Hamburger heaven
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Colorado has countless killer burgers. Here are some of the best to get your own personal burger quest rolling.
-Tucker Shaw
Avenue Grill
630 E. 17th Ave., 303-861-2820
Nothing punctuates a burger better than a martini. Avenue’s are cold and generous.
Bent Fork American Grill, Aurora
12191 E. Iliff Ave., 303-337-6600
Don’t skip the slaw with these perfect-for- lunch burgers.
Bud’s Bar, Sedalia
5453 Manhart St., Sedalia, 303-688-9967
Fries? Nope. Burgers? You know it. This long-time favorite delivers the goods.
Cherry Cricket
2641 E. Second Ave., 303-322-7666
Denver’s quintessential Burgers-and-Broncos-game bar.
CityGrille
321 E. Colfax Ave., 303-861-0726
Where the Capitol Hill power elite eat meat.
Crown Burger Plus
2387 S. Downing St., 303-722-2226
Big burgers, shaved meat on top, and is that the reincarnation of John Belushi behind the counter?
Grandpa’s Burger Haven
23 S. Federal Blvd., 303-936-4463
The grandaddy of the 6-inch burgers, served with crinkle fries.
Griff’s Burger Bar
742 S. Broadway, 303-777-7290
Traffic heavy on Interstate 25? Exit at Broadway for a burger break. (Second location at 5770 Wadsworth Bypass, Arvada.)
Icon Burger
2755 Dagny Way, Lafayette, 303-926-9700
Burgers are slathered in special sauce; the diner is steel and black leather.
Jim’s Burger Haven
7855 Sheridan Blvd., Arvada, 303-429-5258
Flying-saucer-sized burgers served in a retro-but-honest atmosphere. (Second location at 595 E. 88th Ave., 303-430-8021.)
J-Bar, Aspen
330 E. Main St., Aspen, 970-429-7674
Cowboy boots and Gucci loafers mix over burgers in this 19th-century bar.
Mel’s Bar and Grill
235 Fillmore St., 303-333-3979
Top-shelf burger at a top-shelf joint. Have a glass of wine with this one.
Metro Kitchen + Bar
12 E. 11th Ave., 303-832-4944
Big juicy burgers for big juicy late-night appetites. Open weekends until 4 a.m.
Panzano
909 17th St. (at Champa), 303-296-3525
Panzano puts its beef on a house-made rosemary bun with a choice of gorgonzola, provolone and fontina.
St. Julien Hotel, Boulder
900 Walnut St., Boulder, 720-406-9696
Great view, great burgers grilled on the patio all summer.
Steuben’s
523 E. 17th Ave., 303-830-1001
Denver’s best new burger served on Denver’s hippest new patio.
Sunflower
1701 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-440-0220
An unexpectedly juicy buffalo burger, a filling veggie burger and fries that rock. All organic.
String’s
1700 Humboldt St., 303-831-7310
The lobster-loaded Niman Ranch cheeseburger, topped with Camembert and hollandaise aioli on a buttered grilled bun with black and white sesame seeds, is divine.
Tom’s Tavern
1047 Pearl St., Boulder, 303-442-9363
One of Boulder’s few survivors, still serving one of the best burgers in town.
Vicco’s Charcoalburger Drive-In, Glenwood Springs
51659 U.S. 6, Glenwood Springs, 970-945-6652
The burgers are great, but it’s all about the buttered, griddled buns.
