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Ted's - Meriden, CT

A steamed cheeseburger is cooked in a steam cabinet, the meat held inside a squarish stainless steel tin as it browns but does not sizzle. Adjacent to the cooking beef are tins into which are placed small blocks of cheddar cheese. The effect of the steam on the cheese is to make it molten. The beef and cheese are loaded into a hard roll with lettuce and tomato and, preferably, mustard; and you’ve got one heck of a messy but delicious cheeseburger!
82% Approval Rating (50 votes)
4 - Overall: Worth planning a day around
Overall: Worth planning a day around

Must Eats

steamed cheeseburger ($5.00)
Potatoes (N/A)

Written Reviews

rating
Michael Stern
Roadfood.com Editor
"The steamed cheeseburger is one of the most geographically focused of all Roadfood specialties. It is available within a twenty-five mile radius of Middletown in central Connecticut, where perhaps a dozen different restaurants make and serve it. Fifty miles away in ..."   [Read More].
rating
Petepop2
June 22, 2009
"The home fries (as they call them) are the real winners here. There is no special seasoning that you'll notice but I suspect their magic comes from the seasoned grill (since 1959) they're cooked on. The burger, as well, only carries a basic salt-and-pepper seasoning ..."   [Read More].
rating
Tony Bad
April 09, 2007
"I usually pass this way very early or very late, so I was happy to find myself in Meriden at lunch time. I know there are mixed reviews of Ted's, but I love it. The burger is flavorful and juicy. The cheese also has a lot of flavor, unlike the wax-like cheese in ..."   [Read More].
rating
dpanagrosso
December 29, 2005
"I tried Ted's for the first time a couple weeks ago. I wasn't impressed. Maybe steamed cheeseburgers are an acquired taste that I haven't developed. To me, the burgers taste like what you would expect - steamed meat. And there's nothing special about the cheese. ..."   [Read More].
rating
DavidK
March 15, 2004
"I recently moved down here to Florida and the one thing I miss is being able to stop over at Ted's Restaurant for a couple of steamed cheeseburgers. I ate there many times over the years and they serve the absolute best. I would definitely give them a five star rating ..."   [Read More].

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Map & Directions

Yahoo Link
1046 Broad St., Meriden, CT
203-237-6660

http://www.steamedcheeseburger.com

Hours & Policies

Seasons:Open Year Round
Meals Served:Lunch
Operational Hours:Always Call Ahead!
Credit Cards Accepted:Yes
Alcohol Served:No
Outdoor Seating:Yes
Reservations Accepted:No
Delivery Available:No
Takeout Counters:Yes
What a delicious mess! I was able to eat about half of this hefty steamed cheeseburger before it completely disintegrated onto its paper plate. I ate the rest by picking and plucking at the pile of meat, bun, cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce.
"What a delicious mess! I was able to eat about half of this hefty steamed cheeseburger before it completely disintegrated onto its paper plate. I ate the rest by picking and plucking at the pile of meat, bun, cheese, tomato, onion and lettuce."
Michael Stern





These big sticks of cheddar cheese are cut and cooked until jelly-soft in the steamer.
"These big sticks of cheddar cheese are cut and cooked until jelly-soft in the steamer."
Michael Stern


A monument of vapor-cooked meat and cheese ... impossible to pick up and eat without serious drippage.
"A monument of vapor-cooked meat and cheese ... impossible to pick up and eat without serious drippage."
Michael Stern


The little rectangular metal trays are loaded with beef for the steamer box.  They look like mini-meat loaves.
"The little rectangular metal trays are loaded with beef for the steamer box. They look like mini-meat loaves."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle


Blocks of cheese are melted in the same trays as the beef.  It's a lot more cheese than you'd normally get on a burger.
"Blocks of cheese are melted in the same trays as the beef. It's a lot more cheese than you'd normally get on a burger."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle


Paul Duberek tends little pans of molten cheese and sizzling meat amidst clouds of aromatic steam from his vintage cooker.
"Paul Duberek tends little pans of molten cheese and sizzling meat amidst clouds of aromatic steam from his vintage cooker."
Michael Stern


World Famous? We'd bet most people have never even heard of a steamed cheeseburger, much less eaten one.
"World Famous? We'd bet most people have never even heard of a steamed cheeseburger, much less eaten one."
Bruce Bilmes and Susan Boyle


An opportunity to taste hambuger history ... although to most patrons, Ted's is just a friendly place to eat lunch.
"An opportunity to taste hambuger history ... although to most patrons, Ted's is just a friendly place to eat lunch."
Michael Stern


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