Around 2,000 local food lovers gathered at Kensico Dam Plaza in Valhalla this year for one of Westchester’s most popular gastronomic contests: Westchester Magazine’s Burger & Beer Blast. Each one got to cast their vote for their favorite burger of the evening, choosing between seventeen of the county’s best restaurants. Here’s how the evening shook out:
Our 2019 Judge’s Choice winner (and eighth popular vote) placed again this year, with a sweet plantain-topped mini-burger.
A newcomer to our competition, Latusion’s Lomo Burger with Gouda, beef stir-fry, and signature sauce definitely won some hearts and minds.
Whipped goat cheese, bacon jam, grilled red onion, diced onion, baby spinach, and herb aioli on a mini ciabatta roll brought a veggie-forward flare and let BB break into the top 10.
The house’s custom blended patty was topped simply, with bacon-onion jam and bourbon burger sauce for an elegant bite.
New Rochelle’s 2019’s Fan Choice winner clocked in sixth this year, with a burger as innovative as its previous donut-sandwiched breakfast creation: a whole-shrimp topped mini-burger with spicy sauce on a pretzel bun.
Who wouldn’t love a burger topped with spicy andouille sausage gravy on a toasted bun?
Elevating the classic backyard burger, Stew’s came out swinging with a house blended ribeye/chuck patty loaded up with spicy bread and butter pickles and pimento cheese on a classic Martin’s slider roll.
The DiBari-backed food bus is already known for its adventurous (and delicious) apple-adjacent burgers, and its Burger & Beer Blast creation did not disappoint. Fans were wowed by the balanced flavors of the classic Bus Burger: sharp cheddar, house-made bread & butter pickles, and “Happy Sauce.”
With perhaps the most visually stunning burgers on offer, Southern Table made a huge stride this year after placing fifth in our last competition. Its Bullet Burger was a dry-aged beef blend covered in melty locally aged cheddar, caramelized onion, and grilled bacon, as well as a Bulleit Bourbon glaze, before getting skewered with a half cherry tomato and sweet gherkin. Though quite a mouthful, the flavors were balanced and complementary, catapulting Southern Table to second place this year.
After getting narrowly eked out of its hat trick victory last Burger & Beer Blast, Coals Pizza is back in the top spot as your 2021 People’s Choice winner, once again claiming the coveted Heineken-Blue Moon Best Burger trophy. Coals improved upon its previous runner-up burger with a classic beef patty, Buffalo sauce, cheddar, pickled red onions, and a generous dollop of guacamole.
Want to try making your own Best Burger at home? Seven of these Top 10 burgers — and all of the Top Three! — used ground beef from our event’s official meat sponsor Piccinini Bros.