--there are about 50 or so places here in Oklahoma with burgers that are better--heck theres a gas station mini mart at the Oktaha exit on 69 just north of Checotah that kicks burger butt--and they'r cooked by young ranchers wife with a kid on her hip in a commercial burger press that only take 2 burgers at a time! Myers IS good though!

Somewhere in the archives of Roadfood are pics of us trying the Dyers burger. I agree with Tiki and Al that it was not the greatest but I had to try one because of all I had read about the place. I guess it is a bit of the Beale St. Thing.

Incidentally Beale St. is the best street experience in Tennessee.

Paul E. Smith
Knoxville, TN