14 spots making burgers right in the Capital Region:
https://www.timesunion.com/projects/...ate-article-EP
From the Albany Times-Union: "If you want strong opinions, ask friends, co-workers and family for their favorite burger.
You’ll find solid backers of a McDonald’s quarter-pounder with cheese, diehard fans of Five Guys and those who aren’t content unless they’re locking jaws around handmade patties in a towering stack.
In 2021, I checked out newer fast-casual concepts like Guy Fieri’s Flavortown and Mr Beast operating out of Buca di Beppo, and each with their own fanbase, but they’re not on this list.
It might depend where you are in the moment. If you’re in downtown Albany, where can you grab a juicy burger at lunchtime? Do you know there’s a smoky blacksmith burger waiting for you in a taxidermy-filled pub in Averill Park? What’s your go-to if you’re near Saratoga Springs but not in the mood for sit-down dining?
I could compile a 518 burger trail every month and not run out of options, but, for good reason, these 14 — with a few makers sporting multiple locations — are the reigning champions we currently crave the most. "
-Brown’s Brewing
Locations in Troy and North Hoosick
You can choose from a six-pack of burgers at either taproom in Troy or Hoosick Falls.
The Uncle Sam beef burger ($16) is topped with bacon, mushrooms and caramelized onions, the Buffalo Mac Burger ($16) has a heaped topping of Buffalo macaroni and cheese, but The Trojan ($16) might be the most upstate creation with smoked gouda, avocado aioli and cherry-raspberry barbecue sauce tapping into the 518 love for melba sauce.
Substitute a vegan Beyond Burger at no extra charge.
Website:
https://www.brownsbrewing.com/
City Line Bar and Grill
1200 Western Ave., Guilderland
Across from the University at Albany’s Western Avenue entrance, the angular design and eco-friendly ipe wood siding of City Line Bar and Grill stands out. Inside, a large cube bar (bathed in slightly weird green-blue lighting) and a rear patio with fire tables and heaters handle a large, sometimes loud crowd.
Alongside all-day wings, hand-helds, salads and avocado fries are the City Line burgers, from the classic burger and fries ($17) to the Truffle Brie with red wine onions, brie and truffle mayo. The CL signature Whiskey BBQ Burger ($13) with angry onion strings, jack cheddar, bacon and an over-easy egg is an oversized masterpiece with a mound of shoestring fries ($19).
Website:
https://www.citylinebar.com/
Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More
16 Edison Ave., Schenectady
A fixture since 2009, Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More is an unassuming all-day burger joint decked out with color photos from a huge menu with 24 extreme burgers in addition to Greek and Indian dishes.
Try the classic American cheeseburger, lamb or bison masala burger, or flagship Juicy Lucy with cheese sealed inside the Angus patty ($14) or spring for one of the half-dozen burgers under $10. Add the “chef’s touch†— a sauteed onion-garlic-butter sauce — to any handcrafted burger or branch out with bison, antelope, *** or kangaroo burgers from the adventure menu.
Though you can order regular or spicy fries, the jet black fries are not to be missed and are based, according to chef-owner Dave Kahn, on aged black oil used for cooking Peshawari chapli kababs. With our fingers and lips stained black, there’s surely some activated charcoal thrown in.
Website:
https://www.davesgourmetburgersandmore.com/
Druthers
Locations in Saratoga Springs, Clifton Park, Schenectady and Menands
You can get your hands on Druthers’ all-day menu (11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.) built around the brewery’s tacos, wings, pizza and burgers, and, of course, the brewery’s draft beer.
In all four locations, the classic double-stacked Druthers burger ($16) is a wagyu beef blend with double American cheese, frizzled onions, dill pickle chips and Druthers’ burger sauce. But an Ugly Burger, piled high with bacon, beer cheese, Gorgonzola, onion rings and a fried egg, deserves its own recognition.
With many vegan-leaning options, it’s an equally good call to order the house-made black bean/quinoa veggie burger with greens, tomato, red onion and Druthers’ burger sauce ($15).
Website:
https://www.druthersbrewing.com/
Fidens Brewing Co.
897 Broadway, Albany
With a fine-dining chef and a cult following for its locally brewed beer, Fidens has pulled off a double whammy in a tasting room with really good comfort food well worth a drive and all draft beers available in 6-ounce pours for a sizable tasting flight.
Fidens’ burgers are a unique blend of aged beef, chuck, brisket and the uncommon lifter cut. Don’t miss the Piggy Burger with grilled peaches, pulled pork belly and onion rings racked and stacked on top.
Website:
https://www.fidensbrewing.com/
Finn’s
40 River St., Troy
From the team behind shuttered Caskade (Cohoes), The Daisy (Troy) and Frankie Bird (Troy) is newcomer Finn’s, in a squat little building in full view of an electricity substation.
Among the delightful small plates menu with herb-laden, flavor-packed seasonal combos like stracciatella with peaches or chicken thighs with pickled Jimmy Nardello peppers, you’ll find the perennially popular signature burger with two dry-aged patties, American cheese, “Mac†sauce, pickles, onions and a brioche bun, with fries ($19). Sub with a Beyond Burger for $2 more.
In addition, the wine and cocktail list is reason enough to go.
Website:
https://www.finnsat40river.com/
Herbie’s Burgers
Locations in Albany, Schenectady, Latham and Troy
Herbie’s Burgers flagship store burst onto Lark Street in the popping yellow of a retro ’50s diner and nerdy burger charm before expanding to three more locations in Troy, Guilderland and Galleria 7 food Hall in Latham.
Across all locations, a twin-track menu offers grass-fed smashed beef burgers (beef from a farm in Claverack), and dairy-based milkshakes, while vegan, house-made, plant-based patties are lightly spiced, a little salty from soy sauce and packed with veggies, brown rice and cashew nuts. The only question is how many patties to stack. Choose singles and doubles, a triple-decker or The Herbfather, loaded with four patties and stuffed with fries ($16.75).
Whichever you choose, toppings mimic McDonald’s Big Mac with special sauce, lettuce, cheese and pickles. In place of diced onions, add the house-made onion jam, a sweet, sticky, caramelized-onion reduction that amps up the flavor.
Website:
https://www.herbiesburgers.com/
Juicy Burgers & More
15 Trieble Ave., Ballston Spa
Owner Bobby Mitchell applied his experience as a fine dining steakhouse chef to quality burgers and founded Juicy Burgers & More north of Ballston Spa in 2009.
The result is thick, fresh, juicy, USDA-choice sirloin steak and chuck beef patties grilled in their specially designed broiler and clamped in brioche buns with lettuce, onion and pickles that hold their crunch. Unlike thin double smashed patties, two Juicy Burger patties stack up and the kitchen nails temperature requests whether you prefer medium rare or medium well.
Order online for fast pickup or eat in the bright, fast-casual store.
Website:
https://www.eatjuicyburgers.com/
Man of Kent
4452 Route 7, Hoosick Falls
Whether you call it a pub, a tavern, British or Brit-“ish,†the Man of Kent has long been a popular watering hole with soccer jerseys and flags on the walls, a stellar lineup of imported British beers like Wells’ Bombardier and Old Speckled Hen, and a staggeringly large menu including classic Ploughman’s lunch and fish and chips. But the oversized, ½-pound, flavorful-if-messy burgers with beer-battered fries are always a draw.
Among a half-dozen options is the Johnny B with Swiss cheese, sauteed crimini mushrooms, onions and a fried egg, the Rodeo piled with barbecue pulled pork and onion rings, and The Tavern with blue cheese, onions, applewood-smoked bacon and bordelaise sauce (each priced at $19.95).
Website/reviews:
https://manofkenttavern.com/
https://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaura..._New_York.html
Nighthawks
461 Broadway, Troy
“That’s just a Triple Cheeseburger to me,†says executive chef Josh Colletto of Nighthawks triple-stacked beast.
The small, truly farm-to-table restaurant is famous for plus-sized creations from cinnamon buns to egg-and-cheese breakfast sandwiches and their cheeseburger is no exception. Of course, the regular burger ($13) and cheeseburger ($14) are popular favorites, but you can keep stacking patties at $5 a pop.
Website:
https://www.nighthawkstroy.com/
Prime Burger and Shakehouse
433 River St., Troy
In the Troy Food Hall in the city’s riverfront Hedley Building, Prime Burger and Shakehouse, from restaurateur Jamie Ortiz (677 Prime, Toro Cantina), has taken the recent trend for hand-pressed burgers and oversized shakes and elevated the game.
Known for its USDA-prime beef and dry-aged Black Angus burgers, the massive, Instagrammable milkshakes come studded with slabs of cake and assorted candies. The Prime Burger straddles the line between fast food and gourmet burgers at a competitive price with sizable combos, like a chuck and brisket Double Prime beef burger with or without cheese for a pocket-friendly $13.25.
Website:
https://www.primeburgertroy.com/
Swoon Kitchenbar
340 Warren St., Hudson
On a fresh sesame brioche bun from sister business La Perche, Swoon’s signature burger, The Standard, features two skillet-seared, all-natural, grass-fed Kinderhook Farm beef patties with a gorgeous crust.
Whether you choose sweet caramelized onions, house-pickled chiles, or sautéed oyster and shiitake mushrooms as your toppings, you can’t go wrong, and take your pick of house-made tater tots or fries as your sides.
Website:
https://www.swoonkitchenbar.com/
The Towne Tavern
2850 Route 43, Averill Park
This family-friendly pub is packed seven days a week. Drop in on a Monday night and you’ll find tables filled along with every seat at the bar. Good thing they have upstairs seating with a superb view of the taxidermy in the tavern bar below.
We suspect the appeal is the $3.50 daily bar drink specials, 20 beers on tap, house-smoked barbecue, build-your-own pizzas and a dozen flamed 8-ounce Blacksmith burgers. Try The Poestenkill burger with blue cheese and caramelized onions, The Towne Tavern with chipotle puree, red peppers and pepperjack cheese, or The Firetower loaded with fried jalapenos, cheddar and bread-and-butter pickles ($14.49).
Websites:
https://thetownetavern.com/
Wellington’s
144 State St., Albany
When The Renaissance Hotel Albany opened, part of the draw was the original 1927 terrazzo floors and muraled ceiling depicting New York history. As the hotel restaurant and bar, Wellington’s has had the task of offering all-day dining and cocktails with a versatile menu of charcuterie and cheese platters, shareables, sandwiches and macaroni and cheese.
Crossing both lunch and dinner menus, The Capitol burger ($18) comes with smoked onion mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, cheese and fries and can be upgraded with pork belly ($6), a fried egg ($3), or the indulgence of Hudson Valley foie gras with a final price tag of $36. There’s also a black bean burger with avocado and fries ($18).
Website:
Wellington's Albany | Renaissance Albany Hotel "
Also, from the Food Life article also in the Times-Union:
https://link.timesunion.com/view/615...l.3eh/557a74b9
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
