Bite Into Unique Options
Like all good food folklore, the hamburger has a few origin stories. The local favorite surrounding “Hamburger Charlie” in Seymour dubbed “The Home of the Hamburger,” has created a festival, museum and pride for our area—not to mention some of the best of the best burgers around.
Alone, they’re mouthwatering: high quality beef, outstanding cheese and classic add-ons like lettuce and tomato. But local restaurants are going above and beyond in terms of unorthodox flavor combinations and crazy toppings to catapult their options into a whole new level of deliciousness.
Read on to discover what to try next when you’re craving a Wisconsin favorite.
Ardy & Ed’s, Oshkosh
Mark Bidwell, General Manager
Made from local Wisconsin beef from a family‑operated, farm‑raised supplier, Ardy & Ed’s core priority has always been sourcing local when it comes to their burgers, but it doesn’t just pertain to the meat.
“All of our burgers are served on buns from Manderfield’s Bakery, a local Wisconsin bakery we’re proud to partner with,” Bidwell says. “All of our cheese and produce also come from local Wisconsin farms and businesses. Supporting local is part of our identity—it keeps our food fresh, our community strong and our traditions alive.
“What makes our burgers stand with the best is that we’re unique in our own way. We stay committed to tradition and to making food the way it used to be. That consistency and respect for our roots is what keeps our burgers at the top.”
Burger specials: We have about ten main burgers that are consistently ordered and make up our core lineup. We typically run burger specials in the spring and fall. During the summer, we focus on our main menu, but this year we’ll be introducing new specials in collaboration with our sister restaurants. All of our specials are created in‑house, and I love letting the kids and staff contribute ideas, it gives them ownership and brings fun new flavors to life.
Most unique options: Ardy’s Super Burger: A 1/3‑lb Black Angus patty with special sauce, onion, pickle, lettuce, tomato, bacon, and cheddar cheese on a toasted Manderfields bun.
Drive‑In Double: A Klement’s brat patty paired with our 6‑1 burger patty and melty American cheese on a toasted Manderfield’s bun.
Tall Boy: Our 6‑1 patty topped with special sauce, lettuce, tomato, and American cheese on a toasted Manderfields bun.
As we like to say, it’s ‘food made the way it used to be.’ We’ve kept things simple and true to our roots for 77 years. The atmosphere plays a big part too—there aren’t many places left where you can still enjoy a true 1950s drive‑in with roller‑skating carhops. That nostalgia adds joy to the meal and makes the experience more fun.
Home Burger Bar, Appleton
The Ferg Family, Owners/Operators
Known for their Burger of the Month touting fun and inventive flavors, Home Burger Bar recently celebrated their 10-year anniversary in Appleton and is proud of guests not only receiving great food but also service from their friendly and familiar team.
“Our team, and the experience guests get with their burger (is what makes us stand out),” the Ferg Family says. “This isn’t a revolving door of employees… most of our team has been here 5 years or more. That’s impressive in this industry!
“It’s the creativity, and the fact that we come up with something new every month. We aren’t afraid to take chances!”
There are about 20 burgers on the menu, all ⅓-pound varieties, plus their Burger of the Month feature guests can find on their social media platforms.
How do you create your specials? Lots and lots of research! We’re never afraid to try something that’s never been done before.
Most unique option: That’s like picking a favorite kid! One of our most popular burgers is our version of a deconstructed crab rangoon. We named it The Crab Goon. We make a crab rangoon dip in-house, topped with wonton strips, green onions, and creamy sweet chili Thai sauce, served on a bun made fresh for us by Simple Simon Bakery. (Also delicious on our crispy chicken!)
Mill City Public House, Appleton
Rusty Leary, Owner
Known for their gourmet smash burgers, Mill City Public House uses a fresh, never frozen steak blend from Neesvig’s in Madison to create their double smash patties.
“They specialize in Angus beef steaks, and the steak trimmings are ground for their custom burger blend. It results in a rich, flavorful burger patty,” owner Rusty Leary explains. “We use two patties to maximize the surface area in contact with the griddle, more browning equals more flavor!
“Our menu rotates seasonally, we have 8 burgers on the menu right now. The chef team always comes up with a daily feature sandwich as well, it’s highly collaborative among the chef team.”
Most unique options: One of our most popular burgers, since opening 3.5 years ago, has been the OK Burger. It’s based on an Oklahoma Onion burger, with caramelized onions smashed between two steak patties. It’s been voted the Fox Valley’s best burger twice! Another fan favorite is the Bacon Jam Burger, which features out housemade Bourbon Bacon Jam and a sunny side up egg. The Mushroom Gruyere is another popular choice. It features herb roasted mushrooms, garlic aioli and crispy haystack onions.
What makes their burgers stand out: Fresh beef is key. All our sauces are made in house (12 of them!), this keeps things fresh and flavorful. The buns are toasted on the griddle with clarified butter, which adds texture and flavor. Some places might use vegetable oil or just a dry toaster, but our process really brings out the best in our brioche bun: It’s light, just a touch sweet and just the right amount of crispy.
We take pride in our house-made recipes, but we’re happy to make a Classic Bacon Cheeseburger, or whatever your heart desires.
Milwaukee Burger Company, Appleton
Jon Heinrich, General Manager
With “burger” in their name, Milwaukee Burger Company is a shoo-in for popular burgers. Add to their commitment to only using fresh, never frozen ground beef, they offer two sizes: thick burgers using a 6 ounce patty, and smash burgers using two 3.3-ounce pucks. Plus, they have a Wagyu option as well.
“We offer 13 different burgers on our menu,” Jon Heinrich, General Manager, says. “Seven thick burgers and six smash burgers. We also offer a Build Your Own Burger option as well where guests can pick from numerous choices to create their own burgers.”
Burger specials: At a store level, we run monthly specials created by our in-store team. These can be inspired by holidays or simply creative culinary experiments. We also run specials surrounding sporting events that offer limited time menus or specials such as our NFL Gameday menu that offers some discounted items and over the top burgers such as our Pack and Cheese Burger.
Most unique options: Wisconsin Smashed: two thinly smashed patties topped with American cheese, PBR caramelized onions, pickles, and Burger Co. Sauce. It’s long been our tried-and-true favorite and guests gravitate toward comfort picks.
Cheese Curd Burger which is our 6-ounce Midwest beef patty topped with Provolone cheese, Burger Company Sauce, and two of our Classic Cheddar, Golf Ball sized cheese curds.
Hangover Burger: two thinly sliced smashed patties, American Cheese, Ultra Thick-cut bacon, Cheesy Hashbrowns, Burger Co. Sauce, and Sunnyside up egg.
Aztec Crunch is probably our most unique burger, which is a pepperjack queso tostada layered between two thinly sliced smash pepperjack patties, and topped with Corn Salsa, Avocado Crema, and Chili Vinaigrette.
What makes their burgers stand out: Excellent products at an excellent value. Despite rising food prices we’ve found other ways to keep costs low instead of passing that onto our guests via menu price hikes. We are priced well below many of our competitors without sacrificing quality.
(Our burgers) all taste better paired with our Bloody Mary of the Month!
Mr Brews Taphouse, Appleton
Heather Keddell, General Manager
Consistency and quality top of mind, Mr Brews Taphouse uses a carefully selected blend of fresh, high-quality beef designed to deliver a juicy, flavorful bite every time.
“We focus on balance complemented by thoughtfully chosen toppings and house-made sauces whenever possible,” Heather Keddell, General Manager, says.
“We currently offer 9 core burgers on our menu. In addition, we regularly feature limited-time specials throughout the month. These specials allow our kitchen team to get creative, highlight seasonal ingredients, and respond to guest favorites and trends.
New flavors are developed collaboratively, combining guest feedback, culinary inspiration, and what ingredients are at their best.
Most unique options: Kentucky Bourbon Burger:Topped with bacon, cheddar cheese, grilled onions, French’s fried onions, and our house-made bourbon sauce, this burger delivers a rich, slightly sweet flavor with a smoky finish.
California Burger: A fresh and flavorful option featuring guacamole, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and our house-made chipotle mayo for a creamy, lightly spicy kick.
Peanut Buster: One of our boldest creations, this burger is topped with peanut butter, bacon, and pepperjack cheese, creating a surprisingly balanced combination of savory, salty, and sweet flavors.
“Our most popular burgers are the Kentucky Bourbon Burger, and the Bacon Mac & Cheeseburger, which is topped with creamy bacon mac and cheese, and finished with a dash of cayenne for just the right amount of heat. Guests love it for its rich, indulgent flavor and comforting familiarity with a subtle kick that keeps it balanced and crave-worthy,” Keddell says. “Our burger bowls are a guest favorite, featuring selections like the Southwest, California, All American, Bruschetta, and Kentucky Bourbon, all served over a bed of fresh greens with your choice of protein for a lighter option that doesn’t compromise on flavor.”
What makes their burgers stand out: Mr Brews Taphouse stands out for its creative burger builds, use of house-made sauces, and wide variety of options paired with an extensive craft beer selection, all in a relaxed and welcoming atmosphere.
Mr Brews Taphouse is where the perfect burger meets your new favorite beer. In addition to our menu, we offer weekly
entertainment including DJ Bingo on Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. and Trivia on Wednesdays at 7 p.m., along with monthly beer samplings and live music.
