Best burgers in Morris

When it comes to serving up the all-American burger, Morris County has a variety of places to choose from.

Here's where you can go in Morris to enjoy this classic fare:

Old Mill Tavern, Chester

55 State Park Rd.; tel. 908-879-5027.

Ask chef Maurice Ching what makes a great burger and he'll tell you in a word: simplicity.

"Our eight-ounce handmade burgers are char-grilled with little to no seasoning because it's the meat itself — which we source from nearby Chester Meat Market — that makes the burger great," he said.

He recommends that burger lovers try their popular 'Cooper Mill Burger,' which features a soft bun and chipotle mayonnaise.

What's the recipe for success at Old Mill, which sells more than 15,000 burgers a year? "We're always consistent and we make our burgers with a touch of love," Ching said.

Chatham River Grille, Chatham

34 River Rd.; tel. 973-701-1125; www.chathamrivergrille.com.

At this six-year-old upscale bar and grill, bartender Kate Crosby said you need to start out with top-notch meat to build a great burger.

"Our ten-ounce burgers are made with lean ground beef and they're delicious," she said. Among the most popular choices on their menu is their burger topped with applewood smoked bacon, fresh jalapeno peppers, sharp cheddar cheese and creamy ranch dressing as well as their 'Big Boy,' which features BBQ sauce and onion rings piled on top.

"It's huge and hard to get your mouth around — a definite quality of a great burger," she said.

Tiff's Burger, Rockaway

321 Mt. Hope Ave.; tel. 973-891-1907; www.tiffsburger.com.

"Nothing is more nostalgic than a juicy burger coming off the grill — you can't go wrong with that," said Mike Romanelli, Jr., owner and head chef at Tiff's Burger.

And at this two-year-old, casual quick-serve outlet — part of the 32-year-old, family-owned chain of Tiff's restaurants — Romanelli pays homage to the classic burger by "using the freshest, healthiest and most sustainable ingredients possible, including a proprietary blend of grass-fed beef and local and organic produce whenever we can," he said.

In addition, thanks to their true-to-order cooking approach, "every bite has that great flavor as well as the right ratio of bun to meat," said Romanelli

He encourages burger lovers to try Tiff's signature 'Loaded Avocado Burger,' which includes sharp cheddar, smashed avocado, ranch dressing and red onion, or their unique 'Peanut Butter 'n' Bacon Burger,' featuring natural peanut butter cooked right into the meat, which is then topped with applewood smoked bacon.

"It's a great combination of salt, sweet and fat — the whole flavor profile," Romanelli said of the $8 burger.

Morris Tap & Grill, Randolph

500 Route 10; tel. 973-891-1776; www.morristapandgrill.com.

Diehard burger fans shouldn't miss the 'Twisted Baconeater' at this five-year-old Randolph hot spot.

"We use fresh ground chuck with thick-cut bacon that's built right into the meat, and serve it on a brioche roll," hostess Nicole Strecko said of the $16 signature burger, one of the restaurant's most popular. "It's really big and it's really good," she said.

Smashburger, Morris Plains, Parsippany, Florham Park and East Hanover

For locations, visit www.smashburger.com.

At this popular fast casual chain, "we use certified Angus beef that's fresh and never frozen, as well as artisan buns and fresh produce, cheese, condiments and other high-quality ingredients," said owners Scott and Andrea Gillman, who also highlighted the signature method used to cook them.

"Our pure chuck meat is coarsely ground and then formed into meatballs weighing from a third to a half of a pound, which are then put on a 400-degree grill and 'smashed' down using a special metal form with a handle," they explained. "The process of smashing our burgers allows us to press them and form a sear on the outside, which gives them a great taste and allows them to cook to the perfect temperature."

Arthur's Tavern, Morris Plains

700 Speedwell Ave.; tel. 973-455-9705; www.arthurstavern.com.

Burger lovers line up for the fare at this 50-year-old landmark, where "the meat in our ten-ounce burgers is freshly ground every day and we sell nearly 1,000 burgers a week," owner Alyce McGreevy said.

Fans can enjoy everything from a basic cheeseburger to such weekly specials as a 'Breakfast Burger' topped with homemade corned beef hash or a popular option made with smoked ghost-pepper cheese, pickled and fresh jalapeno peppers, sliced hot cherry peppers and a dollop of special hot sauce called 'The Hell Burger.'

"We love burgers at Arthur's because they're a traditional food that everyone remembers from when they were kids," McGreevey said. "They're simply a classic."

What's your favorite burger joint? Do you know of a Morris home cook who makes an amazing burger? Let us know for a follow up story; email eabreu@dailyrecord.com