Now, I love a thick, juicy, medium rare, all beef burger as much as the next girl and I take my meat seriously; however there comes a time when I crave something a little bit more dangerous on a Kaiser roll. Many restaurants and fast food burger joints carry a veggie burger option on their menu, but what about those of us who don’t mind some meat; we just want an adventurous option. I scoured the city to find my top five favorite non-beef inspired burgers, and discovered a newfound appreciation for several tasty animals.
1: Fuddruckers: Ostrich Burger (Multiple locations).
Fuddruckers is my go to restaurant for old-fashioned all beef burgers, which was why I was a little dubious when I ordered this exotic creation. I feared that ostrich meat might taste too ‘gamey,’ (I also had a difficult time getting the picture of what an ostrich actually looks like out of my head). Upon first bite I was totally surprised by how clean and fresh this signature creation was to my palate. I went with the Fuddruckers topping recommendation, bacon, guacamole, and tomato; although any of their available toppings would work well with this meat. This particular burger has limited availability, so if it isn’t at a Fuddruckers by you, my runner up is the Elk Burger on a wheat bun with melted Swiss, mushrooms, and onions. Add a side of lightly salted sweet potato fries, 45 minutes of cardio, and your meal is complete.
2: Ray’s Hell Burger: Venison Burger (Arlington VA).
Ray’s Hell Burger popped up on the map nearly overnight when President Obama and Vice President Biden decided to stop in for lunch during June of 2010, but this particular restaurant has a lot more to boast then its political celebrity clientele. This is the third beef themed establishment by Washington D.C. restaurateur Michael Landrum, who also owns the steakhouse, Ray’s the Steaks in Arlington and Ray’s the Classics. The venison burger is served on an oversized bun with a sour cherry-brandy glaze, roasted chestnut puree and beet tuiles. I opted to avoid any further condiments. Venison tends to have a stronger flavor than traditional beef, and the cherry-brandy glaze really brought out that wild game taste. These burgers are a bit messy so I wouldn’t wear anything you aren’t ready to spill on. I recommend a side of fresh-dipped onion rings and a large root beer. The bonus of this burger is that the only thing you have to hunt for is a parking spot.
3: Open City Café: Turkey Burger (Adams Morgan DC).
Open City Café is one of my favorite D.C. restaurants located in Adams Morgan. I mostly come for Sunday brunch; however their limited burger selection is definitely worth the trip. I ordered their signature turkey burger, which is juicy and packed with enough spices to give it a kick of beef inspired flavor. I topped my turkey with smoked Gouda, onions, tomato, lettuce, and a little bit of mayo. The portion is perfectly sized for those looking to be filled but not stuffed. I substituted a house salad with balsamic vinaigrette instead of fries (I had to save calories for a slice of their chocolate birthday cake). If you go on a Monday night you can get a burger and beer for $10. It’s a great price and a delicious burger!
4: Thunder Burger: Born To Be Wild (Georgetown DC).
Whenever I enter Thunder Burger I am amazed Billy Idol isn’t the host. This newly opened rock ‘n roll inspired restaurant and bar has generous portions, and enough leather furniture to make it great for a first date, or fun for the entire family. The Born to be Wild Burger, is a wild boar patty, topped with havarti, pineapple salsa and remoulade. This boar burger was not only monstrous in size, but every bite melted in my mouth. I tend to find boar meat to be a bit on the salty side, but the sweet additive of the pineapple salsa was a winning combination. I recommend a side of buttermilk battered button mushrooms, served with Thousand Island dressing. Wash this feast down with a pint of Garde Dog, from the local Frederick MD brewery, Flying Dog, and end your meal with a Rebel Yell.
5: Relic: Grilled Chicken Burger (Bethesda MD).
Relic is located on a side street in the heart of downtown Bethesda, and has an atmosphere that compliments its funky menu choices. You can dine at a table or on a red velvet couch facing the neon lit bar. Relic’s grilled chicken sandwich is simple in its base form, a grilled chicken fillet topped with sautéed onions, roasted peppers, and Swiss cheese on a toasted bun, but I decided to have a little fun with my toppings. I kept the roasted peppers, but ditched the sautéed onions and Swiss cheese for wood fired jalapeño peppers, and Monterrey jack cheese. I topped my creation off with chipotle mayo, and a side of rosemary potato’s (do not destroy this perfect rosemary flavor with ketchup!). My mouth was on fire by the last bite, at which point I quickly cooled off with a glass of their house red sangria.
To all of you non-beef lovers enjoy National Burger Month! I am off to the gym…
