(Ames) Troy’s Bar and Grill in Earling has landed in the top ten of Iowa’s Best Burger Contest.
The balance of the list of top ten finalists includes; Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton; Bambino’s, Ossian; #DutchFix, Pella; Fishback & Stephenson Cider House, Fairfield; Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque; Moo’s BBQ, Newton; Murph’s Creamery & Grill, Toledo; Saucy Focaccia, Cedar Rapids; and The Map Room, in Cedar Rapids.
Seven of the Top Ten restaurants are new qualifiers. Returning contestants include Moo’s BBQ, Saucy Focaccia, and Troy’s Bar and Grill.
Iowans submitted nominations between February 15 – March 15 to kick off the quest to find the best burger in Iowa. Nominations were accepted online by the Iowa Beef Industry Council and the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association. The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2021 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:
The burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product to qualify. Burgers may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese, or toppings.
The quest for the winner of Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. All Top Ten restaurants will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The winner will be announced on May 3 to kick off May Beef Month.
“This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy,” says Peterson. “But they are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers. With spring upon us, I challenge Iowans to rally their support behind restaurant owners and Iowa’s beef farmers by choosing to order a beef burger one additional time per week.”
To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.
Last year, The Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon of BeeBeeTown took home the 2020 Iowa’s Best Burger title. Winners in previous years are 2019 – Wood Iron Grille of Oskaloosa; 2018 – Café Beaudelaire of Ames; 2017 – The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake; 2016 – The Chuckwagon Restaurant Adair; 2015 – The Cider House of Fairfield; 2014 – Brick City Grill in Ames; 2013 – 61 Chop House Grille in Mediapolis; 2012 – Coon Bowl III in Coon Rapids; 2011 – Rusty Duck in Dexter; and 2010 – Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City.
