The Beast Burger
Feed your wild side at Gunselman’s Tavern with a gargantuan patty ($14) made with wild boar, elk, bison and wagyu beef and topped with lettuce, tomato, onion and a signature sauce. “I don’t know of a whole lot of places that those four animals exist in the same spot,” says owner Joe McDonough. 21490 Lorain Road, Fairview Park, 440-331-5719, gunselmans.com
The Big Guy
Named the No. 1 best burger in Cleveland by Thrillist in 2019, Stevenson’s Bar & Grill’s classic burger ($7.75) lives up to the hype with two 2/3-pound patties, cooked on a flattop grill, capped with American cheese, a signature, secret white sauce and locally sourced pickles and lettuce. “I’ll go to a local grocery store almost every day,” says chef Bruce Cerne. 800 E. 200th St., Cleveland, 216-999-7156
The Galley Boy
There are fewer delights more joyful than pulling into a Swensons Drive-In and ordering its most popular burger ($3.90). This double smash patty is covered in melted American cheese and a sweet and tangy mix of house-made tartar and barbecue sauces. “Being so simple and so flavorful is what really draws people to it,” says marketing manager Tiffany Reed. Various locations, swensonsdriveins.com
The Good Boi
Good Company co-owner Brett Sawyer pulled inspiration from the best burgers in the region for this creation ($7-$9) with “company sauce,” white American cheese, the acidic tang from pickles, lettuce and a hint of sweetness from caramelized grilled onions. “Everything that we make is from scratch and house-made for the burger,” says Sawyer. 1200 W. 76th St., Cleveland, 216-331-0318, goodcompanycle.com
The Peanutburger
Bearden’s most famous burger is a beast of a sandwich ($5.50) with a fresh quarter-pound steak patty slathered in peanut butter and sweet pickles. After being on the menu for 70 years, it’s become a longtime favorite. ”It’s nostalgic,” says general manager Michael McBride. “We’ve had it on our menu since the ’50s, and we have regulars coming in for it still that are grandparents now.” 19985 Lake Road, Rocky River, 440-331-7850, beardens.com
