Best burger.
It’s really final. And I hate it.
A. (Yes, I say this all the time) “Best” is subjective.
B. Hamburgers are delicious.
And this is exactly why each round of the Orlando Sentinel Hoodie Awards excites me. 50 categories and 150 pick values.
This is the 6th year, but honestly? It’s still not easy. There are so many good burgers in this city, and even though we always repeat, “This year’s winners don’t discount last year’s winners,” memories fade.
The other day, as I was on my way to Ten10 Brewing (1010 Virginia Drive, Orlando) for lunch with co-workers, a friend texted me. Because it was this year’s Critics’ Choice Best Burger.
“I’ve never seen a guy cooking hamburgers in a Big Green Egg on the sidewalk,” he wrote. followed by a laughing emoji.
that’s right. And that’s one reason why their Bacon & Blue Burger (especially that one) took top honors this year.
It’s a great burger, and the guys at Ten10 have plans to make it even better in the near future, but it still doesn’t discount any of the critics’ picks from the past few years. The bad news: some of them are no longer available. Happy people: These three. And this story is a reminder to try them out.
2021: The Royal with Cheese, Russells on Lake Ivanhoe
It’s been far too long since I sampled chef and owner Philippe Villain’s perfectly charred burger, but my appetite has grown since he sent me this photo to remind me of what I was missing. Within that crunch is a succulent, cooked-to-order center comprised of a very special blend that Villain keeps close to the vest. Needless to say, the materials (currently in my stash) are of very high quality.
$19 (with fries) is honestly a rarity these days. You can get a burger from a high-end restaurant for less than $20. That’s not necessarily something to celebrate, but things come at a cost. And there are so many $20+ burgers in this city that, frankly, you can’t afford.
Of note, for protein peeps, the exact same burger is served as a naked burger at Russell’s brunch. It’s all about the royals placed on top of the salad, except for the bread.
I recommend it with au poivre sauce, as my server did the night I tried it the first time. It’s good to mix things up. But this burger is still made from scratch.
“If we change it, the regulars will be very angry,” Villain says.
Understood.
If you go: Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe, 1414 N. Orange Ave., Orlando. 407-601-3508; russellsorlando.com
2022: Chef’s Burger, Bites & Bubbles
This plate of decadent duck fat-filled goodness began as a special menu item at Bites & Bubbles in 2018, inspired in part by chef and owner Eddie Nickell’s unabashed guilty pleasure, McDonald’s.
“I was always sad. ‘You’re making such beautiful food, is that what you’re craving?’ But for me, it’s nostalgic. When I was a kid, I looked forward to going to McDonald’s and getting a Big Mac and fries. I loved it.”
Decades later, he took his favorite classic and created his own version. It’s all-beef, two duck fat-infused patties, the chef’s special sauce, lettuce, raclette cheese, tomatoes, pickles, and onions on a toasted brioche bun.
The first one was from IYKYK.
Nickel makes 12 burgers, one for himself and one for his partner Nick, and makes a social post. “We have 10 Chef’s Burgers tonight… Once they’re gone, they’re gone.”
It became a mainstay on the menu in 2021, as people were literally lining up out the door before it even opened.
At the time it was $14. Today it’s $17. It’s an undeniable deal.
“Beef and duck fat has increased by about 500 percent since then,” Nickel says.
Case in point: As prices went up, so did the size of hamburgers. The old 3-ounce patties now weigh 4 ounces each.
“It’s the same thing, except make it bigger. When something like this happens, you just let it go.”
Pro tips: Bites & Bubbles has the best Burger Tuesday deals in town. I’m happy to share. Get a Chef’s Burger for just $5 when you order a qualifying cocktail, mocktail, beer or wine. It’s not on the menu, so be sure to ask your server.
If you go: Bites & Bubbles, 1618 N. Mills Ave. in Orlando; 407-270-5085; bitebubbles.com
2024: OKC Smashburger, Primrose Lanes
To say that the menu at Primrose Lanes has changed since the reopening of Orlando’s classic Colonial Lanes is a gross understatement. Executive Chef Jason Campbell and his team have had some interesting ideas about what the people who dine here want, but the menu doesn’t always end up exactly how they want.
And while I long to experience the wonders of a smoked prime rib sandwich that I hope will be brought back in a future Team Market Group concept that people will appreciate, there’s always the go-to OKC Smash Burger.
Campbell said this 2024 critics’ nomination remains strong.
“I think the reason it’s survived is because it’s always been a bestseller and it’s a classic.”
This gooey handheld pays homage to Campbell’s Time Out West, a simple but excellent double stack of onion-stuffed patties. Mayonnaise, perfectly melted American cheese, and exciting homemade pickles.
“I think our guests love it because it’s consistent,” he says. “It’s well-balanced, not flashy, and hits the right spot every time.”
If you go: Primrose Lanes Restaurant & Bowling, 400 N. Primrose Drive in Orlando, 407-745-0862; primrose lanes.com
Want to lend a hand? Find me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram @amydroo or the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For even more foodie fun, join our Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
