Le Tub, Hollywood, FL

http://www.theletub.com/

Sorry there's no picture but feel free to click on the link and learn more about this place.  This Burger joint is the one that started it all.  I convinced my colleagues to drive an hour south of the pool we were training in to take a chance on this burger. It as ranked #1 on GQ's list of the 10 best burgers so I was pretty sure the drive would be worthwhile.  Now we go every year.  This place sits on the inner-coastal near the Ft. Lauderdale airport.   It's an open air/indoor-outdoor place with picnic tables, benches and a nice view of the water.  It's a huge burger so go hungry.  For as big of a burger as it is, they do a dam good job of cooking it to near perfection.  They offer no onion rings and if you ask they almost get mad at you.  It's cash only so have some on you.  The fries are just ok.  There are a lot of them.  It's a great experience. Just go hungry.

Hodad's, Ocean Beach/San Diego, CA

http://www.hodadies.com/

This is a Guy Fieri/Food Network "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" selection.  I lobbied my women's coaching group to pile in cars to get to this burger haven.  I was a bit nervous that they'd hate it and I'd hear about it for years.  I was very happy when I saw the place and knew instinctively that it just HAD TO BE GOOD! And it was better than that!  This is a great surf joint near the bear with lots of personality and a line to wait in. It's worth the wait. They chop their bacon and render it down into bacon patties that get put right on the burger so you never miss a bite of bacon.  Fries and onion rings are killer!  It's a must do while in the San Diego area.  Please go!  Bon Appetit and thanks to my non-red-meat eating friend Kathie for her pictures of this fine meal!

JG's Burgers- Dallas, TX

My good friend Karen was brave enough to do the Dallas route with me. 3 burgers in 2 days.  JG's has good ole' time atmosphere.  Burger- was ok. Shake was a bit on the disappointing side.  I hate wasting calories an a bad shake- should be against the law.

Hill-Bert's, Austin, TX

 http://www.hill-bertsburgers.com/

This is a great retro place. I actually think the building could have been an old Taco Bell : )  Burgers are cooked to order- reminiscent of a great Burger King Burger.  Flame Broiled with some good seasoning, good bun, good flavor and great bacon.

Keller's Drive In- Dallas, TX

This is a real live drive-in, waitress to the car and tray on your window place.  I can't say it's the best burger I ever had but you so rarely find a place like this to go anymore it's just fun to do.

Village Whiskey- Philly, PA

villagewhiskey.com   I think if you're in the Philadelphia area and you don't stop in this place, you might need to have your head checked.  If you for some reason don't fall in love with the burger, you will ABSOLUTELY do a dance for the fries- fried in duck fat with home made cheddar sauce and short rib brisket to top- UGH. Heart attack on a plate and incredibly delicious!  Make sure to start with the house made cheese puffs covered in the previously mentioned cheddar sauce.  Good lord this stuff is good.  The atmosphere of this place adds to the great food.  There's not a ton of room so you might have to wait.   For sure- this needs to be on your list!  Picture above is a burger with smoked blue cheese and caramelized onions (at bottom) and a burger with goat cheese and fried egg.  Also featured are the fires : )

Fran's in Austin, TX

http://franshamburgers.com/

I went here for Maddy Crippen to honor her brother Fran who passed away tragically in an open water swim this past fall (2010).  Fran was a hero to many in the swimming world and his legend will no doubt live on.  I just had to go eat here and felt like the picture of this great retro sign was a better tribute to "our" Fran than the burger!  The burger was ok- I'd probably have it again. Onion rings were a disappointment.

Litton's Knoxville, TN

 http://www.littonsburgers.com/

A solid "screen door joint" burger.  Wouldn't order it twice although I'd get the onion rings twice : )
Buns are home made on premise although it's little to much bread for the burger.  The burger meat could have had more seasoning or taste but for the price, you can't expect much more than what I got!

Next Door - Montclair, NJ

No picture to share on this one because I ate it to fast!  This burger was just ranked in NJ Magazine from a Burger cook-off. It won. And rightly so!  I went with my friend Linda who is always up for a food challenge.  We ordered our burger and then requested to take a look at the dinner menu.  As we took a look, almost immediately we both uttered the words "caramelized onion risotto with blue cheese?"!  We called the waitress over and inquired if the chef might have any back in the kitchen during the lunch hour that we could try.  To our delight, she returned to the table to say that the chef would make an order for us to share.  Can I just tell you how good this stuff was?  Truly one of the best risotto dishes I've ever had in a restaurant.  That sure started the day off well.  Just as we were putting our forks down, the burger showed up. 12 oz. burger cooked perfectly. You could smell the grill.  Set on a brioche bun, covered with aged cheddar and caramelized onions- this burger delivers.  We both loved every bite.  Highly recommend hitting this place.  It's nothing special as far as atmosphere, in fact you'd probably walk by it and never know it's there.  Look it up and GO.  I'll be back for both the burger AND the risotto!  Next time I'll try to stop and take a picture. : )

IN-N-OUT Burger- California

Why, oh why, can't In-n-out come to the east coast? I mean we eat burgers here too!  I can't tell you how may I've eaten because I'd be embarrassed. What I will tell you is that from the rental car parking lot off what ever plane I've flown in on, I go straight to In-n-Out.  The coolest part of their web-site, which I should never admit, is that you can map-quest your burgers throughout the state of California for your trip. I mean you would want to miss an exit where you have an opportunity to stop- would you?  My good California friends have taught me to order this burger "Animal Style". I know you people on the West Coast are thinking "of course"! However, those of us brought up in the south don't know these things.  AND since they are not on the menu (you just have "to know these things"), there are people all over America who are missing  out on this amazing option.  Animal Style my friends is- 1000 Island dressing, caramelized onions and cheese melted all over your burger and fries. Sounds pretty bad and it's sooooo good.  Give it a try!  And please Mr. In-n-Out, would you come east?

From my California Friend Kathie:
More of Secret Menu!!!
   * Double Meat = like a Double Double without cheese.
    * 3 by Meat = three meat patties and no cheese.
    * Animal Style Fries = fries with cheese, spread, grilled onions and pickles (if you ask for them).
    * Flying Dutchman = two meat patties, two slices of melted cheese and nothing else
    * Veggie Burger = burger without the patty or cheese.
    * Neapolitan Shake = strawberry, vanilla and chocolate mixed together.

Shake Shack- New York City

http://www.shakeshack.com/

You've probably heard of this place- it's down right famous. And it's earned it's title.  Eating this burger, along side-what I consider "the world's best cheese fries" AND a caramel shake, I pretty much thought I'd died and gone to heaven.  This burger is good and if you have to wait in line for an hour to get it, it'll be worth the wait.  I coach college women for a living (and to support my eating habits) and I think one o my greatest memories in coaching will be pulling a bus up in front of Shake Shack on the Upper West Side to pick up a "to go" order of 40+ double shake shack burgers, 40+ orders of cheese fries and 40+ shakes.  It was a good day- an undefeated season and a shake shack burger. Does life get any better?  You just gotta go to believe....

Father's Office- Los Angeles

http://www.fathersoffice.com/

I visited this great establishment in September 2010 on the recommendation of Adam Gertler who stars on the Food Network.  I got to go while in LA for a wedding.  It was well worth the trip. The atmosphere is awesome- there's even a bouncer at the door! Who knew you needed a bouncer for a burger?  We waited in a short line and when allowed to enter felt a little intimidated not knowing the order process and protocol.  Hint- walk to the back, order at the bard and pay, then way for someone to finish eating so you can grab the table.  The beer selection is stellar, the fries are awesome and the burger was pretty good.  The meat on the burger is excellent.  I wasn't a fan of the bun- to much bread for a great burger.  Still worth the trip.

Opening day

A few years back I was watching an episode of Oprah when she featured her best friend Gayle searching for the best burger.  Gayle has read an article in GQ about the ten best burgers in America. By the way, this was way before it was "cool" to eat burgers!  I thought to myself, if Gayle can do it, why can't I?  I love a good burger.  I went on line and pulled up the GQ list.  It was impressive and half the cities featured were cities were ones I visit on a regular basis.  Slowly I conned my colleagues into joining me on each adventure.  I started ticking off burgers from the GQ list slowly but surely.  Then my friends started giving me lists of burger places from magazines and newspapers.  Every town I visited I asked for the best burger place and gave it a try.  Now I'm up to 70+ burgers and going strong. I started taking pictures of the burgers and even of the signs of the great classic places.  Unfortunately for my waistline, while searching for the best burger, I've added in cheese fries, milk shakes and onion rings.  I mean how can you walk away from that if they tell you they have the best.  I've also learned through trial and error that when you ask someone where the best burger place is, you better know if they LOVE food or just eat food when they're hungry!  For instance, a recommendation from a 20 year old college guy who will eat anything you put in front of him, may not be the most reliable source of information in any given town. As I've ranked, I've added in atmosphere rankings, costs, who I went with and other worthy notes.  After all, all of these things can sway your decision in how that burger tastes.  As I continue my travels, it's my hope that I will ultimately even come up with the best recipe for the best backyard burger. That'll be a whole other list but hey, life's short- let's eat!  I'm new at this bogging things so forgive my pace as I am able to start posting my lists, my pictures and comments.  Once I can get the most recent list up, I'll try to get some polls going.  I'll also be posting my "TO DO" list and I welcome anyone adding to my list for my travels.  So please- join me as I travel across the country and eat my way through more red meat than I ever thought I'd eat!  Bon Appetit!