Food writers Chelsea Shannon and Ian McNulty review the top burgers chosen by readers in NOLA.com’s online poll. (Staff photo: Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) Ian McNulty | Staff Writer ▲
Voting has now progressed for the inaugural burger category, with Revel Café and Bar and Atomic Burger being named finalists.
These finalists were determined by you, our burger-loving readers, tallying up hundreds of thousands of votes in successive rounds of our bracket.
Below is some background on the two finalists and our ratings of these burgers: Voting closes Wednesday at noon.
Revel Cafe & Bar (133 North Carrollton Avenue)
Revel was opened in Mid-City in 2016 by cocktail guru Chris McMillian and his wife Laura as a great place to enjoy cocktails. It wasn’t originally intended to be a burger joint.
But to weather the pandemic, the couple reopened Revel on their own, without staff, with just one item on the menu: burgers. Though the menu has expanded recently, the burger remains king here, and McMillan has pursued its perfection with the same eye he has for classic cocktails.
Atomic Burger (3934 Veterans Memorial Boulevard, Metairie)
Atomic Burger has a retro-future vibe to it: It may seem like a chain, with locations in Baton Rouge and Prairieville today, but it’s very much a local brand, having started here in Metairie in 2013.
Call it fast food or fast casual – it’s up to you – but it’s built for speed, with a self-service kiosk ordering system at the counter (which may not be the most intuitive for first-time visitors) and a drive-thru window.
It’s a burger experience designed to rival the national chains you’re familiar with, thanks to a big-budget marketing campaign.
Ian’s thoughts on Revel
This burger has no creative toppings, no little twists, no frills.
The patty is medium thick and coarsely ground, and is equal parts beef flavor and juicy, so you’ll be overwhelmed with juiciness after just one bite.
The toppings are simple and fresh: fluffy lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickles, and I like to eat it with a dollop of crunchy aioli, which is supposed to be used for dipping the thick, crispy fries.
This is the perfect template for an American tavern burger.
Chelsea’s take on Revel
The food here is hearty and flavorful, just like the burgers. When Ian and I walked in, there was a large crowd gathered, and a few people at the bar chatting with the bartender.
While we were waiting for our order, I peeked into the kitchen and watched other people salting their burgers, then looked forward to my own burger being grilled.
When the burger arrived, it was simple, with no sauce and plenty of veggies. The thick patty was juicy with every bite. The no-frills approach to the burger made for an enjoyable meal in a relaxed atmosphere.
Ian’s Atomic Burger
The namesake Atomic Burger is a staple at the restaurant, and we start there: thin, crispy, yet crumbly, chewy twin patties with a loose texture topped with gooey American cheese.
The soft bread is perfectly integrated with the beef and cheese, and the toppings are a little bland to match, but each bite of the chewy bread is extremely satisfying.
It’s better than the competing fast food chains, and it feels better to give the money I pay for my burger to a local.
Atomic Burger, Chelsea
It’s been a while since I’ve been to a place like Atomic Burger. There were so many people coming in and out of the store, it felt like the burgers were flying.
This local establishment offers a ton of delicious topping options to suit a variety of tastes.
One bite and I felt like I was in someone’s backyard, not off the main road. It was a good old-fashioned thin burger with a super soft bun. The sauce was light and there was plenty of flavor from the veggie toppings.
