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“Hamburgers are food for the gods.”Thomas Keller

The Ultimate Burger Playbook

A guide to building craveable, profitable burgers that earn a permanent place on your menu

Build It Like You Mean It

A great burger starts with structure. Think beyond meat and cheese – this is about balance, layering, and texture.

Start with the foundation: a quality bun that holds up. Brioche remains a top performer thanks to its slight sweetness and soft texture, but don’t overlook ciabatta rolls or seeded semolina buns.

From there, it’s all about strategic stacking:

• Base Layer: Sauce or spread (acts as a moisture barrier)\

• Crunch Factor: Lettuce, fried onions, or even crispy prosciutto

• The Star: Your burger patty (we’ll get to that)

• Melt Game: Cheese that complements, not overwhelms – think fresh mozzarella, fontina or sharp provolone

• Top Notes: Pickled elements, roasted vegetables, or a finishing drizzle of sauce

The goal is a bite that hits savory, creamy, acidic and crunchy – all at once.

Toppings That Turn Heads (and Tables)

If your burger toppings haven’t changed in years, your customers have noticed. Today’s diners are looking for bold, layered flavors –and a little surprise.

Trending Now –

• Italian Inspired Upgrades: Roasted Red Peppers, Arugula, Burrata, Pesto Aioli

• Sweet heat combos: Calabrian chili honey, fig jam with gorgonzola

• Global crossover: Kimchi, harissa spreads, pickled onions

• Texture bombs: Fried mozzarella rounds, parmesan crisps

This is where pizzerias have a natural advantage. You already stock premium cheeses, cured meats, and house-made sauces— use them. A burger topped with sliced soppressata and fresh mozz instantly separates your menu from the place down the block.

Signature Sauces = Signature Sales

If there’s one place to differentiate, it’s sauce. A unique sauce doesn’t just elevate a burger—it brands it. Skip the plain ketchup-mayo combo and build something that customers can’t replicate at home:

• Garlic parm aioli

• Spicy vodka sauce spread

• Balsamic glaze mayo

• Truffle-infused honey mustard

• Pesto ranch

Frozen burgers:

• Consistent sizing and cook times (huge for busy kitchens)

• Longer shelf life = less waste

• Labor-saving and easy to scale

For many operators, the sweet spot is a hybrid approach: use frozen patties for high-volume service and fresh blends for specialty or signature burgers. It’s not about choosing sides—it’s about choosing smart.

Make It Work for Your Menu

Batching sauces in-house is costeffective and gives you flexibility for LTOs (limited-time offers). Even better, these sauces can cross-utilize across sandwiches, wraps, and apps—keeping your kitchen efficient.

Pro tip: Name your sauces. “House sauce” is fine. “Ferraro Fire Aioli” is memorable.

Fresh vs. Frozen:

What’s Right for You?

Let’s settle it—there’s no one-sizefits-all answer. Both fresh and frozen burgers have a place in a well-run kitchen. The decision comes down to your operation, volume, and consistency needs.

Fresh burgers:

• Ideal for operations emphasizing premium, handcrafted menus

• Stronger “made in-house” perception

• More control over seasoning and blends

Here’s the bottom line: burgers should feel like an extension of your brand, not a random add-on. If you’re an Italian-focused concept, lean into it. Think:

• Caprese burger with fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil, and balsamic glaze

• “Pizza burger” with marinara, pepperoni, and melted provolone

• Truffle mushroom burger with fontina and arugula

These aren’t gimmicks—they’re natural menu evolutions that resonate with your existing customer base while attracting new ones.

A great burger isn’t just about ingredients—it’s about intention. When done right, burgers can increase check averages, boost lunch and latenight traffic, and give your kitchen a flexible, profitable platform to innovate.

OVENSTONE BAKERY BUNS & ROLLS

BAKERY QUALITY. READY TO SERVE.

OvenStone Bakery delivers peak freshness with zero prep, combining thaw-andserve convenience with the flavor, texture, and performance foodservice operators need. Built for sandwich programs and high-volume kitchens, OvenStone offers reliable slicing, structure, and yield. It also has a longer shelf life to help reduce waste and sipport better back-ofthe-house use.

Potato Roll Split Top 4.5” Item #130541 | 4/12 ct

Slider Hamburger Bun Item #130535 | 24 ct

Hamburger Brioche Bun Item #130540 | 4/12 ct

Hamburger Bun 4” Item #130536 | 8/12 ct

STEER RIDGE FROZEN BURGERS

UPGRADE YOUR MENU WITH A BETTER BURGER

Steer Ridge Frozen Burgers deliver the consistency and convenience busy kitchens need. These fresh-frozen IQF patties lock in quality within minutes, offering reliable performance, balanced flavor from an 80/20 leanto-fat ratio, and faster line execution with cook-fromfrozen convenience.

Pre-portioned and preformed for predictable costs and less labor. They also help to support better inventory control.

Burger Patty Unseasoned

4 oz #260644 | 40/4 oz

5.33 oz #260643 | 30/5.33 oz

8 oz #260642 | 20/8 oz

Burger Patty Seasoned 4 oz #260654 | 40/4 oz

5.33 oz #260653 | 30/5.33 oz

8 oz #260652 | 20/8 oz

ELEVATE EVERY PLATE WITH THE PERFECT FRY

Papa Moozzi’s fry portfolio offers options for every menu. Each fry delivers consistent quality, great taste, and the perfect balance of crispy outside and fluffy inside. Ideal for quick-service, pub or loaded fry creations while keeping customers coming back.

Straight Cut 3/8” Coated Item #406951 | 6/5 lb

Straight Cut 3/8” Battered Item #406950 | 6/4.5 lb

Golden Nugget Tots Item #406952 | 6/5 lb

Slim Sweet Potato Fries Item #406953 | 6/2.5 lb

Straight Cut 3/8” Coated Item #406960 | 6/5 lb

Straight Cut 3/8” Fries Item #406961 | 6/5 lb

House Steak Cut Fries Item #406963 | 6/5 lb

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A Bar & Grill Staple That Delivers

Why burgers continue to earn their place as one of the most valuable items on the menu

Bar and grill menus are built around craveability, familiarity, and items guests know they can count on. Few dishes check all three boxes like a burger. It is the kind of menu staple that feels timeless, yet still leaves plenty of room for reinvention and creativity. For operators, that makes burgers one of the most flexible and dependent categories on the menu.

Built for Broad Appeal

One of the biggest strengths of a burger is its versatility. It works as an everyday go-to, a premium signature offering, or a limited-time feature that brings fresh energy to the menu. Guests know what to expect from a burger, but they are also open to new tastes, bold toppings, and elevated flavor profiles.

Burgers appeal across a wide range of guest preferences because they can be:

w Classic and familiar

w Bold and indulgent

w Premium and chef-driven

w Easy to customize

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A Natural Fit for the Segment

In the bar and grill space, burgers fit seemlessly alongside the flavors anand formats guests already love. They pair naturally with crispy sides, flavorful sauces, hearty toppings, and casual shareable menus. Whether the focus is comfort food, game-day fare, or elevated pub-style offerings, burgers hold their own as both a staple and a standout. They also work well with popular pairings like:

• Fries or sweet potato fries

• Tater tots or onion rings

• Loaded side options

• Beer, cocktails, and combo specials

Flexible for Operators

From an operational standpoint, burgers offer strong menu value because they are adaptable and easy to feature in different ways. They can support everyday service while also creating opportunities for upselling and seasonal promotions. A wellbuilt burger section can help operators offer variety without overcomplicating execution.

That flexibility can show up through:

• Signature house burgers

• Premium cheese or topping add-ons

• Limited-time specials

• Combo meals or basket builds

• Regional or trend-driven flavor profiles

A Staple That Still Stands Out

What gives burgers their staying power is the balance they strike between comfort and creativity. They feel approachable to guests, but still give operators room to differentiate. In a segment where flavor, satisfaction, and value matter, burgers continue to prove they are more than just a safe choice. They are a menu essential that can drive interest, support check averages, and keep guests coming back.