Port City Burger Battle
The PubScout know more than beer. He knows burgers too, and these are his Wilmington-area favorites.
During the Missus’ drive to a work appointment, she passed by Winnie’s Tavern in ILM. Angel that she is, she made a mental note to inform me of Winnie’s existence and suggested that I review the 62-year-old establishment’s claim of having The Best Burger in Wilmington.
So I checked Winnie’s website and inquired as to the beer list (pretty decent, BTW) and made the trek from OIB.
The purpose of my visit was two-fold. First, I wanted to try that highly touted burger, because I wanted to compare it with the two burgers I had already declared to be the best in Wilmington. There’s also a great smashburger joint up in Surf City called Surf City Smash. Its burgers are very much worth the drive, but as it’s not in ILM proper, I have to put them in a special category — perhaps in another column (for another paycheck.)
But in the Port City, one is the smashburger at Fox’s Hole-in-the-Wall pub on Princess Street, a classic pub in which to eat and quaff. The other was from a place called (at the time) Island Burgers and Bites in Carolina Beach (which counts as ILM to me). It was once rated as the #4 best burger in the NATION.
Despite being mainly a chili dog with raw onions guy most of the time around lunchtime, a perfectly done burger can be nirvana in the right place and at the right time. It has to be fresh, cooked perfectly, juicy and laden with good condiments. It also has to be “biteable.” Don’t set a burger down in front of me that will not fit in my wide open mouth for a good bite.
We pulled up to Winnie’s just before 1 pm. First suggestion — either get there an hour and a half before that or go an hour and a half after. The place was jam-packed with cars and there was virtually no place to park. That indicates that somebody (usually the locals) knows something about great places to eat. Also, do a quick scan of the room. If it has a lot of geezers, grab a table. Because we might not be able to figure out Bitcoin and Instagram, but dadgummit, we know where the good food is. (And get off my lawn!)
Fortunately, some patrons (who had probably arrived at 11:30 am) were exiting their spot, so we commandeered it and went inside.
To say the place is small is an understatement. It sits 32 total including at the small bar — which was fully occupied by eight people. So it wasn’t so small that you had to go outside to change your mind, but neither could you call it roomy. In fact, in the dining section, bumping elbows with those at the table next to you wouldn’t be unheard of. But it is a cool vibe.
The elbow space wasn’t much of an issue, because the service was prompt and efficient, and the servers, like Abby who brought my Mad Mole Molesboro Island Pineapple Pilsner, were quite friendly. (And that’s a great beer!)
Three of us at the table ordered the burgers from the back of the menu, as the missus does not eat meat. She does eat seafood, and as I’ve mentioned before, I think that makes her a Presbyterian, or something. She was satisfied with a Stella, some Cajun fries and a Grilled Cheese plate, which she said was delicious.
The burgers were massive, nearly as big as the giant one that commands the bar. They were prepared to order, too, whatever cheese or toppings you desired. They were properly cooked, juicy, flavorful and delightfully sloppy to eat. And they were “biteable.”
To yours truly there’s nothing like the first bite of a great burger with Swiss, lettuce, tomato, raw onions, salt, pepper and ketchup on a soft, fresh roll. And that’s why I finished mine, using only six or seven napkins.
Ray’s burger was so big, he could only finish half, but the smart money said that the other half would see duty later that night. Lisa’s came as requested, without the roll, but with all the deliciousness we had in ours.
So to recap.
If you go to Island Burgers and Bites, be advised that it has a new home at a former Hardee’s in Carolina Beach, and I’m told that the new place has far more seating than the old. That might be why I’m also told it has lines out the door regularly. Of course, buttering its rolls may add a dimension that folks like.
While I’ve never heard of Fox’s Hole in the Wall having lines out the door, I’ve also never heard anything but good comments about their smash burger. And no lines means you can go in, grab a seat and start eating immediately.
Winnie’s Tavern has much to recommend it besides the great quality of the burgers, too. It has quite a history and a backstory, as well as a very pleasant staff and exceptional service that makes it fun to eat and quaff in there.
But did Winnie’s have the Best Burger in Wilmington, as advertised? While I could not crown it the burger king (see what I did there?), I will say that it measured up remarkably well with the two ILM burgers I mentioned above.
In fact, I’d say it was a three-way tie, and you couldn’t go wrong with any of them.
If you’re in ILM proper, hit the Hole in the Wall. If you’re in Carolina Beach, Island Burgers and Bites gets the nod. And if you’re closer to Burnett Boulevard in ILM, don’t miss Winnie’s.
Better still make a plan to hit them all. Then let us know your favorite (s)!
Find Your Favorite
Winnie’s Tavern: 1895 Burnett Boulevard, Wilmington, (910) 762-1799, wilmingtonsbestburger.com
Fox’s Hole in the Wall: 124 Princess Street, Wilmington, (910) 399-1263, foxsholeinthewall.com
Island Burgers and Bites: 111 Carl Winner Drive, Carolina Beach, (910) 458-6217; island-burgers-and-bites.site
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