National Burger Month

May is National Burger Month, so I thought I’d share with you where I go for my favorite burgers in the (Greater) Boston area.

Shake Shack recently opened its first shop in Massachusetts, in Chestnut Hill on Route 9. I am a big fan of this NYC chain and made sure I visited the Mass location on grand opening night. It was worth the wait since I haven’t had it in a while. My go-to is the shack stack burger: cheeseburger with crispy fried mushrooms & cheese. The angus beef patty is well-seasoned and cooked to medium. The mushrooms are flavorful. The lettuce & tomato are fresh. The melty cheese and creamy shack sauce really enhance the burger. The bun is standard, soft and toasted. I would suggest adding the crinkle cheese fries and the red velvet custard!

Another local place that I visit often is GrassFed in Jamaica Plain. I like the concept that the beef is from grass-fed cows. The classic burger comes with standard toppings: lettuce, tomato, and pickles, plus house mayo sauce. I always get a side of the addicting truffle parmesan fries. The burger is always juicy and well-seasoned. Next time, I will have to try one of their milkshakes, of which there is an “adult” version (i.e. with alcohol). GF is a great place to grab a bite after a relaxing walk at the nearby Jamaica Pond.

I am also a fan of the ground sirloin burger at Citizen Public House and Oyster Bar in Fenway. Although this restaurant doesn’t specialize in burgers (it’s known for craft cocktails and raw bar), the burger is still one of my favorite. It is pretty simple, served with just cheese – your choice of local cheddar or English stilton. However, you can request additional toppings; I added candied bacon on top. I love that it’s served on fresh ciabatta bread, with a side of crispy golden fries. The lamb burger is also another favorite item to get from Citizen’s.

Russell House Tavern in Harvard Square makes a pretty delicious burger. The most striking thing about it is the use of a grilled English muffin instead of the usual potato roll or bun. I’m not sure if they’ve always used grass-fed beef, but according to the current menu, they do now. The burger is topped with bacon, caramelized onions, and sharp cheddar cheese. The golden fries are flavorful and rich, as if they’ve been fried in duck fat.

Finally, I go to Boston Burger Company in Back Bay when I want an alternative to the classic burger. I have been meaning to try this place for a while and finally got a chance to, thanks to a recent Groupon deal. I ordered the Killer Bee burger and wasn’t prepared to see a massive burger with a stack of beer-battered onion rings drowned in honey barbecue sauce. It was tangy and delicious. The meal came with crunchy house-made potato chips and a side of cole slaw or beans. I paired this with a delicious Nutella milkshake. BBC is a great place if you want interesting options for your burgers. After all, “burger” is their middle name!

Where is your favorite place to get a burger? Happy National Burger Month!