Flipping Out

How to celebrate National Hamburger Day

arely will I turn down a good burger. Ha. Get it? Rarely. Ahem. Anyway, apparently most of the U.S. is with me, what with National Hamburger Day. And as all good meat-loving Americans are flipping for this juicy meal, local restaurants are answering the question, “Where’s the beef?” Although my daughter thinks the moon is hung on a Happy Meal burger from Mickey D’s, here’s a brief beef roundup of some more gourmet choices for the big day. No toys included though. Sorry.

Cuffs: An Irish Bar (‬350 Stuart St., 617.266.7200): Toast Burger Day with the sirloin burger with caramelized onion, mushrooms, and choice of cheese ($13) or cheeseburger sliders with Cashel Blue, Irish cheddar, and Manchego.

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (75 Arlington St., 617.357.4810): The bar honors the holiday with two tasty takes on the classic. Davio’s Classic Burger layers cheddar, onion rings, pickles and steak sauce, and the Kobe beef sliders are served with horseradish aioli on mini rolls.

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse (217 Stuart St., 617.292.0808) There are five ways to get your burger on: the Prime Burger with cheddar cheese, peppered bacon; the Sliced Filet Mignon Burger with sautéed mushrooms and Béarnaise sauce; the Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Burger with creamy mustard sauce; the Ahi Tuna Burger with soy ginger sauce; and the Portobello Mushroom Burger with sautéed spinach and creamy goat cheese. They all come with onion rings and a mini wedge salad (so you can pretend you’re being healthy).

Mr. Bartley’s Gourmet Burgers: Since 1960, this Harvard Square joint has been serving up the best in burgers, with combos that blow your mind—the Scott Brown (bacon, American cheese, grilled onions, jalapenos) or the Michelle Obama, a blue cheese burger with cajun seasoning. My fave: the iPhone, with boursin cheese, grilled mushrooms, onions. Although I think it might need a side of apples.

Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake (384 Boylston St., 617.859.7772): Two of my personal faves—both chef and burger—executive chef Brian Poe dishes out a new namesake burger, the Poe Burger is a Kobe beef burger stuffed with lobster, foie gras, and black truffles served with house-cured whiskey bacon, avocado, and Irish porter cheese on brioche.

Towne Stove and Spirits (900 Boylston St., 617.247.0400): Available in the Street Lounge, the Mini Burger is expertly comprised of 70/30 skirt and shortrib and is served with chips.

Also read Cheryl Fenton’s health and beauty blog, Easy Peasy.