Since we took a look at vegan food in Nashville last month, and July has been designated Beef Month in Tennessee, it seems like a good time to take a look at Nashville burgers.
Fittingly enough, the Nashville Scene has a spot-on celebration kicking off Friday.
Burger Week — a partnership between the Scene and a big crew of local restaurants — runs July 17 through 24, and gives Middle Tennesseans a chance to sample specialty burgers from Nashville to Franklin, all at a special Burger Week price of $5.
Some of the best-known and best-loved burger makers in town are in on the celebration, from longtime favorites Dino’s Restaurant to newer addition from celeb chef Richard Blais, Flip Burger.
Via diner votes, a favorite burger will be named after Burger Week wraps. The Scene is also organizing a social media contest for Burger Week fans — diners who check in and post photos tagged @nashvillescene and hashed #SceneBurgerWeek are entered into a Grand Prize contest; we haven’t seen a prize named yet, but we’re keeping our eyes on the Burger Week Facebook page to see what’s in store. (Incidentally, did you know that ACREstate is on Instagram and Twitter too? Come join us!)
Here’s a cheat sheet of the specialty burgers we’ve heard about so far, for your Burger Week planning purposes:
360 Burger
5356 Hickory Hollow Pkwy in Antioch
Burger Week special: Cilantro Avocado Burger with grass-fed beef, cilantro and jalapenos, topped with pepperjack cheese and sliced avocado.
Dino’s Restaurant
411 Gallatin Avenue in East Nashville
Burger Week special: The Dino’s “greasy, delicious classic” cheeseburger.
The District Bar and Kitchen Hotel Indigo
15 Union Street, downtown Nashville
Burger Week special: Chef Will’s “Original Burger,” with grass-fed beef, American cheese, sliced Vidalia onion and homemade mustard, with a dill pickle and cornmeal-fried pickle chips on the side.
Flip Burger
4111 Charlotte Avenue in Sylvan Park
Burger Week special: The Stack Slider, with seasoned slider patties stacked with American cheese, grilled onions, tomato, shredded lettuce, bread and butter pickles and “Flip sauce.”
Gabby’s Burgers and Fries
493 Humphreys Street, downtown Nashville
Burger Week special: “The John McClain,” a five-ounce grass-fed burger with cheese, leaf lettuce, tomatoes, diced onions, pickles, ketchup, mayo and mustard.
South
1524 Demonbreun Street, Midtown Nashville
Burger Week special: “The Beauregard,” a “massive” burger grilled with mixed greens and tomato, filled with bacon, Worcestershire and cayenne, topped with fried onion rings, goat cheese sauce and a balsamic glaze drizzle.
The Stillery
113 2nd Avenue North, downtown Nashville
Burger Week special: “The MC Burger,” with a house-made patty of brisket, chuck and pork belly, topped with cheddar, bacon, prosciutto, a fried egg and roasted garlic aioli, on an oversized English muffin.
Are you planning on doing some Nashville/Franklin wandering to take part? Hit us with your must-stop choices, we’d love to see your picks!
Photos: Dino’s; Flip Burger; The Stillery