Americans love a basic cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and onions. Yet, some local Bloomington restaurants have decided a classic cheeseburger is boring. Here are six local restaurants that offer a more exciting version of a traditional burger.
229 S. Grant St.
Awarded this year’s title of Best Burger in Indiana by Reader’s Digest!, Bru Burger is recognized for its high-quality burgers in the Midwest. The restaurant offers 18 specialty burgers, including a personal favorite, the Double Bacon. The $15.50 Double Bacon features two thin smashed patties, crispy bacon, white cheddar cheese, lettuce, onion, tomatoes and a special tangy pink burger sauce that elevated the meal to the next level.
302 N. Walnut St.
Yogi’s Ranch Burger is the ultimate test for people who insist they love ranch dressing. The $13 burger comes with two patties, fried cheese with the flavor of Cool Ranch Doritos, shredded lettuce, tomatoes and Cajun ranch. The Ranch Burger got a positive endorsement on Yelp and was recommended by an Indianapolis Monthly food reporter. I think adventurous eaters who love a zesty ranch flavor should try this exotic burger.
221 E. Kirkwood Ave.
Have you ever eaten a grilled pastrami sandwich and felt like a ground beef patty was missing in between the rye bread? Fat Dan’s Deli offers the perfect solution with its $16 NY Fat Burger which comes with a ground beef patty, smoked corned beef, Swiss cheese and spicy mustard. In a parody March Madness competition, 1,167 Indy Star readers voted Fat Dan’s burgers to the “Elite Ate” in 2024. While I’ve never had this concoction, there is no doubt in mind that pastrami lovers will enjoy Fat Dan’s special reedition of this NY style sandwich.
350 W. 11th St.
Upland Brewing Co. offers a burger that pairs a rare, sweet flavor with ground beef. The $17 Sweet Plum Burger includes smoked gouda, applewood-smoked bacon, arugula and plum sauce.
With over 300 five-star reviews on Yelp, Upland Brewing Co. has a great reputation in Bloomington. I bet the burger will have a plethora of rich flavors stemming from the charred bacon, savory meat and sweet glaze. The next time I am craving a non-traditional burger, I will be ordering the Sweet Plum burger from Upland’s.
108 E. Kirkwood Ave.
The star of the $20 FARM Bloomington’s Classic Bison Burger is the 7-ounce Bison patty. Since the burger features extremely ordinary toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle), the high-quality meat is the highlight of the meal. I love that the juicy burger is grilled with a flavorful cayenne-spiced cowboy rub that can be tasted in each bite. If you are looking for a fancy but basic burger, FARM’s Classic Bison Burger should be added to your must-try list.
116 N. Grant St.
Big Woods Bloomington’s Hard Truth Whiskey Burger combines sweet and salty flavors into one sandwich. The $18 burger contains a ground beef patty, white cheddar cheese, lettuce, caramelized onion, candied bacon, whiskey glaze and garlic aioli. In my opinion, the homemade candied bacon jam is the best-selling point of this burger. The candied bacon perfectly complements the rich whiskey glaze and garlic aioli. If you’ve never tried candied bacon, I suggest starting with Big Woods’ Hard Truth Whiskey Burger.
Bloomington restaurants are not afraid to try new things, and you shouldn’t be either. Try the peculiar burger! Who knows, you might love it.
