Food wars in the Bay State are as contentious as the Red Sox and Yankees rivalry.
Since the days of Pilgrims and Puritans, the South Shore and the North Shore have battled over which is better: roast beef or bar pizza.
Every summer, Essex and Ipswich quarrel over which town has the best fried clams, a dispute that’s been raging since 1914, when Lawrence “Chubby” Woodman invented the first fried clam.
And then there’s clam chowder, New England’s most iconic dish. But trying to figure out which restaurant serves the best “chowdah” is like trying to figure out the secret of the universe. So where do burgers fit into the mix? Where are the best beef patties on the South Shore and Cape Cod? Read on for the juicy details.
#1 Flynn’s Irish Pub, Sagamore
Irish pubs are a dime a dozen in the Greater Boston area, but Flynn’s has the Gaelic decor, live music, and cozy comfort foods that you’d actually find in a pub in Dublin or Cork. While Flynn’s ambiance is the epitome of Erin Go Bragh, its burger menu isall-American. With toppings like bacon aioli, fried eggs, and Murphy’s stout-braised pulled pork, Flynn’s serves up some mouthwatering burgers. For a true Irish experience, try the O’Malley Burger. It’s toped with corned beef, sauerkraut, and Swiss cheese. Flynn’s Irish Pup is located in Sagamore on the way out of Plymouth. Go there on a Tuesday and get two burgers for just $12.
#2 KKatie’s Burger Bar, Marshfield and Plymouth
With locations in Plymouth and Marshfield, KKatie’s Burger Bar has built a following among burger fans in eastern Massachusetts. Fresh, top-notch ingredients and unusual topping combinations make this burger joint stand apart from the rest. KKatie’s has more than dozen burger specials. It features a dollar menu, a make-your-own burger option, and offers almost as many veggie burgers as it does hearty slabs of beef. KKatie’s has been featured on Phantom Gourmet as well as in South Shore Living and Boston’s Hidden Restaurants.
#3 Rivershed, Scituate
Nothing goes together better than burgers and craft beer, and the Rivershed has the best of both. This destination burger joint in Scituate has an impressive selection of carnivorous creations. Try the Memphis Burger, which is topped with BBQ pulled pork, or if you’re feeling especially daring, give The Caveman a try. It’s topped with bacon, cheese, boneless baby back ribs, and a fried egg. Just be sure to bring along the TUMS.
#4 Wahlburgers, Hingham
Wahlburgers might have a reality show featured on A&E, not to mention a family name that’s as synonymous with Boston as the Celtics or Dunkin’ Donuts, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t serve up some delicious burgers. Their Hingham location features a lengthy menu of classic and gourmet burgers and has more topping combinations than Marky Mark has dance moves. One of their newest menu offerings is the Impossible Burger, a plant-based burger made for both meat lovers and vegans.