BURGERS

THE AVENUE PUB
1732 St. Charles Ave., 586-9243
The grill is always hot at the Avenue Pub. Stop in any time for big half-pound burgers, po-boys, chicken wings or a range of bar food options. Munchies include jalapeño poppers, mini-tacos, fried mushrooms and meat pies. No reservations. Open 24 hours daily. Credit cards. $


BEACHCORNER BAR & GRILL
4905 Canal St., 488-7357
As reliable as the streetcar that delivers patrons to its tavern doors, "the last living thing on Canal Street" offers classic grilled pub food and plenty of TVs to watch the games of the day. The classic 10-oz. ground sirloin burger has a hint of garlic. Lighter options include the 8-oz. grilled tuna steak served in a sandwich or on a salad. The grilled chicken salad comes loaded with fresh lettuce, tomato, onions, cheese and choice of dressings including low-fat options. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


BROOKS SEAHORSE SALOON
1648 Gentilly Blvd., 218-4217
Even though it sits across from the Fair Grounds, Brooks isn't just for after the races or Jazz Fest, serving burgers and sandwiches from lunch through late-night. Appetizers include cheese sticks, stuffed olives and egg rolls. The popular burger is a char-grilled half pound of ground sirloin. The grilled chicken sandwich is a marinated chicken breast dressed and served with a choice of fries or potato salad. Late-nighters can try the new corndogs. The new happy hour is from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


BUD'S BROILER
Citywide
Bud's is best known for its charcoal-broiled burgers. The topping choices keep it simple: hickory-smoked sauce, grated cheese or another burger patty. The few non-burger options are hot dogs, a chicken breast sandwich on a bun and a broiled fish fillet. Complete a meal with a side item like onion rings or French fries, which can be spiced up with chili and cheese. For dessert, there are apple, peach and cherry pies. No reservations. Hours vary by location. Cash only. $


BURGERS GONE WILD
3613 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, 838-8311
The gratuitous hot burger action here is appropriate for the whole family. The basic burger is topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and pickles, or it's available undressed. Sautéed onions, Brie cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo smother the French burger. The Burger Dawg is slathered in chili with cheddar cheese, onions and mayo and is served in a hot dog bun. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


CHECKPOINT CHARLIE'S
501 Esplanade Ave., 281-4847
Noon, midnight or 4 a.m., Checkpoint Charlie's is the spot for a beer, a load of laundry, a game of eight ball, a live set from a local band, or all of the above. There are bar-food standards off the grill and out of the fryer including cheese fries, grilled chicken sandwiches and a big, spicy Cajun-seasoned burger. No reservations. Open 24-hours daily. Credit cards. $


ERNST CAFÉ
600 S. Peters St., 525-8544
Established in 1902, Ernst Café has been feeding and watering downtowners for more than a century. Burgers, chicken and fried seafood are mainstays that make it a busy lunch spot. Look for the gumbo du jour and changing specials like ribs. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


FRIAR TUCK'S
5130 Freret St., 891-4080; www.friartucksbar.com
The weekly drink specials at the bar keep the good times rolling at this Uptown college hangout. The kitchen offers plenty of choices to make sure those drinks have a solid foundation on which to rest. Philly-style cheesesteaks come with mushrooms, onions, peppers and Swiss cheese on hoagie rolls. The fryer churns out a steady supply of waffle fries, sweet potato fries and corn dogs. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $


HARBOR BAR & GRILL
3024 17th St., Metairie, 835-6111
Harbor Bar & Grill serves up more than the soft-shell crabs and fried seafood you'd expect—patrons also love the grill's big 12-oz. cheeseburgers, which get even bigger with extras like chili and bacon. A salad of tomato, bacon and artichoke hearts tossed with greens and topped with blackened tuna is a popular item. Meat pies and Harbor fries topped with cheddar, diced onions and roast beef gravy will satisfy your late night cravings. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


IGOR'S
2133 St. Charles Ave., 568-9786
An ideal place for multi-taskers and late-night revelers alike, this all-hours lounge and game room has a mini-laundromat and serves big, fat burgers around the clock. The Cajun burger is a half-pound patty seasoned with crystal hot sauce and Cajun spices, grilled, dressed and served with fries. Other sides and snacks include Cajun cheese fries or jalapeño poppers. No reservations. Open 24 hours. Credit cards. $


IGOR'S BUDDHA BELLY BURGER BAR
4437 Magazine St., 891-6105
The cold beers and rocking jukebox are prime draws at this Magazine Street tavern, but the sizzling grill quickly advertises its presence to hungry patrons. The house Buddha burger is a specially seasoned half-pound patty. The Cajun burger adds a kick of Tabasco, Creole seasonings and an optional dose of pepper-blended spice mix. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


JIGGER'S GRILL
1645 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 828-3555
Kick back to watch the big game or play a game of darts at this casual sports bar. There are burgers and other bar favorites at reasonable prices. A special house marinade flavors Jigger's chicken breast sandwich, and the spicy chicken wings are popular. Daily lunch specials are served Monday through Friday. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


KABBY'S SPORTS EDITION GRILL
Hilton Riverside Hotel, 2 Poydras St., 561-0500
This sprawling sports bar off the lobby of the Hilton scores big with a wide variety of bar food, burgers and sandwiches. Signed jerseys and memorabilia, and big-screen TVs line the walls. The bar mixes a full line-up of specialty cocktails. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


KRYSTAL
116 Bourbon St., 523-4030; www.krystal.com
A sack of tiny, oniony Krystal burgers go down just right after a long night on Bourbon Street. The Scrambler specials are breakfast items piled in a cup, and there are conventional options like sausage, egg, bacon pancakes on hand to end a long night or begin the day. No reservations. Open 24-hours. Credit cards. $


LEE'S HAMBURGERS
Citywide
Lee's burgers get a little extra zing from chopped onions. So even though you can get quick service, its still got homemade appeal. The drive-through is convenient for days when you can't stand in line but must have the Works, a big cheeseburger dressed and served with onion rings or fries. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


LEGENDS PATIO BAR & GRILLE
2708 N. Hullen St., Metairie, 887-3877
Legends has a limited menu of burgers and chicken sandwiches along with cocktails and frosty beers. The chicken tenders are breaded and served with crispy French fries. No reservations. Dinner and late-night Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $


LUCY'S RETIRED SURFERS BAR & RESTAURANT
701 Tchoupitoulas St., 523-8995; www.lucysretiredsurfers.com
There may not be much surf, but spirits run high at this lively downtown hangout. Spicy riptide chicken wings are served wet with sauce or dry with a rub of seasoning. Specialties like the Southwestern-style burgers and Baja rolls with chicken, avocado, black beans, cheese and salsa are bestsellers. Lucy's also serves seafood, sandwiches and salads and offers daily drink and wing specials. Fridays draw a fun-loving after-work crowd. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $


PHIL'S GRILL
3020 Severn Ave., Metairie, 324-9080; www.phils-grill.com
Phil's allows customers to build their own burgers from a long menu of options including 10 cheeses, six choices of bread and 18 toppings. Try Angus beef or hot sausage-blended patties or portobello burgers. Sides include fried pickles, fried onion strings, sweet potato fries and others. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$


PORT OF CALL
838 Esplanade Ave., 523-0120; www.portofcallneworleans.com
The reason people line up and wait for a table at Port of Call is its famously huge burger. Pick a few toppings, decide what you want on your baked potato and then ready yourself for the daunting dining challenge of actually clearing your plate. The kitchen also prepares steaks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$


RED EYE GRILL
852 S. Peters St., 593-9393; 1057 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 833-6900; www.redeyegrill.net
The Red Eye offers a green light to hungry folks out for a night on the town. Enormous burgers, jalapeño poppers and popcorn shrimp call for the Red Eye's other major specialty — cold beer and cocktails with a kick. Health-conscious diners can dig into turkey burgers and salads topped with grilled tuna or chicken. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner and late-night Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $


SIDELINES BAR & GRILL
1229 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 831-4002
Burgers, appetizers and wraps take centerfield at Sidelines. Specialties include wraps like the chicken Caesar and chicken tender wraps on whole wheat pita served with fries. Other items include sandwiches like grilled tuna on a sesame bun. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $


STATION 8801
8801 Oak St., 861-9293
The gas pumps are long gone at this outpost by the parish line, but folks can still count on a fill up from the tavern's kitchen. There's an 8-oz. Angus beef burger and a 10-oz. filet served with spicy potatoes, while onion rings, sweet potato fries and chicken sandwiches offer other options. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $


STEP BROTHERS LOUNGE & RESTAURANT
4971 W. Napoleon Ave., Metairie, 889-9856
Step Brothers is known best for burgers and po-boys, but it also features Tuesday steak nights and a surf-and-turf special every Sunday. A filet is matched with a grilled or fried lobster tail plus potatoes, vegetables and bread for $20. For smaller bites, cheese sticks, jalapeño poppers, egg rolls, chicken tenders and wings are available as well. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


TED'S FROSTOP
3100 Calhoun St., 861-3615
The gigantic root beer mug in the parking lot may still sit upside down as a reminder of Katrina, but little else seems to have changed at this vintage diner. The signature Lot-o-Burger is as good as ever. Fried seafood and plate lunches like baked chicken or pork chops provide square meals. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


THE TIMES GRILL
1827 Front St., Slidell, (985) 639-3335; 1896 N. Causeway Blvd., Mandeville, (985) 626-1161; www.timesgrill.com
The Times is best known for its burgers, but the grill also offers salads, sandwiches, wraps, fried seafood (in po-boys or baskets) and pasta-based entrées. At the heart of the menu, though, are some incredible two-fisted patties. The hamburger combines Swiss cheese and sauerkraut, and the Home of the Aloha has pineapple, teriyaki sauce and cheddar. The Buffalo burger is brushed with a mild version of the wing sauce, finished with provolone cheese and adorned with onion rings. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $


TUCKER'S TAVERN
869 Magazine St., 522-0440
Tucker's is the undisputed home of the deep-fried burger. The Big Al is a half-pound burger stuffed with pepper Jack cheese and mushrooms. The Big Tuck slathers it on with bacon, pepper jack and American cheese on the inside and cheddar and barbecue sauce on top. Appetizers and grazing options include fried pickles, nachos, spicy Buffalo oysters and wings. The rest of the extensive menu ranges from homemade soups and salads, po-boys, sandwiches wraps, quesadillas and entrée platters of grilled fish and steak. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

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