The Best Three Places to Get a Burger in Madison, Wisconsin

Madison's restaurant scene is probably best known for how prolific and diverse it is, with offerings to satisfy gastronomic urges from the banal to the sublime, but some of my favorite places to eat are the ones that just focus on offering a phenomenal burger. Here are three of my favorite, homegrown, classic Madison burger joints.

Dotty's Dumpling Dowry - http://www.dottydumplingsdowry.com

Dotty's is the destination of choice for a gourmet (yet affordable) burger. In the last 30 years Dotty's has had to endure a few location changes (and is currently located on Francis Street, close to campus), but their food remains dependably awesome. I don't think you can go wrong with any of their burgers, but the Runnelstone (which comes slathered with English garlic sauce). For an appetizer, I recommend either the fried cheese curds or the mac 'n' cheese wedges; both are Wisconsin classics, but Dotty's makes them better than anywhere else I've been. The same English garlic sauce featured on the Runnelstone also pairs nicely with many of the appetizers available.

The Nitty Gritty - http://www.nittygrittybirthdayplace.com/

The Nitty Gritty touts itself as the official birthday place of Madison & Middleton, and indeed it is the choice of many wishing to celebrate a birthday or anything else. Burger offerings include the "Grittyburger," made with "Gritty Sauce" (which bears some similarity to Italian dressing, and pairs nicely with the burger). If you choose to celebrate your birthday the Nitty Gritty, bring your ID or birth certificate so you can claim your free birthday mug & beer or soda. The downtown location of the Nitty Gritty is close to the Kohl center and campus, which can make it a bit of a struggle to find parking on game nights, but thankfully the Middleton location is located in a less busy location and provides an excellent alternative.

The Plaza - http://www.theplazatavern.com/

The Plaza is probably the seediest looking of these three spots, but the friendly staff and excellent Plazaburgers explain why it's been a local favorite for decades. The most important component of a Plazaburger is the Plaza Sauce, invented by one of the previous owners during the '60s. The sauce also makes an excellent condiment for french fries, and probably many other things on the menu as well, but I am content with drowning my Plazaburger with cheese & fries in it for the moment.