Destination: Burgers
Local Burger at the Local Eatery
Forgo the fast food joints and sink your teeth into juicy burgers that range from a greasy patty hot off the diner griddle to a fine-dining, locally-sourced experience. Some meals are worth the drive, and these burgers are on that list.
Wolfe’s Tavern
Wolfe’s Tavern at the Wolfeboro Inn (wolfestavern.com) has all your burger cravings covered. They have a well-stocked, makeyour-own menu, but the real stars of the show are the specialty burgers like the one topped with fried mac and cheese, a caprese burger or the Winnie with horseradish, BBQ sauce, griddled marinated grape tomatoes, crispy onions, arugula and cheddar. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds.
Libby’s Bistro and SAaLT Pub They open for the season in May and this is a must-go destination (libbysbistro.org) in Gorham. It’s all about community here from the great atmosphere to the impressive array of local sources. The burgers here are flavored to perfection and set on a house-baked roll.
Gilly’s PM Lunch This tiny 1940s Worcester Diner in Portsmouth is always packed with the latenight crowd looking to feed the munchies, but don’t let the crowds scare you off (gilleyspmlunch.com). This is the diner burger you crave. Order two — at 2.5 ounces they’re small, which is all the better for eating as you stroll around town. Make sure to top them with cheese and onions.
BURGER RESTAURANTS
Nothing to see here but burgers. Best of NH award-winners Lexie’s Joint and BRGR Bar, both in Portsmouth, should not be missed (peaceloveburgers.com, brgrbar.com). Beef and veggies are sourced locally at Local Burger in Keene (localkeene.com); Best of NH award-winner Black Mountain Burger Co. in Lincoln has a Smitty burger
that’s sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches (blackmtnburger.com); and Wild Willy’s Burgers in Rochester has certified Angus beef or Pineland Farms all-natural beef plus tender bison. There’s much more here than burgers, but the Tuckaway Tavern in Raymond (thetuckaway.com) has such an impressive — and Best of NH award-winning — list of burgers that you may as well consider it a burger lover’s spot. DNH
PHOTOS BY SUSAN LAUGHLIN
Burgers
KEEPING IT LOCAL
At these restaurants the focus is on the local beef.
Local Eatery Laconia’s farm-to-table restaurant serves up the Local Burger (laconialocaleatery.com). The key here is simplicity — really good local meat that’s been grilled, topped with a fried egg, bacon, tomato and cheddar on a brioche bun. Sometimes less really is more.
Six Burner Bistro It’s another study in simplicity at this local favorite in Plymouth (sixburnerbistro.com). This classic Bistro Burger is made with meat from PT Farm in North Haverhill and is sparingly topped (in a very good way) with lettuce, tomato and American cheese. They really let the quality beef sing. If you must, bacon is available as an addition.
DINERS AND DRIVE-INS
Sometimes you just need the grease.
Papa Joe’s Humble Kitchen At this Best of NH award-winning Milford joint, handmade patties are given the secret sauce treatment then grilled to order (papajoeshumblekitchen.com). Soft buns meld nicely with the juices and sauce.
Grab a burger and a brew at New England’s Tap House GrilleDestination in Hooksett. NH 21 2016