Haute Top 5: Burgers in San Francisco in 2017

The Marlowe burger has such a cult following that, for a time, there was a pop-up restaurant devoted just to it. However, it has since closed and the burger is now served at Marlowe and its sister restaurants, Park Tavern and the Cavalier. Ground lamb is added to the beef mixture which gives the patty a rich earthiness. A tangy horseradish aioli is slathered on both sides of the bun to ensure that there is plenty of moisture. The accoutrements are cheddar cheese and bacon along with caramelized onions, which provide a savory sweetness. Perfectly crisp fries are served alongside the Marlowe burger making it sheer cheeseburger bliss.

Although Ryan Scott’s Castro restaurant Finn Town has only been open for a few months, his burger has become the talk of town. And for good reason: it is sensational! With a Russian dressing type sauce, super melty American cheese, iceberg lettuce, and an all-beef patty, the burger is like an upscale In-n-Out burger. What makes it super special? The house made bun and double decker patty.

Chef Thomas McNaughton is one of the city’s top chefs known for his artisanal pasta and housemade charcuterie at his restaurants Flour + Water and Central Kitchen, respectively. At Cafe du Nord, a bar by the Bon Vivants where McNaughton’s team created the menu, we see another side of the chef—and a very scrumptious one at that! His juicy burger is topped with sharp cheddar, lettuce, pickles, and a secret sauce. It’s the type of burger you dream about days after eating it.

There are many fast casual burger joints in the city, but the best is Roam Artisan Burger, which has two locations in San Francisco (in Cow Hollow and on Fillmore Street). At Roam, it’s a choose-your-own-adventure burger. Diners first start by selecting the patty base. There is beef, turkey, bison, veggie, and elk. Next choice is the style: they offer nine different variations. The chalet has Swiss cheese, cremini mushrooms, watercress, tomato, and house sauce. The tejano has pepper jack, jalapeño relish, avocado, tomato, white corn strips, and herb ranch. The winter seasonal burger features quince spread, brie, applewood smoked bacon, mayo, and arugula. Not seeing the burger you're hungry for? You can craft a personalized burger. They offer gluten-free buns, an assortment of addictive fries (zucchini onion haystack, anyone?!), innovative salads, and thick, creamy shakes.

Vegetarians we haven’t forgot about you! When we’re hungry for a veggie burger, we head to Plant Cafe Organic in the Marina or on the Embarcadero. The healthy eatery serves up the city’s most memorable veggie burger. The bright pink patty is a hearty mixture of lentils, mushrooms, beets, cashews, and bulgur wheat. There are several topping variations, but the one we can’t stop gushing about has caramelized mushrooms, cheddar cheese, and vegan aioli.