Now Two Locations To Get Ted's Burgers

When most people think “hamburgers,” backyard barbecues and sizzling grills come to mind. But not here in Meriden. Ted’s Restaurant on Broad Street has been serving up steamed hamburgers for more than 50 years.

Meriden, however, isn’t the only place where you can now get the world-famous burger. 

“We opened our Cromwell location (Berlin Road) on March 12 of this year,” says Foreman. “We stumbled on this location late last year and found it to fit our needs well. We are currently considering other locations, but these are just in the planning stages right now.”

So in an area known for its steamed burgers, what makes Ted’s different from other hamburger joints.

“We steam our burgers by placing them in a steam cabinet,” explains owner Bill Foreman. “It’s a pan full of boiling water on the bottom with shelves about it. We place our meat in one tray, our cheese in another and place them in a cabinet to steam away.”

He also adds that Ted’s pours off most of the grease and fat that gets trapped in a burger when you grill or broil it. And of course they have their secret ingredients that they’ve been using for more than 50 years.       

But if you’re looking for a place with french fries and a lot of fancy sides, you’ll want to dine somewhere else. That’s because Ted’s has a very limited menu (and seating): steamed hamburgers and cheeseburgers (with hunks of cheese), steamed hotdogs and cheese dogs, home fries, chips, and soft drinks. Yep- that’s it.  But it’s enough to sell up to 200 burgers a day!

Steamed hamburgers are served only in central Connecticut, but that hasn’t stopped Ted’s from gaining national attention. The restaurant has been featured on “Man v. Food” with Adam Richmond and “Hamburger Paradise,” both on the Travel Channel. About seven years ago, they also made the big screen when they were profiled in an independent film called “Hamburger America.” And come late June, look for Ted’s on The Food Network’s “Crave.” Foreman says once these TV programs air, his staff can always expect an increase of customers coming in looking for the perfect steamed hamburger.

It’s a recipe people can’t seem to get enough of. According to tripadvisor.com, Ted’s is the third-favorite restaurant in Meriden, behind only Little Rendezvous pizza () and San-Souci restaurant. And on the review site yelp.com, 87 reviewers gave Ted’s an average of 4 out of 5 stars. One reviewer summed up his meal in one word – “yummy!”  Another said he was a fan of grilled burgers, but Ted’s “surpassed my expectations.”