FOOD: The Burger Boom

Burgers are having a moment. Specialty restaurants are popping up around every corner, enticing us to rediscover this timeless staple. Most of us enjoy a hamburger now and then and we don’t intend to waste the indulgence on a sub-par patty. The recent emphasis on quality beef and fresh veggies has broadened the burger’s appeal, but it’s the wildly diverse toppings that have elevated it to trendsetter status. Seems once you put a fried egg or Sriracha on pretty much anything, it’s destined to be a hit. Who can complain?

We love our trendy burgers, and when they can be enjoyed at a classic hometown joint, even better! There’s something about that local diner that just feels right, as if the hamburger must surely have been invented right there. It’s a place where the owners greet you and customers perch on bar stools amid retro decor, lingering over good conversation even longer than dessert. There’s a simplicity to it all that’s delicious, just like the food.

Next time you want to get your fix of good old-fashioned diner food, visit a local joint where the fresh take on burgers is still a nod to the classic goodness we love.

Colby’s Grill

For nine years, Colby’s Grill in downtown Edmond has delighted locals with sizzling burgers made from freshly prepared patties seared to perfection on a flat-top grill. There’s something magical about the glisteny, slightly toasted buns that come off that grill. So good it takes you back to a different era. Whether you order a classic like the old fashioned fried onion burger or kick it up a notch with a specialty burger, you’re in for a treat. Among the top selections, the Kick Burger lives up to its name with the help of fried jalapeños, onion strings, pepper jack cheese and spicy Ranch dressing. Other favorites include the Cowboy Burger with BBQ sauce, onion strings, bacon and cheese, the patty melt on rye with sautéed onions and the chicken sandwich with bacon and Ranch dressing. Their most unique burger, available any time of day, is the Breakfast Burger, loaded with bacon, cheese, egg, hashbrowns and sauce.

Owners Colby and Jessica Mason, who recently opened a second location in North Edmond, take pride in serving up a variety of other great old-fashioned diner foods, too, like hand-breaded chicken fried steak, meatloaf, fried mushrooms, thick-cut fries and the most delectable breakfast biscuits, gravy and pancakes you can imagine. Nothing better on a chilly fall morning, especially when you take breakfast biscuits back to everyone at the office. You’ll make instant friends!

Visit Colby’s Grill at 511 S. Broadway or Colby’s Grill at the Station, 5725 E. Covell Rd. or find them on Facebook.

Right-A-Way Burgers

As Edmond continues to grow and expand, the northeast area has new reason to celebrate. Right-A-Way Burger owners Jimmy and Kiesha Johnson and Nathan Howard saw the area developing and wanted to offer a new dining option. Prepare to be delighted by this rustic little burger retreat. Chef Jimmy is all about quality and you can taste it in every bite of these show-stopping burgers. It starts with fresh, never frozen, beef transported from Wichita. The 81/19 lean-to-fat ratio and optimal cooking gives each burger a juicy, non-greasy finish, and the large patties cover the whole bun so every bite is complete with flavor.

The signature Right-A-Way burger with honey bacon, cheddar, fried onions, coleslaw and house sauce gives you that classic burger taste with a little something special from the crunch of the coleslaw and creaminess of the house sauce. The Zen, another customer favorite, combines sweet chili sauce, peanut butter (yes, peanut butter!), Thai slaw and Sriracha for a tangy burger with a mild kick everyone can love. Don’t be scared by the peanut butter/Sriracha combo. Its tasty, subtle blend will surprise you…and hook you! Other toppings like grilled pineapple and roasted red peppers, plus hearty sides like the Right-A-Way beans and the not-to-be missed cinnamon rolls and pineapple upside down cake round out the exciting menu.

Dine at 2917 E. Waterloo Rd., at Coltrane, or visit right-a-wayburger.com.