Of the nearly 100 burgers that critic Rick Nelson has chronicled at Startribune.com/tabletalk, these dozen made a lasting impression.
Chef Shack Ranch: A fried egg-topped bison patty, served with outstanding hand-cut fries. $15. (3025 E. Franklin Av., Mpls., 612-354-2575, chefshackranch.com)
HauteDish: The city's most labor-intensive cheeseburger is a bargain ($14), even more so during happy hour ($10), when chef Landon Schoenefeld throws in a beer. (119 Washington Av. N., Mpls., 612-338-8484, haute-dish.com)
Il Foro: A cheese-draped, calorie-clogged double patty that celebrates simplicity. Lunch only. $15. (40 S. 7th St., Mpls., 612-238-2300, il-foro.com)
The Kenwood: A sublime patty topped with pork belly, Gruyère and an oozy fried egg. Yeah, wow. $15 (2115 W. 21st St., Mpls., 612-377-3685, thekenwoodrestaurant.com)
Lake & Irving: An early player in the double-patty cheeseburger race, and still a top performer. By all means, add the bacon. $14 (1513 W. Lake St., Mpls., 612-354-2453, lakeandirving.com)
Lyn 65 Kitchen & Bar: The pickles alone are worth a trip, and the patty's secret flavor weapon is fat-laced short ribs, cured for 48 hours. $10 single, $13 double. (6439 Lyndale Av. S., Richfield, 612-353-5501, lyn65.com)
Nightingale: A dream of a California-style cheeseburger, with a bun for the ages, and served to 1 a.m. daily. $13. (2551 Lyndale Av. S., Mpls., 612-354-7060, nightingalempls.com)
