Foodies weigh in on favorite burger joints

Nick Johnston

Dining at Mary Jane's: PB-QUE burger with fries, house-made ketchup, a side of onion petals and a Tank 7 to drink.Nick Johnston

Since arriving to the River City, I have had some tasty burgers from local places such as Stevie's Steakburger and Hamburger Express. However, the joint that has impressed me the most resides a bit north of us (local is relative, right?). Mary Jane Burgers and Brew has it all -- fresh ingredients, unique menu and the tasty food is served by a friendly staff in a fun environment. I've tried the "Cowboy" and "PB-QUE" burgers and both were great! If that's not enough, the hand-cut fries and breaded onion petals served with house made ketchup should excite your palate. All in all it's worth the drive. Happy eating!

Ellen Gipson

Honestly, I do not have a favorite local burger joint, because I haven't found anywhere in the area that I feel truly qualifies -- I'm looking for seasonal, local ingredients, creative menu items, homemade sauces and ketchups, and fresh cut French fries. I've got high hopes for Lemonade House Grill, but the suspense has almost lost its appeal. So, I took this question to heart and had to do some digging. A friend recommended, TJ's Burgers, Wings, & Pizza in Fruitland, and I was pleasantly surprised! No frills or fluff, they named it right; just burgers, wings, and pizza. Our server recommended the Mushroom Swiss and the Bourbon Burger so my husband and I ordered both -- always going halfsie's! Good, quality meat, flavorful toppings, fresh, crisp lettuce, and a warm, soft bun. I was very impressed, and so was my 1-year-old daughter! Although initially disappointed in limited options for cheeses, a shared side of "Philly Fries" helped me forget about that. Overall, a great family-friendly burger option with lots of potential!

Rebecca LaClair

My favorite burger joint is Mary Jane Burgers and Brew in downtown Perryville. Their burgers are consistently juicy, well cooked, and unusual. My personal favorite burger at Mary Jane is the "Barn." Covered in bacon, fresh guacamole and a fried over-medium egg, this burger contains three of my favorite foods in the world -- and that's just the toppings. The buns are made fresh daily at a local bakery, and they taste like it -- pillowy, chewy and lovely. A great burger needs to be accompanied by great fries and they have them here. Hand-cut and served with homemade ketchup that has a slight smoky taste of (yes, more) bacon and the fries are bottomless and unbelievably good.

Jessica Medlock

I've recently taken the advice of some colleagues at work and tried Kenny's Flippin' Burgers in Chaffee. I was glad I did. I ordered a sampler platter which let me try four different burgers as sliders. I enjoyed all four, but my favorite is called the "Frisco Burger." It's topped with Swiss cheese, grilled onions, and Thousand Island dressing. This is not something I'd normally order, but the dressing wasn't overwhelming and paired nicely with the grilled onions. With burgers with names like "The Apocolypse" and "The Big Sexy," it's a fun place to try some off-the-wall burgers.

Matt Glenn

I was pleasantly surprised going to Kenny's Flippin' Burgers in Chaffee. These burgers are created by a madman! I called them on the phone to inquire about the "Big Sexy" burger, which the man on the other end seductively said is a real thing. I walked out with a half-pound, hand-pattied bacon cheeseburger sandwiched betwixt two grilled cheese sandwiches. I am now on a first name basis with my cardiologist. And they're coming to Cape! So if there is a real Kenny flipping burgers in Chaffee, you're doing the Lord's work, sir.

Carol Nunnery

I'd start by saying that Mary Jane Burgers & Brew in Perryville is a true burger joint! They have tons of options. The one that got my attention was "The Monk" -- beef, bacon, brown ale beer cheese dip & green onions on a locally-baked pretzel bun. When I want a good burger right here in Cape Girardeau, I head on down to the Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant for a "Water Street Burger Melt" -- Swiss and American cheeses, water street mushrooms, grilled onions and bistro sauce on marble rye. The trick to a good burger is that it needs to have a hand-made patty made with good, quality ground beef. I like it loaded with toppings, so I need a whole stack of napkins.

-- Compiled by Joshua Hartwig