21 Burgers to Try in 2019
And What Brews To Drink With Them
From unique toppings and types of meat to outlandish buns and just darn-good eats, these are 21 varieties that every burger-loving Lehigh Valley resident should add to their must-devour list.
Photo by Alison Conklin
Social Still
Social Stack Burger
Made with two four-ounce patties, and topped with 1000 Island dressing, American cheese, lettuce, onion and pickle, the Social Stack is reminiscent of the iconic Big Mac. “It’s everything you want a Big Mac to be, but never is,” says Chris Kurtz, head chef.
530 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.4585 | socialstill.com
Union and Finch
Union Burger
Union and Finch’s Union Burger is made with Pat LaFrieda beef and topped with red onion marmalade, sweet pickles and bacon. On Burger and a Beer Thursdays, patrons can enjoy it with any draft beer for just $10.
What’s more, be sure to keep an eye out for their burger of the month special—at time of press, they were offering a Kimchi Burger, made with spicy kimchi, sunny-side-up egg and sriracha lime aioli.
Pair With: Dogfish Head's 90 Minute IPA
1528 W. Union St., Allentown | 610.432.1522 | unionandfinch.com
Photo by Matt Bishop
The Cask Taphouse and Grill
Blazin’ Bison Burger and Ale Mac & Cheese Burger
Blazin’ Bison Burger - One of The Cask’s newest burger variations, the Blazin’ Bison burger is complete with ground bison, pepper jack cheese, chipotle cream, smoked jalapeño peppers and tomato.
Ale Mac & Cheese Burger - A cheese lover’s dream come true— this burger is topped with fried ale mac and cheese, beer cheese sauce, lettuce and tomato.
80 Kunkle Dr., Easton | 610.438.5655 | casktaphouse.com
The Wooden Match
Donut Delite & Bender Ender
Donut Delite - The best part about the Donut Delite isn’t the applewood smoked bacon, it’s the grilled glazed doughnut sandwiching the 10-ounce beef patty. Talk about sweet and savory!
Bender Ender - The Wooden Match has a knack for substituting burger buns. The Bender Ender is served on two bacon grilled-cheese sandwiches!
61 W. Lehigh St., Bethlehem | 610.865.1777 | thewoodenmatch.com
Photo by Matt Bishop
Bell Hall
Bell Tower
Bell Hall’s signature Bell Tower burger comes with smoked mozzarella, greens, tomato chutney, garlic aioli and a tower of onion rings on top.
Fun Fact:
Bell Hall’s name is an ode to the fact that the Liberty Bell was hidden next door to the (now) restaurant during the Revolutionary War.
612 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.437.1825 | bellhallallentown.com
Wert's Cafe
Ashley's Pretzel Burger
Served on a pretzel roll, the burger is topped with bacon, honey mustard and, like several of Wert’s “Burgers with Personality,” Velveeta cheese.
Pair With: Lager
515 N. 18th St., Allentown | 610.439.0951 | wertscafe.com
Keystone Pub
Cowboy Burger
Keystone’s Cowboy Burger is charbroiled to perfection and topped with onion straws, cheddar, bacon and red pepper aioli. The best part? It’s served on Texas Toast!
Pair With: New Belgium’s Fat Tire Amber Ale
3259 Easton Ave., Bethlehem | 610.814.0400 |
1410 Grape St., Whitehall | 610.434.7600 | keystonepub.com
Rivals Sports Bar & Restaurant
Big Dave Burger
Three half-pound patties—topped with American cheese, tomatoes, onions, pickles, ketchup, mustard and mayo—means that no one who orders the Big Dave Burger is going home hungry.
5 Lehn’s Ct., Easton | 610.392.2932 | rivalseaston.com
Photo courtesy of Fegley's Brew Works
Fegley’s Brew Works
Brewers’ Grain-Fed Burger
A half pound of Koehler Farms beef, raised on upcycled brewers’ grains used to make Fegley’s Brew Works beer.
For non-beef eaters, Fegley’s offers a Black Lentil Quinoa Burger!
Pair With: Fegley’s Brew Works Hop’solutely
812 W. Hamilton St., Allentown | 610.433.7777 |
559 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.882.1300 | thebrewworks.com
The Mint Gastropub
The $25 Burger
Made with grass-fed wagyu that’s cast-ironed in duck fat, the $25 Burger is comprised of pork belly, foie gras pâté, Gruyère and Stilton, truffled greens and curried catsup on a seeded brioche. Enjoy truffle-parm fries on the side!
The Mint also offers The Vegan Burger, made with a Gardein black bean vegan patty, lettuce, tomato, onion, vegan cheese and “e’rythang tofunaise” on a vegan bun. Devour with a side of chickpea fries!
1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.3810 | bethlehemmint.com
Ocean
Ocean Burger
The Ocean Burger is a 10-ounce, all-beef burger served on a brioche bun smeared with garlic aioli and topped with crispy bacon, tomato and arugula on a sunny-side-up egg. Ocean’s truffled fries, topped with grated parmesan and fresh herbs, complete the dish.
Pair With: Chimay Grande Réserve Belgian Trappist
235 Ferry St., Easton | 610.559.7211 | ocean235.com
Photo by Matt Bishop
Maxim’s 22 Bistro & Brasserie
The Armando
The Armando comes complete with Brie, bacon marmalade, fried egg and arugula. But any of Maxim’s burgers can be served with Gruyère, cheddar, blue or raclette cheese.
Pair With: IPA Kwak
322 Northampton St., Easton | 610.252.2622 | maxims22.com
The Bayou
Bayou Beef Burger
Complete with andouille jam, aged cheddar, fried duck egg and seasonal greens.
702 Hawthorne Rd. Bethlehem | 610.419.6669 | dat-bayou.com
Photo by Colin Coleman
Two Rivers Brewing Company
Peanut Butter Bacon Cheddar Burger
A sweet and savory work of art, this burger starts with a brioche bun layered in creamy peanut butter and ground peanut brittle dust. A half pound of organic Breakaway Farms’ grass-fed beef, organic smoked bacon and pickled red onion receive a drizzle of chili gastrique (a mixture of red pepper, chipotles, citrus juice and sugar).
For non-meat eaters, Two Rivers also offers a Black Bean Lentil Burger, topped with avocado, cabbage beet slaw and sriracha aioli.
Pair With: Bankers Brown Ale/Easton Assassinator Doppelbock
542 Northampton St., Easton | 610.829.1131 | tworiversbrewing.com
Photo by Matt Bishop
The Brick
Pizza Burger
Angus beef, mozzarella cheese, pepperoni and tomato sauce served on a, wait for it, garlic knot bun. And just like that, two of the greatest cheat meals become one.
Pair With: Brooklyn Lager
1 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.1141 | thebrickpa.com
Tavern on Liberty
Spanish Burger
This certified Angus Beef® burger is served with manchego cheese, prosciutto, roasted red peppers and garlic aioli. All of Tavern on Liberty’s burgers can be substituted with grilled chicken breast or a vegan patty!
2246 W. Liberty St., Allentown | 484.221.8765 | tavernonliberty.com
Emeril’s Burgers & More
Bourbon Street Burger
Emeril’s Bourbon Street Burger is served with applewood bacon, bourbon-braised onions, aged cheddar and tangy barbecue sauce.
For those staying away from beef, Emeril’s offers a teriyaki-glazed Grilled Salmon Burger topped with pickled vegetables, cucumber, sriracha aioli and avocado.
Be sure to check out Emeril’s burger of the month, which, at time of press, was a flavorful fried chicken topped with tangy pickle chips, roasted garlic mayo and Tennessee barbecue sauce on a brioche bun, and said to pair perfectly with Dogfish Head 90 Minute IPA.
Pair With: Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale
77 Sands Blvd., Bethlehem | 877.726.3777 | pasands.com
Photo by Matt Bishop
Roosevelt’s 21st
Victory Burger
Crafted for true victors, Roosevelt’s Victory Burger is made with fried egg, sliced pork roll, applewood smoked bacon, melted Jack and cheddar cheese and spicy sauce. All burgers are served on a brioche bun with a side of hand-cut fries.
Pair With: Bell’s Brewery Two Hearted Ale/Free Will Brewing Co.’s Techno IPA
21 E. Elizabeth Ave., Bethlehem | 610.866.1950 | roosevelts21st.com
The Burgery Company
Roadrunner
When available, patrons can enjoy The Burgery’s ostrich burger, the Roadrunner. It’s served with lime and pepper seasoning, Monterey Jack, guacamole and pineapple.
The Burgery’s other unique meat varieties include venison, elk, bison and lamb.
Pair With: Duvel golden ale/La Chouffe/North Coast Pranqster (The Burgery Company is BYOB)
1458 Chestnut St., Emmaus | 610.966.9900 | theburgerycompany.com