Amy Sherman | MLive.com
The burger from The Wagon Wheel in Portland.
BY AMY SHERMAN | asherma2@mlive.com and JOHN GONZALEZ | michigangonzo@mlive.com
Our search for Michigan's Best Burger is off to great start, with over 167 nominations coming in just the first few hours.
It seems like every community in Michigan has their favorite place for tasty, classic burger. We've gotten nominees from the U.P. all the way down to the state line, with both tiny hamlets and major metropolis' represented.
Our Michigan's Best team of John Gonzalez and Amy Sherman have been busy sorting through your emails. We'll be honest, we still have a lot of them to add in, which we'll continue working on today. We are also going through the many comments that we've seen on social media posts, and will be including these nominees in our final regional polls as well.
Want to make a nomination?
To send us your nominations, please email us directly. Let us know the name of the restaurant, what city it’s located in, and what makes their burger fantastic. You can find us at:
We will continue accepting your nominations through noon on Saturday February 22. Then, we'll create regional polls that will go up on Monday, and you'll be able to vote through noon on Friday February 28. We'll announce the poll winners then, and each regional winner is guaranteed a visit from the Michigan's Best team. We'll decide the rest of our visits from a variety of factors, including poll placement, reputation, history and even from passionate pleas from our readers. We'll visit around 30 different spots all over the state.
We can't wait to try some of these suggestions, and have loved reading all the reasons why your nominees might be Michigan's Best.
Don't see your favorite on our list of nominees? There's still time to email your suggestions to us, but don't hesitate. Remember, nominations close on Saturday.
Special thanks to Michigan's Best Burger search sponsor, the Greater Lansing Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
The burger from City Park Grill in Petoskey.
Northern Lower Peninsula
Boone’s Prime Time Pub, Suttons Bay
Art’s Tavern, Glen Arbor
Slabtown Burgers, TC
Biere de Mac, Mackinaw City
Rusted Spoke Brewing Co., Mackinaw City
Don’s Drive-In, TC
Schuberg’ Bar and Grill, Big Rapids
Maddy's Tavern 31, Grawn
Spike’s Keg o’ Nails, Grayling
Fischer’s Happy Hour Tavern, Northport
Pure Country Family Restaurant, Rudyard
Bubba’s, TC
Northern Lower Peninsula
The Nest, Farwell
Lone Wolf Saloon, Gould City
The Thirsty Sturgeon, Wolverine
The Whitehouse Restaurant, Clare
Keyhole Bar, Mackinaw City
Lake Street Pub, Boyne City
18 Taps, Beaverton
Talley’s Log Cabin, Lewiston
Woody’s Bar and Grill, Bitely
Barnacle Bill’s, East Tawas
Iron Skillet, Mancelona
The Bluff’s on the Lake,Cheboygan
The Eagles, Weidman
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
Thirsty Whale Bar and Grill in Norway sears them up every day.
Upper Peninsula
Clyde's Drive-In, Sault Ste Marie
Clyde’s Drive-In, Saint Ignace
Mustang Lounge, Mackinac Island
Pat’s Bar, Marquette
Wooden Nickel Saloon, Iron River
West Pier Drive-In, Sault Ste. Marie
Upper Peninsula
The Driftwood Restaurant & Sports Bar, Saint Ignace
Kaleva Cafe, Hancock
Hoppy’s Bar, Kenton
Roadhouse Grill, Watersmeet
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
How do you like your burger? Rare, medium, or well done?
Bay City, Saginaw, Midland areas
Farmers Home Tavern, Hemlock
Midland Burger Co., Midland
Mussel Beach Drive In, Bay City
CJ’S Bar & Grill located in Pinconning
John’s Bar, Munger
That Guy’s BBQ & Grill, Bay City
Robbie D’s Food Truck, Saginaw
Burger 81, Bay City
Bay City, Saginaw, Midland areas
Daniel’s Grill, Saginaw
D'Angelo's, Bay City
Murdogs Diner & Drive-In, Caro
Farmer’s Home Tavern, Hemlock
Bay City Bill’s Bar & Grill, Bay City
O’s Pub & Grill, Auburn
Gabby’s Pub & Grill, Saginaw
Heck’s Bar, Kinde (Thumb)
Tony’s I-75 Restaurant, Birch Run
VNO Wine Warehouse & New Age Restaurant, Bay City
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
Are you a fan of the salad on top? A burger from Sleder's Tavern in Traverse City.
Kalamazoo area
The Burger Bro., Kalamazoo
Schaendorf Brewing Company, Allegan
Nonla Burger, Kalamazoo
Latitude 42, Kalamazoo
Kalamazoo area
Tujax Tavern, Delton
Prairie Lake Tavern, Sturgis
Corky’s Drive-In Restaurant, Allegan
Studio Grill, Kalamazoo
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
Miller's Bar in Dearborn has been slinging burgers for what feels like forever, but has actually been 79 years.
Detroit metro area
Kozy Lounge, Hazel Park
Falls Lounge, Dearborn
Miller’s, Dearborn
Redcoat Tavern, Royal Oak
The Food Exchange on Harper in Detroit
Shamrock Irish Pub, Utica
Taystee’s Burgers, Dearborn
Bronx Bar, Midtown, Detroit
Telway Hamburgers, Detroit
Mason’s Bar and Grill, Livonia
Hunter House Hamburgers, Birmingham
The Oxford Tap, Oxford
Grey Ghost Detroit, Detroit
Airport Wheat & Rye, Romulus
Detroit metro area
Larson’s Bar, Monroe
Bray’s Hamburger, Hazel Park
Detroit Burger Bar, various locations
Little Tony’s, Grosse Pointe Woods
Public House, Monroe
Rocket Restaurant, Pontiac
Marlow’s Chill & Grill Sports Bar, Brownstown
Mercury Bar, Detroit
Terry’s Pontiac Lake Inn, Waterford Twp.
Falls Sports Lounge, Dearborn
Duggan’s Irish Pub, Royal Oak
Greene’s Hamburgers, Farmington
Mr. K’s Saloon, River Rouge
Travis Restaurant, Clinton Twp.
Jacob Hamilton
The tavern burger at Zukey Lake Tavern in Pinckney. Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com
Ann Arbor region
Krazy Jim’s Blimpie Burger, Ann Arbor
Fleetwood Diner, Ann Arbor
Sidetrack Bar and Grill, Ypsilanti
Roy’s Squeeze Inn, Ypsilanti
Ann Arbor region
Bridgewater Bank Tavern, Saline
Casey’s Tavern, Ann Arbor
JR’s Restaurant, Milan
Full House Restaurant, Ypsilanti
Kaiti Sullivan | MLive.com
Need a coney on the side of your burger? We don't judge here at Michigan's Best, and neither do the nice people at Starlite Diner in Flint.
Flint metro area
Halo Burger, Flint
Crossbow Inn, Grand Blanc
Corner Bar & Grill, Fenton
Torch Bar & Grill, Flint
The Draft Sports Bar & Grille, Swartz Creek
Corner Pub, Owosso
Flint metro area
Hank & Don’s Tavern, Swartz Creek
Otter Lake Bar, Otter Lake
The Weal Inn, White Lake
Andy’s Place, Holly
Freakin’ Unbelievable Burgers, Flint
Woodchips BBQ, Lapeer
John Gonzalez | MLive.com
REO Town Burger at Good Truckin' Diner in REO Town Lansing, Michigan.
Lansing and Central Michigan
Dagwood’s Tavern & Grill, Lansing
Swany’s Pub & Grub, St. John’s
Weston’s Kewpee Burger, Lansing
Olympic Broil, Lansing
Jonna’s Bar & Grill, Howell
Lansing and Central Michigan
Rip’s Place Steakhouse and Bar, Vermontville
The Peanut Barrel, East Lansing
Crunchy’s, East Lansing
Meat BBQ, Lansing
Youngrae Kim | MLive.com
Burgers from Hamburger Mikey in Muskegon.
Muskegon and the Lakeshore
Hamburger Mikey, Muskegon
Turk’s Tavern, Nunica
Ravenna Pub, Ravenna
North Shore Inn, Benton Harbor
Coach’s Bar and Grill, Stevensville
The Station Grill, Muskegon
The Brown Bear, Pentwater
The Brown Bear, Hart
Pub 111, Whitehall
Muskegon and the Lakeshore
Stan’s Bar, Spring Lake
Redamak’s, New Buffalo
Big Hart Brewing Co., Hart
46 Bar, Muskegon
Brenda’s Burgers, Scottville
Gary’s Restaurant, Whitehall
Maple Grove Grill, South Haven
Skeetown Tavern, Muskegon
Deb’s Cafe, Shelby
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
Sometimes a simple cheeseburger is all you need.
Jackson
Hillside Lanes & Lane 17, Hillsdale
Schlenkers Sandwich Shop, Jackson
D&S Lounge and Restaurant, Pittsford
Jed’s American Grill, Adrian
Burger’s Unlocked, Hillsdale
Jackson
Greystone Tavern, Jackson
West Point Lounge, Jackson
Bernie’s Main Street Tavern, Homer
Oak Tree Lounge, Jackson
Amy Sherman | MLive.com
The burger from One Twenty Three located inside Studio Park in Grand Rapids.
Grand Rapids area
The Commons, Grand Rapids
Shot’s, Allendale
The Win Tavern 33, Jenison
The Littlebird, Grand Rapids
Stella’s Lounge, Grand Rapids
The Broadway Bar, Grand Rapids
Choo Choo Grill, Grand Rapids
One Twenty Three Tavern, Grand Rapids
Goog's Pub and Grub, Holland
Grand Rapids area
Carver's Fine Meats, Downtown Market, Grand Rapids
Mr Burger’s “MR TRIPLE”, Grand Rapids
Brick and Porter, Grand Rapids
Frank’s Restaurant, Zeeland
Fortune Chef, Caledonia
Colonial Kitchen, Dorr
Putt-Putt’s Bar, Grand Rapids
Richie’s Koffee Shop, Hastings
The Blind Squirrel, Fremont
Brewery Vivant, Grand Rapids
Perrin Brewing Company, Comstock Park
Grattan Irish Pub, Belding
Graydon’s Crossing, Grand Rapids
MLive file photo
Follow our new Michigan’s Best search on social media:
@mlivemibest on Twitter
@mlivemibest on Instagram
Also, be sure to follow our MI Best Facebook Page, which you can check out here.
Join in by using the hashtags #mibest and #ItriedMiBest
In addition:
Amy Sherman is on Twitter @amyonthetrail, as well as Facebook and Instagram @amyonthetrail.
John Gonzalez is on Twitter @michigangonzo, as well as Facebook and Instagram @MichiganGonzo.
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