Welcome to this week’s Great Burger Battle! The last match was a tough one between Bethesda joint City Burger and Bourbon Steak Lounge, but the former fast-casual joint managed to put a fork in the steakhouse. You can see the current status of all the teams below.
Today’s contenders likely need no introduction. Though Ray’s Hell-Burgers no longer have a storefront solely dedicated to their deliciousness—chef/owner Michael Landrum closed the Obama-approved eateries—they’ve found a new home just across the street from the original locations at Ray’s to the Third. The thick beef patties, aged in-house, include heavy-hitters like the charred jalapeño-topped Big Punisher or Fat Joe, decked out with seared foie gras. But can these self-described Big Devils take on BGR’s not-so-secret weapon: a nine-pound, beefy behemoth known to take down even the most worthy competitive eaters? Even when the homegrown chain breaks out its regular menu of dry-aged beef, veggie, and poultry patties, it’s a tough lineup to beat—just think of the Wellington, stacked with caramelized onions, truffled mushrooms, and blue cheese.
Hungry yet? Rate your stomach rumblings in the poll.
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.
