Ted's Montana Grill, Bozeman, MT

This is a solid burger!  I got the smoked bacon and blue cheese.  The blue cheese is outstanding- creamy and salty at the same time. Cooked perfectly.  Highly recommend it!

Effie's Burgers in Lewiston, ID

I haven't been to this joint yet. This is my friend Erica who went and sent the pictures.  I mean look at the size of this thing.  I had to get it up on-line and it's now on my  "to do list".  If you're cruising in Idaho, go for it!

Frosty Freeze- Drummond, MT

This is such a classic throw back place it's as if you walked into a time warp back to 1950.  They actually have a drive-in window that I did not use because I just had to go inside and check it out.  Words won't do it justice. It's a true experience.  I got the cheese burger combo that comes with Fries and a coke $5.  Next time I'd skip the fries and just get two burgers.  It's pretty good, all things considered. And when you're in the middle of nowhere in Montana- it's pretty damn good! Tastes a bit like a good Burger King burger.   If you're driving thru Montana, you just gotta stop in!

Burger of the Month Club- NYC

http://aht.seriouseats.com/archives/2009/05/nycs-burger-of-the-month-club-botm.html

Check out their website.  They've got a great thing going on and up to date burger reviews

The Counter- California

http://www.thecounterburger.com/locations/

This is a decent burger but not one to fight for.  However, their sides are pretty darn good. Onion straws top their list with Cheese fries coming in a close second.  Skip their fried pickles- they don't hold up to this southern girl's standards!  The burger is good, not great. It's cooked perfectly but the meat just doesn't have the flavor it should. Their grilled onions are excellent as is the blue cheese.  If you haven't been- you should go just to take it all in. It's very creative and fun.

Royal Tavern- Philadelphia, PA

http://www.royaltavern.com/

This was voted best burger in PA by Food Network and it rises to the occasion.  Made with caramelized onions, smoked gouda cheese and a roasted hot pepper on top.  Sounds like it won't work but I gotta tell ya, it's damn good.  A must do in Philly.

Mother's in Federal Hill/Baltimore, MD

http://www.mothersgrille.com/

I've been waiting to go to this place for awhile.  Rated by Food Network Magazine as the best burger in Maryland.  You're suppose to order the "Heart Attack on a plate" which I promptly did. It's a DEEP FRIED HAMBURGER dipped in beer batter after being stuffed with cheddar cheese.  It's git s crunchy crust similar to good fried chicken.  It's not bad but I can't say I'd order it again.  I think you gotta try it though if you're in the area.  Pass on the chili cheese fries- the chili is good, teh fries were undercooked so they missed the boat on that! Enjoy.

What would Julia do?

Even though I'm a self- admitted Julia Child fan,  you won't find me cooking everything in her cook book and blogging about it. After all, I"m to busy eating hamburgers!  As I was flipping through my 1960 edition of Julia's Original cookbook ( a gift from my friend Will), I had to laugh at this recipe and include it within the many "Bifteck Hache" we have featured here.  Enjoy and I hope it makes you smile as well!

Taylor's Refresher- Napa Valley

This is a classic Drive In     http://www.gotts.com/   You can find it up in Napa which is the best spot to go to and a "must do" when you're in the area.  If you're desperate, there's a location at the Ferry Building in San Fran that will satisfy your taste- somehow it's just not as good as sitting on the side of the road in St. Helena and having this amazing burger.

Five Guys Burgers

Five Guys burgers- it's a pretty darn good burger for a chain. Rivals In0n0Out but they are not consistent enough from store to store.  That won't keep me from stopping there though!

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.