5 to Try: Gourmet Burgers

by Jonathan Baker - Citysearch Editor - 229 Reviews - 119 Lists

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From the archives: August 03, 2009

In the city that's been proclaimed as the "Hamburger Capital of the World," legendary greasy-cheap goodness readily flows from the Varsity, the EARL and Ann's Snack Bar. So it comes as no surprise that our high-end chefs are now getting in on the burger action. Gussied-up, classic American burgers are the culinary craze for fine diners, and one notable chef even created an entire restaurant around the idea.

On this page:One Cult Classic, The Full Menu, Equal Side to a Great Burger, Ritz Bitz, Burger at a Steak Palace.

One Cult Classic

  1. 1 4 Star Rating: Recommended Holman & Finch Public House
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    2277 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30309 (map)

    Master mixologist Greg Best grabs a megaphone every night at 10pm and yells, "It's burger time!" to indicate that the house-ground, cult champs are officially fair game. This sends diners cheering and scurrying to order before they're sold out. Like an In-and-Out "double-double" on steroids, this gooey masterpiece comes complete with house-made ketchup, mustard and pickles.

The Full Menu

  1. 2 4 Star Rating: Recommended Flip
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    1587 Howell Mill Rd, Atlanta, GA 30318 (map)

    While other restaurants jump on the bandwagon, Top Chef super-stud Richard Blias revolved an entire restaurant around the trend. The menu at Flip (get it?) is 100% gourmet burgers, from an Asian-styled "bun mi" burger to a Southern burger that's been fried and topped with pimento cheese. Arrive early or expect a wait.

Equal Side to a Great Burger

  1. 3 3.5 Star Rating: Average Shaun's Edgewood Social Club
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    1029 Edgewood Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30307 (map)

    One of the first gourmet establishments in Atlanta to rock the fancy burger was Shaun's. And while his $17 Wagyu cheeseburger is simplistically delicious, his secret weapon is the accompanying french fries. These bad boys have been hand-cut and cooked in duck fat, popping with flavor and crispness.

Ritz Bitz

  1. 4 5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended The Ritz-Carlton Buckhead
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    3434 Peachtree Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30326 (map)

    Leave it to the snooty dining room at the Ritz Carlton to take this culinary trend to the pricey maximum. Arugula and parm provide bite to the buttery-delicious brioche bun and custom ground Kobe beef in the Riviera burger, and is worth the $18. For those who really want decadence, the "Deluxe" comes with foie gras and sliced truffles for the deluxe price of $65.

Burger at a Steak Palace

  1. 5 4 Star Rating: Recommended Kevin Rathbun Steak Llc
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    154 Krog St NE Ste 200, Atlanta, GA 30307 (map)

    Ordering burgers in a high-end steak joint isn't typically recommended. But, at Iron-Chef-winning Kevin Rathbun's critically acclaimed steakhouse, each burger is ground-to-order with 8 ounces of prime rib-eye--and holds its own against the mammoth porterhouse for two.