Burger Bach

10 S. Thompson St., 359-1305; 2225 Old Brick Road, 716-6761
burgerbach.com

Second Place: Carytown Burgers and Fries

Third Place: Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint

The beef comes all the way from New Zealand and the condiments are handmade. Could this be the secret to the burgers at Burger Bach? Or is it the care the folks in the kitchen take, carefully stacking ingredients and tossing salads with a simple vinaigrette? Burgers, on the thin side — but still juicy and flavorful — get fancied up with ingredients such as fresh tarragon sauce, wild mushrooms or a roasted jalapeño remoulade. You can make it a double or go for ground New Zealand lamb with a Greek flair — loaded with tzatziki sauce and finished with garlic aioli. Carytown Burgers and Fries is the original of the three winners and in the past few years has undergone a rapid expansion with two other locations in Lakeside and Short Pump. Jack Brown’s Beer and Burger Joint, near Libbie and Grove avenues, is the new kid on the block. Its focus on two things — burgers and beer — makes a lot of people happy.