Thrillist 'BurgerQuest' Reveals Best Burgers In Connecticut

With Memorial Day right around the corner and the weather basically going from zero-to-summer in one week, people across Connecticut will soon be firing up their grills and serving up a staple for any summer cookout: a hot delicious burger.

Whether covered in gooey melted cheese or even served up plain with ketchup, there is no denying Connecticut residents love to bite into a hot and delicious patty. As such, it is only natural to want the best one the state has to offer.

Well, a writer and national burger critic for Thrillist may have the answer.

For those who do not know, the Thrillist homepage describes the website as a provider of “all that's new, unknown or under-appreciated in food, drink, entertainment, nightlife, gadgets, and gear.”

Thrillist has sent Alexander to 29 different states on a “Burger Quest,” trying different burgers in a particular state and then ranking them. He also provides readers with commentary on what worked (and more importantly, what didn’t work) about each dish.

In an article entitled “The Best Burgers In Connecticut,” Alexander took on the place the Library of Congress says started it all when it comes burgers. In fact, the eatery specifically designated as the place that started it all is where his list begins.

Placing eighth out of the eight is the original burger with cheese and tomato at Louis’ Lunch in New Haven. Though this burger joint is considered to be the inventor of the burger, Alexander does not seem entirely thrilled.

While he appreciated the history of Louis’, the writer also considers the meat to be lacking in flavor and the white toast to be soggy.

Thrillest’s selections are hardly biased to one area of Connecticut, as evident by places like Shady Glen in Manchester and Prime Burger in Norwalk ranking seventh and sixth respectively. Alexander highlights the famous "cheese skirt" of a Shady Glen burger but also gives credit to the "perfectly cooked" meat at Prime Burger.

The top five similarly offers places from all over the state, including:

• The Steamed Cheesburger at K LaMay’s Steamed Cheeseburgers in Manchester
• The Southside Burger at Jimmy’s Southside Tavern in Darien
• The Classic Burger at Wood-N-Tap in Hartford
• The Dry-Aged Beef Burger at The Whelk in Westport
• The Everything at Ted’s Restaurant in Meriden

The top spot was clearly a close call, as Alexander comments that The Whelk’s dry-aged burger was “thick but perfectly cooked and juicy,” with an onion-tanged mayo and sweet pickles balancing nicely with a mildly flaky brioche bun.

Thirllest does however consider the burger at Ted’s Restaurant to be the best in the state. Though at first skeptical, Alexander said he was won over by elements like “a mild Cheddar that pulled almost like mozzarella” with a “subtle nutty flavor” that works well with the pickles, mustard and onion atop the burger.

For an in-depth look at Alexander’s BurgerQuest, read the full story at Thrillist.

Image courtesy Anthony Kostelis