Is a Burger Battle on the Grill?

Are we in the middle of a burger war on Main Street in Matawan? Oh, please.

Well, maybe – but it depends on who you ask.

“We’re a cheese steak place first, but we sell a lot of burgers, of course. As for competition that is coming down the road; when you taste our burgers you will realize that there is no competition,” said Doug Ringel, owner of Philly Cheesesteak Factory USA, which opened in September 2010 and has recently unveiled  www.18burgers.com, certified angus burgers that are a spin off of their hot dogs and cheesesteaks.

“We are a cheesesteak restaurant that makes great burgers, so ‘burgers wars’ although is funny, may be too strong,” said Ringel in reference to the opening of 25 Burgers in Matawan.

“We  don’t concern ourselves with those trying to compete with us, or our competition,” says 25 Burgers owner Ron Pierson, whose fifth location will soon open on the corner of Main Street and Route 34. “We’re not worried about copycats. We know what we do and focus on what we do best.”

With two unique burger places operating on the same block, competition can be healthy. And slap the credentials next to each of their names, and you know won’t go wrong when pulling off of Route 34.

And people have been visiting Philly Cheesesteaks Factory USA in volumes.

“We were recently asked to be one of 10 restaurants in the Tri-State Area to compete in Guy Fieri's Cheesesteak Battle,” exclaims Ringel. “Over the last week to 10 days we have had to order three times the amount of meat.”

Ron Pierson knows there are, indeed, burger wars all over the country, some eateries doing well, others closing their doors. His focus is on good service, good business, and of course, great burgers.

“Everything is fresh, made to order. We’re a gourmet burger place, and we take pride in everything being made fresh daily. It’s kind of what we do,”said Pierson.

25 Burgers opened its first location two and a half years ago in Bound Brook. “We got in out in front of the saturation of burger places.”

Pierson is very proud of the fact that he hires great employees, and that his creation will soon be seven locations strong.

“We are,” he said, “a proven small company.”

25 Burgers is a premium burger concept served with fresh ingredients. Peirson is adamant about that point, and one other.

“Our burgers are different from fast food, if you don’t mind waiting for a cheeseburger, because it’s much better quality than when they go to Burger King or McDonalds,” said Pierson.

He also says that 25 Burgers beef is a special blend created specially for them by Buckhead Beef, a proprietary company.

“We’re already established. I wish 18 Burgers well. I would never wish anyone not well,” Pierson said.

And as for opening in Matawan?

“I love the town. It’s a great little strip center. Great town with great people," he said.