The Best Hamburgers in Cleveland

The next time you're famished and only a juicy hamburger will adequately satiate, don't settle for the bland minimalist options the chain restaurants advertise. Instead, indulge in one of Cleveland's exceptional and unique burger offerings, which you'll find come with pleasantly surprising toppings like mozzarella cheese and herbs, or even peanut butter.

The best hamburger depends on many factors: meat, toppings, bun, sides. Though it might be hard to get everyone to agree on the absolute best in town, there's sure to be a hamburger on this list that will wow even the choosiest burger connoisseur.

B Spot Burgers
28699 Chagrin Blvd. in Woodmere
216-292-5567

Rock music charges the atmosphere at B Spot Burgers, a perfect place to stop after shopping at Beachwood Place and Legacy Village.

Choose between cheddar chili fries and rosemary fries to go with one of 16 different burgers, which are made with naturally raised beef.

B Spot is owned by Michael Symon, who competed on Iron Chef in 2005. He published his first cookbook, "Michael Symon's Live to Cook," in 2009.

Academy Tavern
12800 Larchmere Blvd. in Cleveland
216-229-1171

Stop at this cozy pub when you're in the Shaker Square neighborhood. The Academy Burger, a bacon cheeseburger, is its specialty.

Fans of home-style cooking will enjoy the Tavern, which has been a cornerstone of the neighborhood since 1939.

Whitey's Booze N' Burgers
3600 Brecksville Road in Richfield
330-659-3600

Richfield used to be the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but the affluent, well-kept town still draws crowds to Whitey's.

Chili made Whitey's famous, but the burgers certainly have earned their spot on the restaurant's marquee. Wash down your burger with an ice-cold bottle of root beer.

Heck's Café
2927 Bridge Ave. in Cleveland
216-861-5464

Before an Indians or Cavs game, stop in for a burger at this 19^th-century town house in the Ohio City neighborhood, across the river from downtown. Check out the Ohio City Burger, topped with mozzarella cheese and made with herbs from around the world.

Heck's Café is also an ideal spot for a romantic night out. You and your sweetie can enjoy a candlelit dinner in the Garden Room.

The Courtyard
7600 Chippewa Road in Brecksville
440-526-9292

If you're heading up to Cleveland through Medina County, stop off in Brecksville for a Courtyard Burger with grilled onions, sautéed mushrooms, melted Swiss cheese and sour cream.

Courtyard's appetizers are so substantial that you may have to take half your burger home. You can start with baked French onion soup au gratin, or go for The Spud, an extra-large twice-baked potato.

Bearden's
19985 Lake Road in Rocky River
440-331-7850

Bearden's has been a top-flight burger destination in Rocky River since 1946.

Touting the "best burgers in Cleveland," Bearden's features the Peanutburger, a single patty topped with melted peanut butter.

Menches Brothers Restaurant
3700 Massillon Road in Uniontown
330-896-2288

235 Lincoln Way W. in Massillon
330-832-6200

As the story goes, the Menches Brothers, Frank and Charles, invented the hamburger when they ran out of pork at the 1885 Erie County Fair. They named their new invention after the fair's location: Hamburg, N.Y. Taste the original hamburger at either of the Menches Brothers Restaurant locations in Uniontown or Massillon. For a true burger extravaganza, make plans to attend the National Hamburger Festival in Akron in the middle of July. Menches Brothers will be participating for the fifth year at the 2010 festival.