The rosy interior and crusted exterior were a must for top marks, as in this burger from Vizzi’s.
The Great Burger Hunt is over, and not a moment too soon. Here’s the article in The Buffalo News.
I have been eating a lot of broccoli for the last week. I have decided I like broccoli.
When my boss decided I should figure out who had the best burger in Western New York, it sounded like a ducky idea. I like to eat. I like hamburgers. The paper would pick up the tab.
Some 22 burgers later, we chose Vizzi’s, on Kenmore Ave. in Kenmore, for consistently delivering what we like: crusty on the outside, accurately cooked inside. It wasn’t the biggest, just the most satisfying, consistently, after repeat visits. The heap of fresh-cut fries alongside the $5.95 cheeseburger were tasty, but they were entirely beside the point.
At Grover’s, order rare and you get rare – just look at the meat juice seeping onto the plate.
Grover’s, on Transit in East Amherst, did well, but lacked the crust I adore. Malone’s, on Delaware Ave. in Kenmore, had the beefy thing happening with the meat, plus significant exterior browning.
Two places in Kenmore. Weird. I never eat in Kenmore. But I was just following the votes where they led.
I put a fork next to Malone’s one-pounder because you need to understand the scale of this thing.
The most out-there burger I tried definitely had to be the Parkside Burger – everything you’d expect in a cheeseburger, including the bun, dunked in batter and deep-fried. (No lettuce, though – the owner corrected me on this.)
The awesomeness of the idea was not matched by the execution. As you can see from the picture, oil that gets inside the batter unsurprisingly gets lapped up by the bun, in this case the upper.
The double chili cheeseburger was a model of rectitude by comparison, and I nearly finished the thing.
One clear conclusion is that frozen patties are second-class burgers in any context. If you want to serve people burgers, you should have the 15 seconds it takes to pat out a fresh disc of meat.
The other main revelation for me is that people love whatever burgers they can get their hands on. I got love letters to McDonald’s, Denny’s, and places that are frozen-patty emporiums, mainly from people who from their description couldn’t afford a $5 hamburger.
If you don’t have any choice, the burger in your hand is going to taste pretty fine.
9 Comments
April 5, 2008 at 8:49 am
My own vote goes to Grover’s and not just ’cause it’s around the corner. I’d have to give special mention to Bill Gray’s on Main Street in Clarence. Not the best burger, but the only place to get a fix of Rochester style hot sauce (or a white hot) in the area.
But, Andrew, if you really want the best burger in WNY, you’ll have to wait until spring truly arrives and I pull the plastic off the patio door. I’ll head up to D.H Cloy in Ransomeville (http://www.dhcloyandson.com) for some nice chuck and grind it myself. I’ll even bake the buns. I’ll get some lump charcoal going under the cast iron grates of my grill and cook those patties mid-rare with a nice crust. All the garnishes and condiments you could desire.
Labatt’s Blue or a cheap pinot Noir?
April 5, 2008 at 8:58 am
There is only one e in Ransomville!
April 6, 2008 at 12:14 pm
Andrew,
Your recent article on WNY burgers was very enjoyable reading. You did a great job! Thank you.
April 6, 2008 at 6:26 pm
Dear Andrew…
Although I am slightly biased, due to the fact that I was weaned on Grover Burgers, I feel that all other lack in comparison… Vizzy’s is delicious, but not consistant. One day between visits made a difference for me. And Malone’s, because I am a burger connoisseur, leaves me craving more burger than bun…
From my perspective, consistency is what makes a resturant successful… Grover’s is not only my favorite but the fan number one!
And notably, I like to go where the smiles are as big as the burgers. The staff is a delight, as opposed to the others, who seem overworked.
April 22, 2008 at 2:01 pm
It’s too bad about the Burton. I couldn’t believe I was reading about the place where I used to drink cheap beer. Never knew they had food. P.S. St. Bonaventure turned me into a vegetarian. Since ‘86.
April 29, 2008 at 4:52 am
I’m surprised considering the taste talent of those who frequent this site that no one has mentioned The Sterling Tavern. Being careful as I am, I don’t give recommendations out lightly but you all need to check them out or at least be open to the suggestion.
By the way Kenmore needs to be appreciated more and on the way to Malone’s check out the new Viking Lobster Company Deli. No burgers but an interesting take on authentic New York Deli.
September 30, 2008 at 12:24 pm
[...] place came Vizzi’s, which is also fairly close. Though it won the top spot from the Buffalo News (the article itself doesn’t seem to be available, unless you have access to Lexis-Nexis like [...]
September 30, 2008 at 4:37 pm
Scotty, why go to Dave Cloy when you can get it from the source?
Anyone out there had a burger @ Buffalo Tap Room? Pretty f’in yummy!
July 3, 2009 at 12:48 am
[...] Andrew Galarneau declared Vizzi’s in Kenmore to have the best burger in Buffalo. I tried it and agreed until I tried the burger at Ruzzine’s Rock Bottom in East Amherst. Grover’s, which is directly across the street, is widely reputed to be the “best”. I’ve also heard good things about the burgers at the Sterling. [...]