Connecticut’s food scene is quite diverse. In this state, you are seldom more than a 20-minute drive from whatever cuisine your heart desires. But sometimes, simply a burger will do, and Connecticut’s capital city has plenty of options to pick from. Here are our top 6 burgers and where to find them across Hartford, CT.
Plan B
Plan B Burger Bar in West Hartford is all about celebrating three of our favorite “b”s: burgers, beer, and bourbon.
For the more adventurous, Plan B offers novel takes on the classic burger with combinations like the Baja Burger, Philly Steak, and West Coast Burger. For those who prefer an alternative to red meat, try the Crispy Chicken, Turkey Club, or Veggie Burger. 860-231-1199
Max Burger
Max Burger in West Hartford, CT attributes their amazing burgers to the use of high-quality, sustainably grown beef. This burger joint uses only Brandt Beef for its culinary creations.
A popular burger choice is the Texican with applewood smoked bacon, bbq sauce, onion straws, chipotle-jalapeño aioli, lettuce, and tomato on an artisan roll. Another must-have is the Maple Whiskey with arugula, caramelized onions, great hill farms blue cheese, applewood smoked bacon, and maple-whiskey sauce.
They offer a different specialty burger each day of the week. Examples of burgers that rotate on their ‘Chalkboard’ menu include Jam & Bam, Spicy Mother Clucker, and Disco Burger, to name a few. 860-232-3300
Wood N’ Tap
Wood N’ Tap has several locations throughout Connecticut including a location in Hartford. In addition to beef burgers, Wood N’ Tap also offers a bison burger, a leaner, grass-fed alternative to traditional beef. Wood N’ Tap serves it with delicious frizzled onions on top.
This restaurant also features family-style meals to go which includes salad, rolls, an entree of the day, and dessert. 860-232-8277
Wayback Burgers
For a classic burger in a retro setting, it does not get any better than Wayback Burgers with locations across CT including one in West Hartford. Wayback offers straightforward options such as the single and double burgers alongside a large menu of toppings to create your favorite burger.
They also offer specialty options like the Rodeo Burger with crispy onion rings and BBQ sauce. This restaurant is also infamous for its “triple triple”, a tower of a cheeseburger with 9 patties and 9 slices of cheese, not for the faint of heart. 860-561-5000
Shake Shack
Shake Shack in West Hartford offers this American classic as well as hand-spun frozen custard made fresh daily. This restaurant’s menu is known for their shakes and burgers in equal proportion.
The seasonal special pumpkin shake is not to be missed featuring pumpkin, marshmallow, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla frozen custard.
Shake Shack also has an unexpected take on vegetarian burgers offering the Shroom Burger, a Portobello mushroom filled with cheddar and muenster cheese. 860-900-0559
The Tavern Downtown
The Tavern Downtown in Hartford, CT is a great place to stop for a burger while visiting downtown Hartford. This favorite local spot offers classic burgers as well as specialty flavor combinations like the spicy “Mouthwater Burger” featuring jalapeno jam, chipotle mayo, avocado, cheddar cheese, and onion straws.
Or, there is the “Bourbon BBQ Burger” with bacon, cheddar cheese, bourbon bacon BBQ sauce, and onion straws. 860-524-9990