Pittsburgh's Best Hamburger

I ate the best burger of my life at Burgatory, and I have been chasing that high ever since. This list is the record of that chase, and let me tell you, Pittsburgh does not make it easy.

You have got the build-your-own chaos of Burgatory sitting right next to the refined Mediterranean number at Bedford House, and both are valid. Somewhere in between is a steak on a hot stone at North Shore Tavern and a sandwich with fries jammed inside it at Primanti's, which is still a civic religion I do not fully practice.

We did the work so you do not have to. Go argue with the results.

Burgatory

Highlights
Best burger ever had
Build your own burger
Vegan shake options available
Great service and ambiance
Blame yourself, not them

I ate at Burgatory and had the best burger of my life. That is not hyperbole. It is a fact. You build your own burger, which means you have no one to blame but yourself if it goes wrong. Mine did not go wrong. The service was great, the ambiance was fine, and they offer vegan shakes. I do not drink vegan shakes. I respect them. This place sets a high bar. I have been chasing that burger ever since. Everything else in this article is measured against it. Most will fail. Burgatory will not.

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Forbes Tavern

Highlights
Best food in Pittsburgh
Smoked wings and sliders
Friendly, attentive service
Huge portions, fair prices

Forbes Tavern serves the best food in Pittsburgh. That is a bold claim. I stand by it. The smoked wings are excellent. The sliders are better. The service is friendly and attentive without hovering. Portions are huge. Prices are fair. This is a straightforward place. No gimmicks. No pretense. Just solid cooking. I left full and satisfied. I did not need to think about it. That is the point. In a city full of overpriced burgers, Forbes Tavern delivers. If you want a burger that tastes like someone actually cared, go here. You will not be disappointed. I was not.

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BEDFORD HOUSE PGH

Highlights
Historic square, refined atmosphere
In-house breads and sauces
Mediterranean burger with tzatziki
Creative, house-made cocktails
Reasonable pricing for quality

Bedford House sits on a historic square. The atmosphere is refined. I felt underdressed. Then I ate the Mediterranean burger with tzatziki. That fixed everything. The bread is made in-house. The sauces are made in-house. They clearly know what they are doing. Cocktails are creative. Prices are reasonable for the quality. This is a place where you can have a proper meal. Not just a burger. A meal. The tzatziki adds a brightness you do not expect. It works. I was impressed. I admit that freely. Do not let the fancy exterior scare you. The burger will bring you back down to earth.

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Eleven

Highlights
Best dining experience ever
Top-notch service and food
Excellent steak and potatoes
Outstanding desserts and wine
Pricey but worth it

Eleven is pricey. It is also worth it. This was the best dining experience I have ever had. The steak and potatoes were excellent. The service was top-notch. The desserts were outstanding. The wine list was solid. I am not a wine person. I still appreciated it. This is not a casual burger spot. This is a special occasion place. That is fine. Sometimes you need that. The burger is not the only star here. But it holds its own. If you want to impress someone, take them here. If you want to save money, go somewhere else. I was happy to spend. That says a lot.

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Gaucho Parrilla Argentina

Highlights
Flavorful meats, excellent sauces
Great pre-game downtown spot
Comfortable, inviting atmosphere
Seafood cooked properly
Pricey for portion size

Gaucho Parrilla Argentina has flavorful meats. The sauces are excellent. I went before a game. It was a great pre-game spot. The atmosphere is comfortable and inviting. The seafood was cooked properly. That is rare. The burger is not the main event. The meats are. But the burger is good. My complaint is the price. It is pricey for the portion size. You get quality, not quantity. That may be fine for some. I felt a bit shortchanged. Still, I would go back. The flavors are worth it. Just know what you are paying for. This is not a value meal. It is an experience. A pricey one.

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The Warren Bar & Burrow

Highlights
Crowded, charismatic, high-demand downtown spot
Warren Burger with cheddar, sweet potato tots
Spotty accessibility, but outdoor seating
Owner Spencer Warren chats with guests
Excellent old fashioned, attentive service

The Warren is crowded. It is charismatic. It is in high demand. I understand why. The Warren Burger comes with cheddar and sweet potato tots. It is a good burger. The tots are better. Owner Spencer Warren chats with guests. That is a nice touch. The service is attentive. The old fashioned is excellent. Access is spotty. They have outdoor seating. That helps. This is a downtown spot. It gets busy. You may wait. It is worth the wait. The burger is solid. The atmosphere is electric. I left satisfied. I would like to go back when it is less crowded. But I will not hold my breath. It is always busy.

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Bridges & Bourbon

Highlights
Excellent whiskey and cocktails
Surprising smashburger quality
Pretzel bun with fries
Prime downtown hotel proximity
Lively bar atmosphere

Bridges & Bourbon surprised me. The smashburger quality is unexpected. It is actually good. The pretzel bun is a nice touch. The fries are fine. The whiskey selection is excellent. The cocktails are better. The location is prime. It is inside a downtown hotel. That is convenient. The bar atmosphere is lively. This is not a quiet dinner spot. It is a place to drink and eat. The burger is a sidekick. But it is a capable sidekick. I came for the whiskey. I stayed for the burger. That is not something I say often. If you are in the area and need a solid burger, this works. Just know the bar will be loud.

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The Bigelow Grille

Highlights
Large groups handled well
Staff offers excellent recommendations
Accommodates busy nights gracefully
Hotel dining surprisingly strong

The Bigelow Grille handles large groups well. I was part of a large group. They did not mess up. That is impressive. The staff offered excellent recommendations. They accommodated a busy night gracefully. I did not expect much from hotel dining. I was wrong. The food was surprisingly strong. The burger was good. Not great. But good. The service was better. If you are staying at the hotel, this is an easy choice. If you are not, it is still worth a visit. The atmosphere is standard. The food is above standard. That is a rare combination. I would return. I would bring a group. They seem to handle it best.

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Union Grill Oakland

Highlights
Turkey devonshire and salad excellent
Fast service, modern atmosphere
Good spacing, quiet enough
Bar items equally impressive

Union Grill Oakland is modern. The service is fast. The spacing is good. It is quiet enough to have a conversation. That is rare. The turkey devonshire and salad were excellent. I did not have the burger. I should have. The bar items are equally impressive. This is a place that does everything well. The atmosphere is comfortable. Not too fancy. Not too casual. It hits the right notes. If you want a reliable meal without hassle, go here. The burger is probably good. The other food is proof. I will be back. I will try the burger next time. It is on my list.

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Cocky's Coop Market Square

Highlights
Wings crispy and juicy
Sauces not overpowering
Chicken sandwich amazing
Filling, delicious portions
Better than Primanti wait

Cocky's Coop is in Market Square. The wings are crispy and juicy. The sauces are not overpowering. That is a compliment. The chicken sandwich is amazing. The portions are filling. Delicious. This is better than Primanti's. I will say it. The wait is shorter. The food is better. Do not get me wrong. Primanti's is iconic. But Cocky's is better. The burger is not the focus here. It is chicken. That is fine. Sometimes chicken beats beef. This is one of those times. If you want a sandwich that satisfies, go to Cocky's. You will not regret it. You might even thank me.

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North Shore Tavern

Highlights
Steak on hot stone
Clean sports bar
Attentive, friendly staff
Good drink prices

North Shore Tavern is a clean sports bar. That is already a win. They serve a steak on a hot stone. Yes, a hot stone. You cook it yourself. That is fun. The burger is fine. It does not stand out. The staff is attentive and friendly. The drink prices are good. This is a place to go for a game. Or for a steak. The burger is not the reason to come. But if you are here and want one, it works. The atmosphere is casual. The vibes are relaxed. I had a good time. The steak on the hot stone was the highlight. The burger was just a burger. That is okay.

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Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar

Highlights
Iconic Pittsburgh taste.
Fries inside the sandwich.
Stacked high with meat.
Friendly, helpful staff.
Amazing, flavorful bread.

Primanti Bros. is iconic. The fries are inside the sandwich. That is still weird to me. It is also delicious. The meat is stacked high. The bread is amazing. Flavorful. The staff is friendly and helpful. This is a Pittsburgh institution. You have to try it. The burger is not the best in the city. It is not trying to be. It is a classic. It is filling. It is exactly what you expect. If you want the Pittsburgh taste, this is it. I will not argue with the fans. I understand the appeal. Just know what you are getting. A sandwich that is more than a burger. It is a symbol.

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