Hamburgers - Montclair NJ - Best in Premium Chain, Bar, BYOB, and Luncheonette

May is National Hamburger Month and in honor of this event we would like to present our annual Montclair, NJ burger round up.

Montclair is now very rich in places to get a good hamburger here is a report on the places we know. Restaurants are arranged by these categories New Burger Chains, Beer with Your Burger, Burgers and BYOB, Luncheonette Burgers . Of course there are several others so please leave a comment if we have missed one of your favorites.

 The Attack of the Premium Burger Chains

I am sure you have noticed that premium burger chains are sprouting up all over and  Montclair has gotten its share. First on the scene, and still our overall favorite, is Elevation Burgers at 367 Bloomfield Avenue. We love the clean quality of their organic burgers, the great array of toppings, and those delicious shakes and cookies. Service and atmosphere is great. Our Review   Well since we wrote this article back in 2011, we have come to like Smash Burger better.

The second of the premium chains that arrived in Montclair is Smash Burger of course, further east at 989 Bloomfield Ave, close to Glenridge. They also have a location on route 3 in Clifton. We love the cool and comfortable design of the dining room. Their burgers are great, but too greasy for some. My kids say the BBQ, Bacon and Cheese Burger is the best there is. Smash offers more than burgers, hot dogs, chicken items and some nice salads. I tried to bring in beer on one visit and was told they are not a BYOB, which is probably true of Elevation and 5 Guys. If you want a beer with your burger read on to our Bars and BYOB section below. Spoon and Shutter Smash Burger Review

Last and actually least, in our opinion, is 5 Guys CLOSED on Valley in Upper Montclair. While the do turn out a good burger we are not crazy about the space. Both Elevation and Smash bring your order to your table, Five Guys makes you wait in line to pick up at the counter. This is not only uncomfortable it also often leads to people lingering around the table you are eating at while they wait for their order. The layout of the store is just not good, and when they are busy forget it. My kids complained that they give to many fries, sometimes without them being ordered, too much waste. Apparently the default burger is a double patties if you want just one you need to be sure to order it a single.

Beer with Your Burger? The Bars

2012 Updates

It looks like they have a great burger at Pig and Prince, the new Montclair Bar, Restaurant, Gastrolounge. Single Steer Burger, Onion medley, Prairie Breeze cheddar house made pickle and zesty ketchup at $19 it better be damn good.

Orange Squirrel has a burger on their lunch and bar menu. I guarantee it will be good.

You can get a very good burger at either of Egan & Sons' locations on Walnut in Montclair or their tavern on Harrison in West Orange. We reviewed West Orangea few months ago. Egans has a very lively bar seen and was voted best bar and best martini in Essex County, NJ. Needless to say Egan's is very popular and usually so noisy in the bar areas that you can barely hear conversations. There are some quieter spaces in the dining rooms.

For a little more low key bar experience try long time local favorite Tierney's on Valley Road. They offer a nice selection of beers and a basic bar menu with a very decent burger. Chowhound Reviews, Mano a Vino Review. They also have good entertainment.

The Office, it's there on Bloomfield Ave.  Have not been there for years. We gave it a try last fall. Not that great. I hear it is not that good. Yelp. The Office Montclair

Then there is Montclair Station have not been there. Very nice looking place. I have heard that it is so so. But may have gotten better. Yelp

There is also Erie Saloon by the Walnut Ave train station. Beer and Burgers etc.

For our favorite bar burger we had to leave Montclair and go to Clifton for Zinburger, see review here Zinburger Review

Better Restaurants - BYOB

Raymond's

Raymond's is one of our favorite Montclair restaurants, they have so many great dishes on the menu that we don't pick a burger that often. But, they do have a good one. Good lean meat, very tasty roll and oh those great Raymond's french fries. Cheeseburgers are available with blue, chedder, or pepper jack. With either you can order bacon, mushrooms, sauteéd onions or avocado. Grab a nice Pinot Noir, Dolcetta d'Alba, or Zinfandel at Amanti Vino and enjoy. www.raymondsnj.com

Next Door

The lower priced version of Blu, one of Montclair's best fine restaurants, Blu Next Door serves a fantastic burger. Don't ask me why because I don't know, but I have never eaten at Blu Next Door. In any case they won First Place in the NJ Monthly NJ Burger Contest, They described the award winning burger as 80 percent lean/20 percent fat chuck, plus hanger steak, short rib. The bun is a Brioche from Balthazar Bakery, Englewood with toppings of Caramelized onions, Vermont sharp cheddar. Next Door

Uptown in Upper Montclair, now Uptown 596, serves a very good burger I am told. Have not dined there in awhile. Worth a try.

Uptown 596

In upper montclair, has the best selection of burgers in town.
   
Served on a brioche roll with shoestring fries in a cone

Sirloin Beef with sauteed onions & mushrooms
596 Beef Burger with lettuce, cheddar cheese, pickles,& tomato
Turkey Burger with herbs & gruyere cheese served with tomatoes & lettuce
Grilled Portobello Burger red peppers, fresh mozzarella, arugula & sliced avocado
Mahi Mahi Burger with arugula, tomato & herb mayo
Crabmeat Burger with arugula & herb mayo

Uptown 596  Yelp

Lunchonettes

There is something so "All-America" about luncheonettes. I wish there were more. Nothing fancy, just good food neighborly service, and low prices. We still have two good ones in Montlair.  

Ray's

Great whole in the wall place, nice greasy burgers, just the way we like them, good fries, friendly service. 99 Walnut Street Montclair 973 746-0343

Ray's Luncheonette

Cozy End 

In Upper Montclair, love this place. See our review here A Great Lunch at Cozy End

Montclair Charcoal Broil Diner

Also in Upper Montclair Classic Small Town American

Something I miss is the drive-in style restaurants that we used to have. Sonic's attempt to recreate the Drive-In experience is awful. Have been there twice, never again.  

I know we have missed a few here, and will be adding to this post as we try more places. If you have any suggestions, please let us know by commenting below.  Happy Hamburger Month.

Looking for more on Montclair, NJ Burgers Here is the Yelp List