BEST BURGER.
It’s so final. And I hate that.
A. (And yes, I say this all the time) “Best” is subjective.
B. Burgers are delicious.
And this is precisely why each round of the Orlando Sentinel Foodie Awards gives me agita. Fifty categories and 150 picks’ worth.
This was my sixth year, and honestly? It hasn’t gotten easier. There are so many good burgers in this city, and although I’m on a constant repeat of “this year’s winner doesn’t discount last year’s winner,” memories fade.
The other day, a friend texted me as he and a colleague headed into Ten10 Brewing (1010 Virginia Drive in Orlando) for lunch, precisely because they were this year’s Critic’s Pick for Best Burger.
Ten10’s Brewing’s Bacon & Bleu is Big Green Egg-smoked before it gets a hot skillet sear. (Amy Drew Thompson/Orlando Sentinel)
“Gotta say, guy on the sidewalk cooking burgers on a Big Green Egg is a first,” he wrote. A laugh emoji followed.
It is. And it’s one of the reasons their Bacon & Bleu burger (that one specifically) took top honors this year.
It’s a great burger, one that Ten10 staffers have plans to make even better soon, but it still doesn’t discount any of the Critic’s Picks in previous years. The sad part: A few of them are no longer available. The happy: These three are. And this story is a reminder to go try them.
The Royale with Cheese from Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe. The neighborhood has seen a lot of changes since this burger took the 2021 title, and yet, this remains. It’s not by accident. (Courtesy Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe)
2021: The Royale with Cheese, Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe
It has been far too long since I sampled one of chef/owner Philippe Villain’s perfectly charred burgers, though the cravings have intensified since he sent along this photo to remind me of what I’m missing. Inside that crunch: a juicy cooked-to-order center comprised of a very specific blend that Villain holds close to the vest. Suffice to say, the ingredients (now in my vault) are very high quality.
At $19 (it comes with fries), it’s honestly a rare find these days: an upscale-restaurant burger with a below-$20 tag. And while that’s not necessarily something to celebrate, things cost what they cost. And there are many $20+ burgers in this city that, quite frankly, can’t touch this one.
Of note, for protein peeps, the very same burger is offered as The Naked Burger at Russell’s brunch. It’s everything the Royale is, without the bun, set atop a salad.
I recommend it as my server did the night I first tried it: with a side of au poivre sauce. It’s nice to mix things up. But this burger is as they made it from the outset.
“Regulars would be very mad if we changed it up,” says Villain.
I get it.
If you go: Russell’s on Lake Ivanhoe, 1414 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando; 407-601-3508; russellsorlando.com
The Duck Fat Burger began as a special at Bites & Bubbles way back in 2018, but quickly became a mainstay and must-have. (Courtesy Bites & Bubbles)
2022: The Chef’s Burger, Bites & Bubbles
This decadent, duck fat-infused plate of deliciousness began as a Bites & Bubbles special way back in 2018, in part inspired by chef/owner Eddie Nickell’s unabashed guilty pleasure: McDonald’s.
“I’d get grief all the time: ‘You make all this beautiful food, and THAT’S what you crave?’ But, for me, it’s nostalgic. When I was growing up, going to McDonald’s and getting a Big Mac and fries was a treat. I loved it.”
Decades later, he took the classic he loved and made his very own version: two all-beef, duck fat-infused patties, chef’s special sauce, lettuce, raclette cheese, tomato, pickles and onions on a toasted brioche bun.
At first, it was an IYKYK thing.
Nickell would make 12 burgers: one for himself, one for his partner, Nick, and then do a social post: “10 Chef’s Burgers available tonight… When they’re gone, they’re gone.”
People would literally line up at the door before they opened to get one, so in 2021, it made the jump to menu mainstay.
Back then, it was $14. Today, it’s $17. An undeniable deal.
“Beef and duck fat have gone up like 500 percent since then,” says Nickell, “so we’ve really tried to keep it as approachable as possible.”
Case in point: As the price has increased, so has the size of the burger! The 3-ounce patties of yesteryear now weigh in at 4 ounces apiece.
“Other than making it bigger, it’s the same. When something hits like this, you leave it alone.”
Pro-tip: Bites & Bubbles’ Burger Tuesdays is the best deal in town, I’m happy to share. Order a qualifying cocktail, mocktail, beer or wine, and you can get the Chef’s Burger for just $5. That’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; bitesbubbles.com
The Primrose Lanes OKC Smashburger has survived multiple menu changes and remains a top seller. (Courtesy Blake Jonez)
2024: The OKC Smash Burger, Primrose Lanes
To say the menu at Primrose Lanes has changed since the revamp of Orlando’s classic Colonial Lanes opened is to make a gross understatement. Executive chef Jason Campbell and his team had some interesting ideas about what folks dining here would want, but menus don’t always shake out the way you want them to.
And though I long to experience the gloriousness that was the smoked prime rib sandwich, one I still hope they can resurrect inside a future Team Market Group concept where people will appreciate, there is always the OKC Smashburger to fall back on.
This 2024 Critic’s Pick is still going strong, says Campbell.
“I think it survived because it’s always been a top seller and it’s a classic.”
The gooey handheld pays homage to Campbell’s time out west, a simple but stellar two-patty stack with onions. mayo, melt-perfect American cheese and zingy house-made pickles.
“I feel like guests love it because it’s consistent,” he says. “It’s well-rounded, not fussy and just hits the spot every time.”
If you go: Primrose Lanes Restaurant & Bowling, 400 N. Primrose Drive in Orlando, 407-745-0862; primroselanes.com
Want to reach out? Find me on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com. For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.