Who Makes New York State’s Best Burger: Report

Whoever coined the phrase “as American as apple pie,” should probably revise that to reflect that burgers are actually our passion.

Admittedly, “as American as two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions, on a sesame-seed bun,” may not have the same ring to it, but at least it would be factually correct — particularly in light of the recent Independence Day, where Americans were expected to spend $388 million on patties alone, according to CNBC. But if you don't feel like grilling your own, a recent MSN report says there’s a great spot to try in New York City.

The site recently published its “Best Burger in Every State” article and found that J.G. Melon, on the Upper East Side, was the best in New York.

“This outstanding Upper East Side institution has been serving delicious cheeseburgers since it opened in 1972. The meat is griddled, topped with American cheese, and placed into a potato bun. There are no frills, and none are needed,” MSN said.

There are roughly 50,000 burger joints in America though — 1.6 burger restaurants for every 10,000 Americans — so if that one doesn’t fit your taste, you might try heading across the border to Connecticut, where K LaMay's in Meriden has its famous steamed cheeseburger.

Americans’ love for burgers can be traced to 19th-century German immigrants, whose restaurants served ground beef patties that were eaten with utensils. Shortly thereafter, someone discovered you could put bread around the slab of meat. Voila! A sandwich was born.

Whenever you’re planning to fire up the grill, don’t skimp on the ingredients. Chefs say a variety of factors go into a great burger, including the meat-to-fat ratio, the type of meat and bun and even the crisp of the bun.

Consumers mostly agree. A 2009 report found that three out of every four burger-enthusiasts ranked meat quality as either the first or second most important attribute, followed by toppings.

What do you think? Tell us in the comments what makes a perfect burger and where you go to get them.

Image via Shutterstock.