Burgers in the ‘Bus: 6 Must-Try Restaurants
By Mariah West
Kicking off this Monday, September 25 is the 2nd annual Columbus Burger & Beer Week hosted by (614) Magazine. For this celebration of suds & sandwiches, over 60 local restaurants and breweries will be offering week-long specials on craft beers, plus gourmet burger creations at a flat rate. With so many options for Burger & Beer Week, we decided to share some of our all-time favorite restaurants specializing in bringing the beef.
Maddie McGarvey, The Washington Post via Chicago Tribune
Thurman Cafe
You truly haven’t had a Columbus burger until you’ve made a stop to German Village’s Thurman Café, a family-owned foodie staple in the city since 1942. Thurman’s claims to have the “best burgers in Columbus,” and truly delivers with their menu of a whopping 21 varieties that range from Bacon Cheddar Ranch & Pepperoni Pizza to Hot & Spicy Salsa and Hawaiian burgers. Thurman’s most infamous bite, however, is the gargantuan Thurmanator burger, which was featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food.” Originally designed for bodybuilders visiting for the annual Arnold Classic, the jumbo burger is stacked to the sky with two 12oz. patties and 12 other toppings. Not for the weak.
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Megan Leigh Barnard & Chris Casella via (614) Magazine
Stack City Burger Bar
Packing a punch in both the burger and beer department is the Short North’s Stack City Burger Bar, whose menu offers 10 signature burgers, plus sandwiches, wings, and other sides. Stack City uses fresh ground, locally sourced grass-fed beef on their burgs, integrating both classic toppings and more unique ones like avocado tomato relish, Cheez Wiz, red wine onions, dried cranberries, and onion rings. All pair fabulously with any of the 35+ craft beers available at the bar, and are enjoyed best on Stack City’s spacious patio.
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Via Facebook
Bareburger
Now a popular chain throughout New York, Bareburger has expanded in to a handful of other states, Ohio being one of them. This eatery stands out for its rock-solid dedication to serving the most organic, natural, and sustainable ingredients possible. With locations in the Short North and Clintonville, Bareburger boasts a menu of 14 vegan and traditional burgers topped with interesting meats like free-range duck, brisket, bison, elk, turkey, and even wild-caught boar, all of which were humanely raised without hormones, GMOs, antibiotics, and other synthetic substances. Everything down to the sauces & soda pop at Bareburger are fair-trade and certified organic, so you can indulge knowing these sandwiches are good for you beyond just your taste buds.
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Via Facebook
Flip Side
Flip Side is a chef-driven burger, craft beer, and shake shack that offers a lengthy roster of 18 different burgers, all of which boast premium Ohio raised, grass-fed beef. The eatery has several homes throughout Ohio, including one at Easton, where they serve up burgers ranging from classic cheese, bacon, and mushroom burgers to unique combos that include smoked beef brisket & jalapeno, shallots & brie, beer braised short ribs & caramelized onions, and prosciutto with fried egg & spinach. Flip side also includes a brunch menu, many sides, sandwiches & salads, beer, and milkshakes that come with an optional spike of booze.
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Via Chop Shop
Chop Shop
OSU campus hangout, the Chop Shop doesn’t need a lengthy list of zany toppings to embellish their savory, delicious farm-raised Angus patties. Their menu includes a small number of signature gourmet burgers, sticking to simpler varieties like Swiss cheese & mushroom, lettuce, tomato, & onion, and a breakfast burger with egg, bacon, hash brown, and syrup. Chop Shop also serves Nathan’s hot dogs, onion rings & other diner digs.
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Via Facebook
The B Spot
Renowned Cleveland chef, Michael Symon has been taking the restaurant biz by storm with several establishments around the Midwest. One of these included B Spot Burgers, which has a home in the Gahanna area. B Spot has been voted Best Burgers in America at the SOBE Burger Bash four different times, and continues to wow with its many different burgers that feature classic and unique toppings like eggs & bacon, chorizo sausage & avocado, and pulled pork & coleslaw. Also worthy of note is the joint’s “Impossible Burger,” a plant-based patty for meat lovers that truly tastes just like the real thing. B Spot’s menu also includes bologna dishes, brats, sandwiches, and milkshakes.
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We’ve only scratched the surface on Columbus’ burger scene, and hope you’ll explore all the options Burger & Beer Week will be offering and beyond. Stay hungry, and remember to eat local!
