National Cheeseburger Day: The Five Best Cheeseburgers in the Tristate

It is National Cheeseburger Day and I am celebrating by updating my list of the Top Five Cheeseburgers in the WBKR listening area!  Now, I realize this list is subjective and may spark some debate.  As a matter of fact, I have been debating myself.  LOL!.  But, if I am going to grab a cheeseburger somewhere, chances are I am going to hit up one of the places on this list.  Here we go!

HONORABLE MENTION- Diamond Lake Campground and Resort

Okay.  I am going to guess that you didn't quite expect the grill at Diamond Lake to pop up on this list.  But, trust me.  My friends Brian and Janice Smith know how to serve up a cheeseburger.  I will make up excuses to go have lunch at Diamond Lake's Pit Stop Grill, which sits inside the main office at the campground.  Their burgers are the perfect combination of burger, cheese, bun, lettuce and tomato.  And don't even get me started on Diamond Lake's onion rings.  Place your order.  Get you a big old Bill's Lemonade.  Grab a seat at a booth.  And enjoy the sound of your cheeseburger sizzlin' on the Diamond Lake grill.

#5- The Big Dipper

Well, you just knew Big Dipper was going to make the list, right?  There are so many reasons to love the Dipper.  And their cheeseburgers . . . the most affordably priced in the tristate, by the way . . . represent one of the biggest reasons.  It's no coincidence that traffic sits bumper to bumper sometimes in the W. Parrish Avenue turn lanes.  People LOVE Big Dipper.  They crave Big Dipper.  And, I have to tell you.  There are very few one-two punches that will lay you out like a Big Dipper cheeseburger and a real cherry or vanilla coke.

#4- The "Island Burger" at Island Dairy Freeze

Get in the car . . . and drive to Island, Kentucky.  It's home to the Dairy Freeze which, in turn, is home to tristate-famous Island Burger.  There's a theme on this list which suggests that our area's "drive in" restaurants serve up the best burgers.  And the Island Burger is right in the thick of it . . . sandwiched between two tasty buns and topped with delicious cheese.  And no stop at Dairy Freeze is complete without some frozen dairy.  LOL!  Their milkshakes bring this boy to the yard.  Darn right!

#3- Wonderburger at Wonder Whip

Call me sentimental, but I grew up on Wonderburgers from Wonder Whip.  Seriously.  I when I was in high school, I pretty much made a daily stop at Wonder Whip on my way home to Thruston from Daviess County High School.  I would "whip" my Mercury Topaz through the drive thru and get a Wonderburger and a chocolate shake.  And a Wonderburger with cheese is literally a wonder!  In fact, it should be regarded as one of the natural wonders of the world.  There's just something about the way it's wrapped up in paper, toothpicked and handed out the window that makes you want to tear into it.  Major props to Seth Woodward for re-opening Wonder Whip a few years back after it closed.  That restaurant's cheeseburger is a wonder to behold. (And, for dessert, you MUST get a Pineapple Whip).

#2- A1 Peppercorn Burger from Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

The A1 Peppercorn Burger at Red Robin in Evansville has A1 Sauce (my fave), a special peppercorn spread, hardwood-smoked bacon, tomatoes, crispy onion sauce and, of course, cheese!  A molten helping of Pepper-Jack cheese.  Honestly, any cheeseburger on Red Robin's menu of gourmet burgers could be on this list.  But the A1 Peppercorn Burger just happens to be my favorite served there. (And, a shout out to the onion ring tower appetizer.  It's the perfect compliment to any cheeseburger you order).  It's rockin, Robin!

Until this year, Red Robin held the top spot on my list.  But there's a new ground beef sheriff in town.

#1- Fridays Signature Whiskey-Glazed Burger

There is a new cheeseburger champ in my life.  I was in Fridays recently and tried, for the first time, a Signature Whiskey-Glazed Burger.  Now, I am a HUGE fan of their Sesame Jack Chicken Strips, but branched out to Whiskey-Glazed Burger for a change.  I am now officially hooked.  It's a combination of white cheddar, lettuce, red onions, tomato, pickles (which I take off because I think pickles are the devil), hickory-smoked bacon and Friday's Signature Whiskey-Glaze.  This burger is the perfect combination of sweet and salty.  It is my new jam and it's my instant craving now anytime someone says "burger".

So, there you have it.  My list of the Top Five Cheeseburgers in the WBKR Listening Area.  Hit me.  Who do YOU think has BEST cheeseburger?