11 Places to Find a Great Cheeseburger on Long Island
When it comes to comfort food, cheeseburgers rise to the top of the pyramid. The powerful combination of meat, cheese and greasy toppings is incredibly flavorful, highly addicting and during turbulent times, downright necessary. Not that diners needed another excuse but Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day. This reader-driven list is stacked with the best Long Island cheeseburgers.
Inferno the Restaurant, Sound Beach
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What started as a humble food truck has grown into a burger empire. Guests rave about the specialty burgers, especially the big smack. It calls for two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a toasted potato roll. Bonus: The laid-back joint doesn’t go light on the fries, either. Phone: 631-821-3202 | Address: 245 Echo Ave Click to taste
Joe’s Sirloin Burger Grill, Bohemia
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Known for its quick, friendly service and delicious food, Joe’s is everything one looks for in a burger joint. The establishment prides itself on prioritizing freshness. Expect 100 percent ground sirloin and no blend, fillers or preservatives. The chipotle bacon burger is love at first bite. It’s made with bacon, lettuce, tomato, pickles, onions and a zesty chipotle mayo. Phone: 631-319-6226 | Address: 1400 Lakeland Ave Click to taste
Local Burger Co., Bay Shore
image: facebook.com/localburgerco
The local watering hole, regarded for its unique logo-stamped buns and casual vibe, is always serving up fun creations. For even more cheese than normal, dabble with the return of the mac (bacon, cheddar and homemade mac-n-cheese) or sway into spicy waters with the atomic (cheddar, bacon, jalapeños, onions, horseradish pickle chips and sriracha mayo). Patchogue frequenters, rejoice. Local Burger is opening on Main Street soon. Phone: 631-647-8300 | Address: 62 E Main St Click to taste
Grumpy Jack’s, Port Jefferson
The rustic hangout for live sports is equally applauded for its impressive ½ lb. burgers. Diners are quick to gravitate towards the cowboy burger, and once they do they don’t come up for air. One of the best Long Island cheeseburgers, it comes with one half pound of fresh ground beef layered with BBQ sauce, bacon, cheddar and tumbleweed onions. Sweet potato or waffle fries make for a great pairing. Phone: 631-642-1942 | Address: 28 E Oakland Ave Click to taste
Snaps American Bistro, Wantagh
credit: snaps american bistro
Snaps is highly regarded for its modern and sophisticated burger selection and top-notch service. One of the heavy hitters is the Snap Burger (which runs for only $5 on Thursday’s Burger Night) made with bacon, cheddar, lettuce and tomato on a sesame bun. Phone: 516-221-0029 | Address: 2010 Wantagh Ave Click to taste
O’Mallys, Southold
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O’Mallys menu delivers both traditional and creative ground beef burgers—generous portions are just part of the bargain. The casual tavern never fails to knock its flavor packages out of the park. Take the Reuben burger with sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and Russian dressing or the burger papa with gorgonzola cheese and frizzled onions. Phone: 631-765-2111 | Address: 44780 Rte 48 Click to taste
The Burger Shack, Coram
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There are no wrong choices at this local gem. The toppings are imaginative, the varieties to-die-for and the portions extra large. Favorites include the Texas inn (fried egg, cheddar, sautéed onions) and the Cali burger (avocado, pepper jack cheese, shack sauce). Phone: 631-320-0303 | Address: 3672 NY-112 Click to taste
Reese’s 1900, Patchogue
Located just off Main Street, the old-style pub sure knows how to make a mean patty. The burgers are fat, juicy and come with fresh, homemade coleslaw, fries and pickles. Phone: 631-289-1900 | Address: 70 N Ocean Ave Click to taste
The Burger Spot, Garden City
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The casual nature of this spot is what keeps the locals flocking. Come for tender specialty burgers like the Mexican topped with pepper jack, guacamole, salsa and sour cream and stay for fun sides like onion rings with chipotle sauce. Phone: 516-746-6100 | Address: 150 7th St Click to taste
Vauxhall, Huntington
Nestled in the heart of Huntington, Vauxhall provides diners with a cool, upbeat atmosphere. It’s easy to understand why this place is always packed—the burgers are a half a pound of pure heaven. Feeling extra hungry? Attempt to finish the kitchen sink (bacon, pepper jack, short ribs, mac and cheese, crumbled BBQ chips on a brioche bun). Phone: 631-425-0222 | Address: 26 Clinton Ave Click to taste
Dirtyburger, Plainview
image: dirtyburger
Winner of Pulse’s 2016 Great Burger Battle, the secret is in the dirty dust (a unique blend of seven spices that is married with clover honey). Try it for yourself on the winning burger: a chocolate candied bacon Dirtyburger layered with crispy onions and white cheddar. Phone: 516-595-7399 | Address: 12 Manetto Hill Rd Click to taste
Settling the Beef: 11 Places to Find a Great Cheeseburger on LI