Clockwise from left: Arnold’s Bar & Grill; Bebo’s Artisan Burgers and Frappes; Essen Kitchen; Gordo’s Pub & Grill On the cover: Sammy’s Craft Burgers & Beer
BY CITYBEAT STAFF
In theory, the hamburger is a simple sandwich — some type of protein patty nestled in a bun. It’s an American staple for backyard barbecues, fast food franchises and any number of restaurants, from upscale to hole-in-the-wall. And while basic burgers can definitely hit the spot when you’re hungry, sometimes you need to zhuzh up your dinner with some decadent toppings. This list of over-the-top burgers features local 15 favorites, smothered in indulgent ingredients ranging from peanut butter to macaroni and cheese and fried egg to lobster. Use this as a starting point to satisfy your most chaotic cravings. Need more recommendations? We’ve also included the top 20 reader-voted best burgers for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike from CityBeat’s 2022 Best Of Cincinnati issue. 10
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Arnold’s Bar & Grill
Sean Evans Hot Ones Burger
As Cincinnat’s oldest tavern, Arnold’s Bar & Grill has become a favorite haunt for ghost hunters (and, reportedly, apparitions themselves). But burger fans will find another type of ghost on premises: peppers. These fiery favorites make an appearance on the bar’s Sean Evans Hot Ones Burger, named after the YouTube talk show in which host Evans asks celebrities questions as they sample spicier and spicier hot sauce. Self-proclaimed Hot Ones superfan and Arnold’s owner Chris Breeden says the burger was inspired by a comment Evans made in an episode of the show. “Sean said that his ultimate professional
goal was to have a sandwich named after him at a restaurant, so I was like, ‘I am totally going to make that happen.’ And the very next day we put a burger on the menu,” Breeden says. The Evansapproved burger (he featured the bar in an episode and Arnold’s infamous bathtub is his Twitter background) comes three ways. The menu original is “spicy but still accessible,” Breeden says, and features a half-pound customblend burger from Avril-Bleh with ghost pepper cheese, fresh habanero and jalapeno, hot sauce aioli and Grippo’s Bar-B-Q chips on a Sixteen Bricks bun. Level up with the “lunatic style” option, which comes topped with bonus crushed Carolina reaper and ghost
