Best Gourmet Burger

With so many great burger joints in the area selecting only five was beyond difficult. From meat quality to toppings to the bun, there are so many factors that go into a delicious burger.

Posted 9:23 p.m. Sep 13, 2011 — Updated 1:39 a.m. Sep 14, 2011

With so many great burger joints in the area selecting only five was beyond difficult. From meat quality to toppings to the bun, there are so many factors that go into a delicious burger. Here are our five faves in no particular order:

Bull City Burger and Brewery (Durham): Seth Gross has built himself a fine establishment on East Parrish St. While everything is good, we recommend the Over Easy burger with tomato and aioli.

Poole's Diner (Downtown Raleigh): The Royale, which gets its name from Pulp Fiction's "Royale with cheese," is a 100% ground chuck burger, rolled in toasted tellicherry peppercorn and seared in rendered duck fat. Served with cheese (selection varies) on a slice of grilled, housemade brioche with a side of red-wine-shallot-beef jus.

Tribeca Tavern (Cary, N. Raleigh): Tribeca uses all-natural beef from Ayden, NC and sources most of it's cheese from within the state. Our favorite is the "Better than Ted" burger: 8oz. all-natural NC bison patty with applewood smoked blue Amish cheese, bacon, roasted red peppers and fried avocado.

Dain's Place (Durham): Dain's provides great burgers in a lively collegiate atmosphere. Adjacent to Duke University, Dain's Place was recently named the #10 in Complex's Top 50 College Bars in America. If you're having trouble, try the "Dainer" with lettuce, tomato, 1000 Island, bacon, sauteed onions and cheddar.

Abbey Road (Cary): Abbey Road's 10oz. chuck patties are served any way you like them on locally-baked kaiser buns. We recommend an item from their "Beatle Burgers" section, the Ringo: grilled mushrooms, grilled onions, American and Havarti cheeses.

There you have it! We know there are many more around the Triangle. What burger joints get your mouth watering?

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