Top 5 burgers in Melbourne

Hi fellow foodies! This entry is dedicated to all burger fanatics out there who will travel far and wide for that epic burger. My friend Gian is one of those guys so he has kindly agreed to write this guest post for me and help you burger fanatics out there find burger nirvana. Enjoy! :)

Once upon a moon, choosing a good burger in Melbourne was a question of Andrew's or Danny's. Now it's harder to avoid a self pronounced burger expert (ahem) than it is to find that perfect combination of beef, cheese and bun. Here's a list of Melbourne's top 5 burgers you should definitely get off your butt and try!

Rockpool Bar and Grill
Crown Casino, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank VIC 3006
(03) 8648 1900

Love or hate Neil Perry and his sometimes elitist fare, he's put his technique and beefy expertise into practice in this behemoth of a burger. Not for the small stomached, the Shawn Blackmore patty comes in at over 200g, the remainder of the components (mostly pickled goodies) are of the highest possible quality. Some might flinch at the price tag ($24) though this here is your special occasion burger.

Le Bon Ton
Le Bon Ton. 51 Gipps Street, Collingwood 3066 03 9416 4341

This is the new kid in the block and while I'm quick to dismiss newcomers, I'm betting my house that this is going to be in top 10 burger lists around town. Simple in execution and delivery, the ingredients are simple, the patty a modest size and charry on the outside, the bun is as soft as a cloud. Despite its substantial size, you'll be contemplating ordering another.

Trunk
275 Exhibition St, Melbourne VIC 3000
(03) 9663 7994

The Trunk Diner has gone quietly and confidently about their Wagyu burger for over 3 years now. Highly customisable and double-able upon request, this has to be one of our towns most reliable and tasty. The basic comes with nothing more than meat and a bun. Various salad items adorn the wooden prison cafeteria tray so you can put it all together yourself. Additions of note are the sauteed mushrooms and caramelised onions.

Merrywell
Crown Towers/Cnr Clarendon Street & Whiteman St, Southbank VIC 3006
(03) 9292 7468

I don't like Crown. I don't even like Merrywell. I do love the Merrywell burger though. Probably the only time I've ever seen damper used as a bun (flashbacks to Grade 4 camp), there are no other surprises in this package, other than a large patty cooked to absolute perfection. You're in for a real mess with burger and burger related juices pouring out of this thing with excitement. You're in for a hell of a ride if you've ordered the double.

Rockwell and Sons
288 Smith St, Collingwood VIC 3066
(03) 8415 0700

All's well that end's well. The Rockwell Double Patty Smash is an oozy, greasy, stick-it-in-your-beaky burger. Nothing fancy on offer in this burger, other than an impeccably executed man sandwich. With 2 patties pressed to their limit, 2 slices of Kraft's finest and a "special" sauce, this is Collingwood's favourite son.

About the guest post author:

Gianfranco Stella is a self-professed burger fanatic. He has deemed it his job to hunt for the best burgers in Melbourne, come rain, hail or shine. Literally - as we did our last hunt together in torrential rain. This man is indeed dedicated to the humble cause.