Americans consume nearly 50 billion burgers annually.
Americans love their burgers. Actually, “obsessed” may be a better description. From fast food chains to favorite restaurants, along with grilling on a deck or chowing down at a local picnic, Americans devour on average three hamburgers a week. That’s a national total of nearly 50 billion burgers per year.
Of course, each hamburger aficionado is very particular when it comes to topping of choice. Be it cheese, pickles, onions (fried or raw), lettuce, tomato, bacon or even avocado, burgers are always better when you dress them up a bit.
Not to be outdone by the typical burger restaurant, and in order to take advantage of the American burger craze, hotels across the country have stepped up their burger game and are now offering scrumptious, innovative patties that take ground beef to a new level. The Wagyu half pound burger at Black Iron Kitchen & Bar, Madeline Hotel & Residences, Auberge Resorts Collection in Telluride, Colorado, boasts a house-made brioche bun, balsamic grilled red onion, Colorado rocking with yellow cheddar, Thousand Island, butter pickles, local tomatoes and house cut fries. Executive Chef Bill Greenwood explains, “It’s a simple Wagyu double patty burger with lots of cheese and that’s the way I like to eat them. All the best burger joints I’ve been to serve them in the same style. Simple and delicious.”
Here are delectable hotel hamburgers crafted by skilled chefs that are sure to make any carnivore’s mouth water.
The brioche buns and dressing are made in-house.
JBAR Burger, Hotel Jerome, Auberge Resorts Collection, Aspen, Colorado
“With the JBar Burger, we aim to showcase our local Colorado producers and partners, along with the incredible bounty of the Roaring Fork Valley, says Executive Chef Ross Kilkenny. “The Beef is 100% ground American Wagyu grown in Colorado at 7X Ranch. The Sunset Cheddar cheese is from Rocking W Cheese in Olathe, Colorado. We also make the brioche buns in-house, along with the 1000 island dressing, so there’s nothing quite like it anywhere else.”
A towered burger with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese.
Hau Tree Burger, Mauna Kea Resort, Kohala Coast, Hawaii
The casual oceanfront, al fresco restaurant offers relaxed lunches and dinners overlooking the tranquil waters of Mauna Kea Beach. To accompany its signature Hau Tree Burger – a towered burger with lettuce, tomato, onion and cheese on a brioche bun (with the option to add bacon) – the oceanfront restaurant offers classic tropical cocktails, local brews and more.
This burger is made with grass-fed beef.
Hawks Cay’s Pool Burger, Hawks Cay Resort, Duck Key, Florida
Hawks Cay Resort is a one-of-a-kind destination resort on Duck Key in the middle Florida Keys, roughly halfway between Key Largo and Key West. This delicious burger is made with 8-oz grass-fed beef patty, topped with smashed avocado, roasted tomatoes, fresh arugula and served on a brioche bun.
The Torali Burger use three distinctive kinds of beef.
Torali’s Prime Beef Burger, The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
Set within the landmark Water Tower Place near Lake Michigan, the Torali Burger features; double Prime Beef Patties made of a blend of beef brisket, short rib, and chuck; New York extra sharp white cheddar; house-made pickled cucumbers; Dijon aioli; soft butter brioche bun. Executive Chef Franco Diaz says, “Our double patty Torali Burger is crafted with three distinctive kinds of beef, brisket, short rib and chuck. Every detail from our house-made pickles, Dijon aioli, perfectly toasted brioche bun and accompanying parmesan fries home-made with skin on potatoes makes a darn good burger.”
The Smyth Burger is one of the most popular menu items.
Smyth Burger, Smyth Tribeca Hotel, New York, New York
The brand-new Smyth Tavern from Mercer Street Hospitality features a burger not to be missed. The Smyth Burger is one of the most popular menu items and comes complete with bacon onion jam, American cheese, special sauce, onion rings and a side of hand-cut fries. Smyth Tavern has a classic tavern setting featuring rich mahogany wood paneling along with red leather booths with a rotating collection of local artwork from downtown galleries.
The Burgerdog is exclusive to those playing golf.
Burgerdog, The Boca Raton, Boca Raton, Florida
Served at the Club Course, the Burgerdog is a hamburger shaped like a hot dog served inside a hot dog bun for easy snacking while enjoying the golf course. The Burgerdog is exclusive to those playing on the golf course, via the food & beverage cart, which offers free bites and non-alcoholic beverages.
The Cheeseburger features double short-rib patties.
Highball & Harvest Pimento Cheeseburger: Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes, Florida
Inspired by the grand palazzos of Italy, the hotel offers its discerning guests a truly luxurious experience coupled with superb culinary options. Highball & Harvest serves comfort food and pub fare in style. The H&H Pimento Cheeseburger features double short-rib patties, pimento cheese, bacon, mustard and spiced pickles.
The beef patty is a custom blend.
Golden Stag Burger, The Restaurant at Goldener Hirsch, Deer Valley, Utah
Executive Chef Nicolas Lebas says, “My inspiration behind the burger is a take on one you’d find in a French brasserie, adding raclette cheese for a nod to the Alps.” The milk cardamom bread, pickles and fry sauce are all made in-house. The heirloom tomato and butter bib are from a local farm. The beef patty is a custom blend, mixed for the restaurant by Wasatch Meat using Wagyu Brisket and Chuck.
The burger features only mushrooms, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli.
Virginia Wagyu Burger, Primland, Auberge Resorts Collection, Meadows of Dan, Virginia
At 19th Pub, guests can imbibe a robust selection of beverages while savoring delicious, farm-to-table cuisine, including the resort’s exclusive, locally sourced Virginia Wagyu Burger. The premium selection of beef is sourced from Black Creek Wagyu in Dublin, Virginia and processed at 7 Hills in Lynchburg, Virginia. The farm processes very few animals per year, which makes the selection quite limited and exclusive. Primland’s Executive Chef Ryan DeRieux adds only mushrooms, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli to the burger in order to highlight the umami flavor of the beef.
The mustard is added while it’s cooking.
The California Burger, Alila Napa Valley, Napa Valley, California
The unique element of the California Burger from Acacia House by Chris Cosentino is that the chefs add the mustard to the patty while it’s cooking on the grill, creating a unique flavor seared into the meat before it even hits the bun. On top of the burger comes oven roasted tomatoes, caramelized onions, Acacia House special sauce, house-brined picked and cheddar cheese, served with lemon zested fries on the side.