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By Amanda Southall
For me, the taste of fall is charbroiled, topped with lettuce, pickles, fresh tomatoes from the garden and a hunk of cheese.
Burgers are an American staple for good reason, and no cookout, tailgate or menu is truly complete without a thick, juicy hamburger.
We went looking for Richmond’s best burger with high hopes, high standards, and a big appetite. This is what we found.
Best Atmosphere
Shula’s 2
You don’t have to be a Dolphin’s fan to sink your teeth into a thick burger at Shula’s 2 at the Sheraton West. The menu has three burgers to choose from, a classic cheeseburger, the Hickory burger and the Black and Bleu burger. All three choices have one thing in common: premium Black Angus beef that passes Shula’s rigorous standards.
“The thing that really sets us apart is the quality of the meat,” explained Brad Sullivan, business development manager of Shula’s. “Our beef is even better than prime.”
After a fair amount of deliberation, I had the hickory burger and reveled in the smoky flavor, generous cheese and great hamburger taste.
With its rich cherry floors and granite table tops paired with sports memorabilia on the walls and 30 big screen TVs, Shula’s achieves the delicate balance between elegance and sports bar, giving it my vote as best atmosphere for a great burger.
Shula’s 2 | 6624 West Broad St. | 281-5900
~ By Amanda Southall
Best Bargain
Carytown Burger & Fries
It takes some bold beef to call itself the burger of Carytown, but this one does it and does it well.
The burgers at Carytown Burgers & Fries come in all shapes and varieties; there are even turkey burgers and veggie burgers for those who steer clear of red meat.
Beef lovers, though, will be delighted by the selection – From the classic cheeseburger and fries and the South of the Border (with pepper jack and jalapenos), to the Portabella Brie Burger, and the Kojak Burger (a burger with bacon, egg and cheese). I had the California Burger (with guacamole, swiss and bacon) and by the time I was done, I vowed to never eat a burger without guacamole again.
All the burgers are 1/3 pound of fresh Angus beef and even better – they’re cheap.
This isn’t just a great burger, it’s the best burger for your buck. Almost everything is under $6 and there’s plenty to chose from for under $5. That’s what I call a delicious deal.
CARYTOWN BURGERS & FRIES | 3500 West Cary ST. | 358-5225
~ By Amanda Southall
Best Family Experience
Fast Eddie’s Jukebox Cafe
Fast Eddie’s Jukebox Café is sure to please the whole family. Their certified Angus burgers steal the show with names like Barn Yard Brawl Burger (8 oz. Angus patty with ham, bacon, fried egg and American cheese on a Kaiser roll) and the Big “E” Burger (which separates the men from the boys weighing in with two 8 oz. Angus patties, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, bacon, chili, relish, cole slaw and cheese on a Kaiser roll.) All burgers are cooked to order and served with only the freshest ingredients. Customer favorites include the Texas Burger (8 oz. Angus patty topped with onion rings, American cheese and BBQ sauce) and Bacon Blue Cheeseburger (8 oz Angus patty with blue cheese crumbles on a Kaiser roll). Owner Eddie Rohrbacher’s favorite is the bacon cheeseburger. With the 1950s retro décor, tableside popcorn and selection of tasty milkshakes, rootbeer floats and ice cream sodas, Fast Eddie’s will surely become a family favorite.
FAST EDDIE’S JUKEBOX CAFE | 12859 WEST Broad St. | 784-4466
~ By Aynsley Fisher
Best Burger All Around
Big Al’s Sports Bar & Grill
It’s a touchdown for Big Al’s when it comes to burgers….without a doubt, the best burger around! The beauty of their burger is in the balance of great flavor and ingredients. Looking to create a burger that wasn’t buried in an oversized bun, Al uses Richmond’s own Wyman’s Bakery buns, served lightly toasted with a 1⁄2 pound of certified Angus beef and your choice of classic toppings. For the purist, try an All-American or Cheesehead. Feeling like something special? Try the Saints (blackened with bleu cheese), Al’s personal favorite the Redskin Hog (lots of bacon with D.C. cheese) or the Cowboy (chili and cheddar). Wednesdays are $4 burger nights from 4 p.m. to close.
BIG AL’S SPORTS BAR & GRILL | 3641 Cox Road | 270-4454
~ By Aynsley Fisher
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