Sure, you can fire up your grill this Memorial Day weekend. But before you do, let some of Dayton’s finest burgers inspire you.
The Gem City is home to some incredible burgers, each as distinct as the place that crafts it.
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Below are just a few of our favorite Dayton burgers. Yours not on the list? Tell us all about it at contact@dayton.com.
Tank’s Bar & Grill, 2033 Wayne Ave., Dayton, 937-252-2249
Why? Juicy, thick and grilled just right, Tank’s burgers can be served topped with nothing or a laundry list of items at no additional cost. Banana peppers and horseradish, anyone?
Menu includes: Cheeseburger, $6.99; Hamburger, $6.79; Tankburger (half-pounder), $7.99 (double the patty for $5)
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Voltzy’s Rootbeer Stand, 4668 Springboro Pike, Moraine, 937-299-1440
Why? What Voltzy’s lacks in grandeur it makes up in great-tasting sliders and character – plenty of it. Burgers are made to order.
Menu includes: About a dozen ways to order a burger, starting with a basic $1.30 hamburger and $1.40 cheeseburger. Double patty both of those for $2.25 and $2.45.
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The Oakwood Club, 2414 Far Hills Ave., Oakwood (937)-293-6973
Why? Oakwood Club steaks are an area favorite, but some of the tastiest beef is used to make the burgers.
Menu includes: Oakwood Club Steak Burger, $8.95; Oakwood Club Roquefort Steak Burger, $9.50 (cheese is 25 cents more).
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EO Burgers, 4482 Glengarry Drive, The Greene, Beavercreek, 937-431-1242
Why? The people love EO. The EO stands for EXTRAORDINARY. This fast-casual restaurant offers traditional burgers and a series of premium burgers and sliders.
Menu includes: EO Classic Burger, $6.99; EO Classic Cheeseburger and Bourbon Street Burger, $7.99 each; Kobe Burger, $11.99 and the Santa Barbara (guacamole, jalapeno, Monterey Jack cheese with a special sauce), $9.99.
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Coco’s Bistro, 250 Warren St., Dayton, 937-228-2626
Why? Start with the creamy Boursin cheese, thick Applewood smoked bacon and sweet caramelized onions and go from there. The Bistro Burger is always on the lunch menu, but not available for dinner.
Menu includes: Bistro Burger with side, $16.
Pine Club, 1926 Brown St., Dayton, 937-228-5371
Why? The Pine Club may be famous for its steak. But its burger is also pretty legit. Beef and lamb are ground in-house before being cooked to perfection.
Menu includes: Pine Club Hamburger Platter with onion rings or fries, $12.75; Pine Club Cheeseburger Platter with onion rings or fries, $12.95.
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K’s Hamburger Shop, 117 E. Main St., Troy, 937-339-3902
Why? Low frill, all-American burger in a retro burger shop, with beef ground in-house. What more do you need? Well, besides a delicious milkshake ...
Menu includes: Cheeseburger, $2.90; Hamburger, $2.70.
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Slyder’s Tavern, 836 Watervliet Ave., Dayton, 937-258-1222
Why: Winner of our 2017 Best of Dayton poll, the juicy meat is packed with flavor. This restaurant in Dayton’s Belmont neighborhood consistently appears on — often topping — local best burgers list.
Menu includes: Hamburger with chips, $6.05 (7 oz.) and $6.75 (10 oz.); Cheeseburger with chips, $6.45 (7 oz.) and $7.15 (10 oz.).
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Watermark, 20 S. 1st St., Miamisburg, 937-802-0891
Why: Another top choice on our 2017 reader’s choice poll, Watermark’s signature Weare-Burger is an all-prime grilled burger, topped with house-made bacon jam, dill pickles, pickled red onion, choice of blue cheese or Swiss, on a brioche bun. The burger may be ordered “pink” or “not pink.”
Menu includes: The Weare-Burger served with dressed greens or fries, $14.95
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Nick’s Restaurant, 1443 N. Detroit St., Xenia, 937-372-3202
Why: The bar and eatery has been a staple of its community since it opened in 1949 under then owner and namesake Nick Malavazos, and reopened in 2009. The signature burger, the Big Nick, is king of them all. It’s a half pound of juicy Angus beef with your choice of trimmings and the restaurant’s special sauce. It’s a mountain of meat, so come starving or come with friends to help you finish it.
Menu includes: Big Nick with choice of: lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, Nick’s special sauce & add 50¢ for cheese and $1 for bacon. $8.99
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Gameday Grille and Patio, 7576 State Route 48, Waynesville, 937-886-3572
Why: The OSU-graduate owners present their tribute to the school’s superstar football coach with the Urban Meyer Burger. It’s a fresh half-pound Angus patty topped with a butterflied quarter-pound Angus beef hot dog, with a sweet and tangy wing sauce while pepper jack cheese tried to hold it all together.
Menu includes: Urban Meyer Burger (half-pound patty topped with a grilled all-beef Hot Dog, Pepper jack Cheese and signature Sweet Heat Sauce) for $12.25 and the Who Dey Burger (a half-pound burger topped with an Onion Rings, Sautéed Mushroom and Jalapeno, Chili, Bacon, Swiss and American cheeses and signature BBQ Sauce) for $12.25
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Benjamin’s The Burger Master, 100 N. Main St., Dayton, 937-223-8702
Why: Slider-style burgers with names like Poor Richard’s Burger and the Big Ben to pay homage to the restaurant’s namesake, Benjamin Franklin.
Menu includes: full-size, made-to-order burgers range from the $2.79 hamburger ($3.79 double) to the $3.79 bacon cheddar burger to the $3.79 mushroom swiss burger.
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Blind Bob's, 430 E. Fifth St., Dayton, 937-938-6405
Why: You will find robust stuffed burgers, including the Island Delight burger ($10) — a half-pound patty, stuffed with sweet pineapple and zippy pepper-jack cheese, covered in a teriyaki glaze with a tangy wasabi-mayonnaise — and the Italian Burger ($10) — a half-pound patty, stuffed with provolone cheese and cooked basil and green peppers, topped with marinara and a mound of caramelized onions.
Menu includes: a vegetarian friendly Garden Burger ($8), a quarter pound “Little Lisa’s Burger” ($8) for those looking for something a little more petite. Add cheese, veggies, bacon, seasonings and extra goodies for 50 cents to $2. Don’t forget the sauce for an extra 50 cents.
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Smokin’ BBQ, 200 E. Fifth St., Dayton, 937-586-9790
Why: This place is known for its barbecue, but one of the best things on the menu is the burger. This burger will literally melt in your mouth. No chewing required.
Menu includes: a full half-pound patty that’s been smoked for more than 2 hours in beef broth for $5. You can add cheese or a tomato for 50 cents each or bacon for $1.50.
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Sam and Ethel’s, 120 E. Main St., Tipp City, 937-667-0113
Why: Think homemade. The “S&E Burger” includes two quarter-pound patties, a “special S&E sauce,” onion straws and the fixings on a grilled double-decker bun.
Menu includes: The burger is $8.49. You can add cheese for 50 cents or bacon for 99 cents.
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The Hamburger Wagon, 12 E. Central Ave., Miamisburg, 937-847-2442
Why: The Hamburger Wagon has served the Dayton area for 100 years and has been ranked as one of the top 150 Hamburger Joints in the U.S. by “Hamburger America”. These burgers are simple, crispy and delicious. No cheese on these burgers. Just pickle, onion, salt and pepper.
Menu includes: Get a single for $1.25 or a double for $2.50. You might also spot the mobile wagon at festivals and fairs this summer.
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White Lotus, 327 E. Third St., Dayton; (937) 222-7030.
Why: The White Lotus has an eclectic menu that includes Thai cuisine and yummy burgers. We recommend the Yummy Burger, hand-crafted with care just like mom used to make you at home. A half-pound hand-formed patty cooked to perfection.
Menu includes: The Yummy Burger is $4.95 and add cheese for 25 cents. You can also opt for the Yummy Bacon Burger ($8.20) or the Yummy Extreme Double Burger ($9.20).
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Note: prices are subject to change.