Wayne Magazine May 2019 | Page 44

burgers burgers and fries G E T Y O U R H E R E Wayne is a destination for the all-American meal WRITTEN BY REBECCA KING, ESTHER DAVIDOWITZ AND CINDY SCHWEICH HANDLER Sure, fine dining is a joy. But sometimes there’s nothing else that will do besides a burger and fries on the side. These area locations are sure bets for a job well done (or medium rare, or however BEST BURGERS MAGGIES TOWN TAVERN, WAYNE Wayne Magazine readers voted Maggies Town Tavern their favorite place to grab a burger, though they didn’t specify the ones they love to grab the most. There are plenty of varieties to choose from: The list begins with char-grilled Angus burger, and includes the chili cheeseburger, mushroom swiss burger, BBQ cheddar bacon burger and veggie burger; all are served with lettuce, tomato and hand-cut fries. • 1082 Hamburg Turnpike, Wayne, (973) 256-7702, maggiestowntavern.com 42 MAY 2019 WAYNE MAGAZINE SHAKE SHACK, WAYNE Jamie Knott, the chef and owner of high-end restaurant Saddle River Inn and the more casual Saddle River Cafe, remembers the first time he had the Shack Burger. “I didn’t put it down,” he said. “I couldn’t put it down.” No wonder. Not only are the 4-ounce all-natural beef patties ground daily by Pat LaFrieda, the renowned North Bergen-based butcher, but they’re pleasantly greasy, super- meaty, and jammed onto a Martin’s potato roll with melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato and a piquant mayo called ShakeSauce ($4.60 for a single, $7.20 for a double). Get the awesome shakes, too. • 96 Willowbrook Blvd., (862) 684-8660, shakeshack.com/location/wayne-nj CYNDIA’S, TOTOWA Cynthia Pacillo is celebrated for her classic casual fare, and her unpretentious, down- home menu includes a Grilled Cheese Board section with five spins on sandwiches burst- ing with cheese. Among them is the patty melt – a half-pound of sirloin burger, swiss cheese, caramelized onions, pickle and ketch- up on rye. The Grump Burger offers the same 8 ounces of beef, but accompanied only by lettuce, tomato and onion on a Kaiser roll. Both are worth the trip. • 169 Union Blvd., (973) 925-7778, cyndias.weebly.com COURTESY you prefer them).