A Burger a Day in the Month of May in Fairfield County

B.E.C. Burger. Yes, those are french fries.

Elvis Burger with peanut butter, banana chips, and bacon at GRAND

Kristien needed her regular burger, though she did contemplate the Surf and Turf!

May is National Hamburger Month, so what better way to celebrate than talking about hamburgers?  Ah, so many styles, so many toppings, so many meat combinations…so much antacid.  What we’ve done is create a list of hamburgers that you just might want to try, organized by each day of May, not organized by favorite.  So, by the time this month is through, you better make sure you’ve had every single one of these burgers.  We’ll be checking your receipts!

We’ll update this list every day in May, so check back daily for your burger fix.  But, let’s say we missed your favorite spot…just let us know.  No biggie.

May 1:  Station Eats of New Canaan and Stamford.  Try their burger (shake and dog, too) of the month and see what awesome combos they have next.  They use fresh, never frozen, grass-fed beef.  And, starting Mid-May, they’ll have their own biergarten.  Guten tag indeed.

May 2: Luc’s Cafe of Ridgefield.  Aside from some killer frites with the burger, they make it right and make it one way:  hormone free home ground burger with (or without) Swiss cheese or bacon.  You can add Roquefort for $2.50 more.

May 3: Melt Mobile food truck of Stamford and Greenwich: aside from sophisticatedly awesome grilled cheese sandwiches, there’s a reverse cheeseburger that they’re dishing out:  The Insanewich.  On the outside they have two of their Original Melts, packed with Gruyere, Tillamook Cheddar, and Monterey Jack.  Nestled inside is a beautiful grilled 6 oz. Angus burger served with bacon, lettuce, tomato, and Melt sauce.  If you can finish this bad boy, you are worthy of our admiration!

May 4: Mr. Frosty’s of Stamford (Harbor Point).  We were sick to our stomachs when we learned from Anthony that Beach Burger in Norwalk had closed, but then we felt optimistic again because we knew that Mr. Frosty’s in Stamford would still be serving burgers.  The burgers here are great and come in some awesome varieties.  Don’t overlook their fries and their milkshakes, though.  There are tons of tables out now around the park, so checking out Mr. Frosty’s and even getting a celebratory ice cream afterwards is the perfect way to enjoy spring and summer.

May 5: Bobby Q’s Pit Stop in Greenwich.  So, check this burger out:  your choice of a regular, double, or local beef patty served with Joey B’s rich and spicy chili, white cheddar, and…Fritos!  Oh, the Fritos make it.  The burger (a double) came out juicy, the chili was fantastic, and was great with a Chocolate Mallomar Milkshake.  BTW, there’s a milkshake with bacon on the menu.  Just sayin!

May 6: Black Duck in Westport.  People have been going here well before Guy Fieri stamped his bite of approval on this famous floating restaurant.  There are lots of ways to get your burger here from the classic cheeseburger, to a burger with bacon, or a cheeseburger with bacon…but then there’s the bleu cheese stuffed burger, oozing with flava.

May 7: The Fez in Stamford.  You need to order The Fez Burger.  Quite the unconventional and unexpected burger, but sooo good.  We’re talking a mixture of lamb and beef together, uniting as one.  Sometimes lamb by itself can be too gamey and overwhelming, but the beef balances it out.  It’s served with crispy lettuce and tomato, served with roasted onions and peppers.  Oh, and they throw on a fabulous green spiced sauce to bring it all together.

May 8: Super Duper Weenie in Fairfield.  SDW is an obvious choice if you’re looking for some hot and freshly made wieners, but they’re also a great choice if you want a burger.  You can choose between their 4.5 or 6 oz. burgers that are hand-made grass-fed/organic/hormone free/antibiotic free/certified Angus.  They serve it up on a potato roll.  Yes, when you go there the last thing you think of is a hamburger, but we had the opportunity to try their burgers at an event with the SDW truck.  The meat itself was fresh and full of flavor and was cooked nicely.  The patty kept that juiciness that makes any burger a treat to eat.  Plus, they have lots of great add-ons at the restaurant such as their hand-made toppings like the relish.  Go with the hot relish, though. ;)

May 9:  Napa & Co. of Stamford.  The Napa Wagyu Burger definitely has a cult following, but there’s a price to way…$26 to be exactly.  While some might scoff at paying such a premium price for just a burger, it’s not just a burger.  It’s more of an experience.  They take premium Wagyu (aren’t those two words basically the same thing?) and top it with onion jam, aged Gouda, and black pepper mayo then serve it on a brioche roll.  When we tried the burger it was cooked exactly how we like it:  medium rare.  The patty was juicy and was amazingly full of flavor.  You get garlicky french fries with that burger, too…don’t worry.

May 10:  Coalhouse Pizza in Stamford.  Again, although you might not think of burgers when you hit up Coalhouse, you should give one a shot.  Like their pizzas, they come in great varieties, named after blues and jazz legends.  Starting off, all burgers are 8 oz. prime beef patties.  We had the Classic Coalhouse which simply has Romaine, tomato, and red onion and is served on an English muffin.  The burger was definitely cooked nicely (pink or some pink like Plan B) with a good amount of pink hanging around.  It was definitely juicy and full of flavor.  We’ve also had many specialty burgers that have been made for beer dinners and they have been awesome.  The next time we come by for one of their 52 brews on tap, we’ll try the Stevie Ray Vaughan which includes a fried egg, bacon, tomato, pepperjack, and Texas mesquite on a brioche bun.  Sure…that counts as breakfast. ;)

May 11: Plan B Burger Bar in Stamford.  Although service time from the kitchen has been a consistent issue in reviews, we’ve never had a bad burger at Plan B…but it’s certainly not for every burger lover.  The patties here are different than most other burgers than you’ve probably had.  They pack them very loosely here and this warrants their “some pink” or “no pink” ordering.  This frustrates people and it confused us at first, but it made sense after our waitress explained it:  because they freshly grind the burger meat each day and pack it loosely, it’s very tough to serve it the exact way that you want it.  We’ve been by a few times and tried some of their classic menu items such as Kristien’s go-to, Tavern Classic,  the Chili burger with jalapenos and jack cheese, and the Squeeler with a half pork/half beef mixture.  And, we’ve also experimented with their burgers of the week, munching on a killer mac & cheese burger.  Plus, it doesn’t hurt that they have a wicked good bourbon selection to wash that burger down with.

May 12:  Ginger Man in Greenwich.  While their sister restaurant in Norwalk might have more brews on tap, the Greenwich location is still impressive, boasting 26 draft lines.  And, you know what that means?  You need some burgers to wash all that down with.  When we went for St. Patrick’s Day, we sat upstairs and took the less traditional route.  We ordered their lamb burger with feta and a nicely mild tzatziki sauce on top.  The lamb was cooked perfectly, still pink inside, still juicy, and was full of that beautiful gamey flavor that only lamb can bring.  Plus, the tabouli on the side was actually really good.  We didn’t know what it’d be like and were a bit hesitant, but we actually enjoyed it.  Definitely a nice solid choice for the pub-grub here.

May 13: Burger, Shakes & Fries of Darien and Greenwich.  Although we first tried the burgers, shakes, and fries at the Darien location, we’re happy to say we live within walking distance of the Greenwich location.  Perhaps one of the things that we love the most about the burgers at BSF is how they are served on fluffy buttered (oh so buttery) toast.  The toast itself is awesome, and the patty is excellent, always cooked to medium rare (unless you ask of course).  Toppings are great and can be customized.  Favorite combo?  Bacon, fried egg, and hot peppers.  It’s important to note that the Darien location has more room, while the Greenwich location is smaller and dive-ier.  We actually like the Greenwich location more…especially because you get to see the charmer Kory Wollins, charming owner and burger-lover.

May 14:  Burger Bar & Bistro in Norwalk.  Although there have been some reviews of quality going down here, when we went, we had a great time and enjoyed our burgers.  Perhaps the star of the show for Dan was the B.E.C. Burger, served with applewood smoked bacon, a fried egg, two slices of American cheese, fries, and a spicy ketchup.  If you look back up to the start of this post you can see this burger in all its glory.  And, you can also upgrade to Kobe beef for an even better burger experience.  Yes, the fries are actually served ON the burger.  If you’ve got a pup, you should take advantage of the outdoor patio because there’s a menu just for dogs, too.

May 15:  Dairy Inn in Stamford.  Sometimes you don’t want a gourmet burger and just want to get down and dirty.  And, Dairy Inn at 1092 Hope Street (seen during a scene in the movie, Let’s Talk about Ryan) fulfills your need for down and dirty grub.  They are grilling up dogs, red hots (Dan’s favorite), and flame-broiled burgers…plus they have lots of sides like jalapeno poppers and other tried and true American fast food favorites.  This was always our favorite alternative to going to a place like McDonald’s or even the much disappointing Jake’s Wayback Burger down the road.  Yes, it’s not a gourmet burger, but it’s always served hot and juicy with your choice of toppings.  Plus, you can have some ice cream with that burger. ;)

May 16: MacDuff’s in Greenwich.  Maybe you’ve never heard of MacDuff’s, but we were looking for a nice Irish pub in Greenwich when we moved.  And, it’s kind of a requirement to order wings, burgers, and fries when you go to a pub.  Looking back after actually being to Ireland, you do get that authentic kind of vibe by going there.  The burger is made with 8 oz. of Prime Hereford beef topped with farmhouse cheddar.  The burger was very fresh and had that manly meaty taste that you crave in a burger.  There was nice grill marks and it was cooked to a perfect medium rare.  This was all served on a poppy seed roll.  Perhaps the most fun thing to do was dip the burger in the onion whisky sauce that comes with the burger.  That stuff should be illegal.  The housemade chips that also come with the dish were crispy and had that nice crunch that you crave.  If there was a tiny bit more seasoning this could be one of our favorite burgers ever.

May 17:  Shake Shack in Westport.  Again, we’re not burger snobs, so we can really go for any kind of burger.  It might be a simple patty, a more complicated version, or maybe even a chain burger.  What matters is that ya like it and you enjoy it.  Waits might be long here at Shake Shack, but the burger is worth it in the end…and so is the outdoor seating.  When we tried, Kristien got her standard toppings:  lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, ketchup, and extra extra extra pickles.  She asked for it medium and she got it medium.  It was full of flavor, had nice girth and thickness, the bun was fresh, and the patty had that nice char and crispiness on the outside while it was nice and juicy in the middle.  It’s really easy to throw on lots of crazy toppings and say a burger is great, but to keep it simple and have it still be great is a completely different issue.  Plus, um, we love the shakes. :P

May 18: GRAND of Stamford.  Chef Nick Biello came to Grand a few years back and helped them to rework the menu of this trendy nightspot.  The menu soon became a burger lover’s dream with so many great choices.  Although Dan loved his Elvis burger (peanut butter, banana, bacon), they have since taken it off the menu.  Seriously, how could you do that to us?  Even still, their other classic burgers are still available with the choice of grass fed beef, free range turkey, or homemade veggie.  Both our burgers were perfectly cooked to medium rare and you could tell that the meat was fresh and of very high quality…not like eating pink slime from McDonald’s at all.  Some burgers to try out are the Bacon Egg Burger (bacon, deviled egg, peppers), the Bing Burger (cherry preserve, fresh mooz, sea salt), Slow & Low Burger (robiola cheese, braised short ribs, bbq), and the Grand Burger with bleu cheese, caramelized onions, and fig balsamic.

Most anticipated burgers that we (and you) need to try…

May 19: Garden Catering of Greenwich, Fairfield, Stamford, and Norwalk.  Garden Catering doesn’t do just specials with nuggets and cones.  Nope, they’ve got a crazy burger that has us counting down the days until we can hit up their nearby spot in Old Greenwich.  We’re talking about the Hotsy burger!  You take a 6 oz patty, grill it up, add cheese, Hotsy’s chili (they’re also famous for their chili, btw), 3 strips of bacon, smashed potato cones, and a fried egg.  Holy heart attack, Batman…we’ve so got to get this!

May 20:  Bailey’s Backyard of Ridgefield.  We were amazed with our experience at the reopening of Bailey’s Backyard, now with Chef Forrest Pasternack.  With his focus on real, fresh, and local ingredients, you have to know that Bailey’s will be providing an awesome burger.  Their burger comes from nearby Greyledge Farm in Roxbury, where Forrest grew up.  He’s serving the patty up with housemade pickles (you can buy them there, too), aerated ketchup, and it’s served up on a soft potato roll.  On the side you’ll get some market shoestring fries.  When we come back to visit in a week with our friends Renato and Alicia of rMedia and The Natural Princess, we’ll definitely have to order this…and maybe Chef Pasternack’s tasting menu, too…

May 21:  Bar Sugo in Norwalk.  Chef Pat Pascarella’s been pushing this one hard, but you’ll need to come by for lunch or brunch to get his burger.  Chef Pat’s always been about using local ingredients and the best ingredients, and that’s definitely true because he gets his burger meat from Saugatuck Craft Butchery.  In fact, if you ever see him or his cooks, you’ll probably notice them wearing the Saugatuck Craft Butchery hats.  So, not only does The Burger have a blend of Craft Butchery beef, it also has smoked rosemary mayo, onion jam, gouda, and a Sport Hill farm egg on top.  Ever since Chef Pat debuted this burger, we’ve been meaning to get back and and just devour this.  We’ve seen his pics on Facebook and they are definitely drool worthy.  We’ll definitely need to let you know what it’s like when we taste it.  Have you had this yet?

May 22:  Mediterraneo of Norwalk.  Although this location has been only open for two weeks, they have a burger on their menu that sounds like our kind of fun.  We’re talking American Kobe beef, sliced manchego, pepperonata (peppers, onions, herbs), all served on a brioche bun.  You won’t find this on the menu at the Greenwich spot, either.  While you’re checking out Mediterraneo, definitely check out the brand new Hotel Zero Degrees.

May 23:  The Spread in Norwalk.  Although Chef Arik Bensimon has moved onto LeFarm, that doesn’t mean that the much talked about burger here shouldn’t be tested out.  I mean, look, it’s for the sake of humanity and to make sure that it’s awesome.  So, really, we’d be doing a service to the world when we try out this burger, now cooked by Executive Chef Carlos Baez.  One of the servers that we trust very much at the spread, Cristiano, told us we HAD to try the burger.  And, here it is:  simply known as Cheeseburger, it features grass-fed beef, cheddar, and spicy mayo.  It’s served with tomato dust chips.  Um, get us on that stat.

May 24:  Dinosaur Bar-b-que in Stamford.  Now, you can’t exactly blame us for never having a burger here.  We’ve had almost everything on the menu and the burger just might be the only thing left to try.  This Syracuse original has only been open for just a short while, but it’s been getting great reviews, and it’s been cranking out some majorly slathered-up BBQ.  But, once you’ve had your fair share of wings, ribs, and Dino Poutine, try out either the Dino Burger Original or Deluxe.  The original is your standard burger with 6 oz. of Angus beef, but they do serve it up with their signature BBQ mayo.  The Deluxe, though, is what we’ve got to order:  6 oz. Angus with BBQ caramelized onions, cheddar, tomato, house-cured pickles, and their BBQ mayo.  Wash the bites down with lots of local craft brews like Half Full.  Okay, fine, you can have the Dino Poutine too.  We won’t judge.

May 25: Tautog Tavern in Black Rock.  If we had Tautog Tavern back when we lived in Black Rock, we might have never left.  But, that being said, we are very excited to try their Tavern Burger.  Our obsession with trying this started when we had an amazingly killer Filet Mignon sandwich at CitiField (not killer enough for the Mets to win) made with Pat LaFrieda beef.  Then, a couple of weeks later we had burgers from Fresh Direct delivered that were Pat LaFrieda also.  Can we say, these were some of the best burgers that we’ve ever made at home.  Well, The Tavern Burger here at Tautog Tavern is a special blend of beef from Pat LaFrieda and you build it the way you want it with the usual ingredients, cheeses, sautéed mushrooms, caramelized balsamic onions, and−of course−bacon.  To have a good burger you need to start with good meat and Tautog Tavern definitely knows that.

May 26: Cowabunga Food Truck.  We told you all about Ben opening up Cowabunga a few months back, but we haven’t had a chance to check out his food yet.  His food truck is the best of both worlds:  classic American food like burgers and dogs plus ice cream.  Really, does it get better?  We say no freaking way.  Now, it’s hard to say which of the following burgers we’re more excited about, but we give the edge to The Italian Burger:

• Portobello mushroom burger: mushrooms, mozzarella, and grilled onion
• Western burger:  pepper jack cheese, bbq sauce, bacon, and grilled onion
• The Italian burger: provolone with fried mozzarella sticks and marinara sauce
• Bacon egg and cheeseburger:  crisp bacon, egg, and cheese topped with french fries

May 27: Harlan Social of Stamford.  Now, granted we might not have the most ideal first experience here, but we can always give restaurants second chances like we just did with B•AN•C House in Norwalk.  What started our fascination was a special section of the Greenwich Time that focused on Harbor Point.  On one beautiful page was a lovely pic of a burger, sitting pretty with cheese all melty and gooey down the side.  Served with the burger is a cheddar ale sauce and bacon onion jam.  Have we ever mentioned our obsession with bacon jam?  It started when we were in Seattle and checked out one of the best restaurants EVER, Skillet.  They are famous for their bacon jam and we recently found it being sold at Fairfield Cheese Company.  So, get the burger at Harlan Social, then get more Skillet bacon jam…check, check.

May 28:  Redding Roadhouse in Redding.  We have heard so many amazing things about Redding Roadhouse, especially as of late.  And, when you order the Roadhouse Burger & Fries we could imagine how awesome this experience would be.  They grind their own beef then top the patty with American, tomato jam, house relish, and their very own purple mustard.  Purple mustard is pretty interesting and it’s most commonly made with mustard seeds, wine, vinegar, spices, and grapemust (the reduction of the must from grapes).   Oh, and if you go there Tuesday, we’re talking half price, so $6.50 instead of the $13.  Nice deal.

May 29:  Merritt Canteen in Bridgeport.  Here’s another spot, just like The Black Duck, that’s been on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives.  Here at the Merritt Canteen they are known for their big portions and their love of all things grilled and fried.  And, when you’re talking about burgers, they certainly don’t disappoint.  They have lots of options to satisfy you, including either getting a single or a double patty for some burgers. One of their most popular specialities is the Bison Burger (1/3 pound) that they serve up with their very own blend.  If you’ve ever had bison, you know why this is an awesome choice.  There’s more flavor and it’s leaner so you can feel just a bit better about eating like a pig.

May 30:  Sycamore Drive-in Restaurant in Bethel.  With more than 10 different kinds of burgers, it should be pretty easy to pick something you’ll like here.  Even cooler?  You don’t even need to get out of your car to get your burger!  Now, the burgers are a bit different here, so we’re excited to try them out…they use ground steak meat for a high quality burger, but don’t stiff you with crazy prices.  Sycamore Drive in claims that the “Final Answer to the Burger” is the Dagwood Burger which is 5 oz. and topped with the typical items.  If you’re feeling hungrier, order the Steakburger Plate with a 10 oz. patty and it comes with fries.  Oh car hop…

May 31: Fat Wedge U in Danbury.  How could ya not love a place called Fat Wedge U?  Like the past two burger joints, this spot has some great options other than the standard burger.  If you’re in the mood for something spicy, you could order Burger from Hell, if you’re starving order the Fat Boy that has three patties and all the regular accoutrements, try the Juicey Duicey with 1/2 pound of sirloin and a molten cheese center, or go crazy with the Peanut Butter Cheese Burger.  Do you think we could get an honorary degree in Burgerology here?

That’s it!

This was probably one of the toughest things to write ever.  There were lots of burgers we had tried along the way, but also lots of research in finding some of the most talked about or exciting burgers throughout Fairfield County.  Again, let us know if your favorite didn’t make the list.  We’d love to try it!