Welcome back to the Great Burger Battle! Yesterday was a true nail-biter. Z-Burger and Smashburger ran neck and neck until the last minute, when Smash squashed Z like one of their signature beef patties on a hot griddle.
Now that these two chains have battled it out, it’s time to go a little more upscale for today’s meaty match. In one corner we have Central by chef Michel Richard, one of the fanciest contenders in the competition. The downtown French brasserie put itself on the patty map with its decadent and delicious lobster burger, as well as a tasty seared tuna version and another made with prime beef. Going up against the home of haute hamburgers is Burger Tap & Shake. While much more laid-back than Central, chef Jeff Tunks‘s fast-casual venture offers chef-y touches like a custom blend of aged beef for the patties, house-made buns, and creative combinations like a Southern Comfort topped with pimento cheese and fried green tomatoes.
So which toque can tear up the competition? Vote and see.
Anna Spiegel covers the dining and drinking scene in her native DC. Prior to joining Washingtonian in 2010, she attended the French Culinary Institute and Columbia University’s MFA program in New York, and held various cooking and writing positions in NYC and in St. John, US Virgin Islands.
