614 feast taps his top-five burgers of 2024

You may have followed my Buckeye Burger Battle earlier this year, where I split Columbus into five sections and listed my favorite burgers in each area. For this end-of-year wrap-up, I’m highlighting the top five burgers I had in 2024. Whether it’s a classic cheeseburger, a smashburger, or even sliders, these picks are all a major feast. Let’s get into it!

COLO Burger Bar (59 Spruce St)

Located in the North Market Downtown, they use hyper-local, high-quality ingredients to craft some of the best burgers in Columbus. My go-to is the Spicy Burger: two Ohio wagyu beef patties, pepper jack cheese, Tabasco aioli, lettuce, pickled jalapeños, and onion on a toasted bun. Not into spice? Their Classic Burger—with cheddar cheese, Duke’s mayo, lettuce, pickle, and onion—is equally delicious.

Third & Hollywood (1433 W 3rd Ave)

I’m a Third & Hollywood super fan, they offer casual fine dining with top tier vibes and ambiance. Their Hollywood Burger is an elevated take on a classic, featuring Niman Ranch brisket and chuck ground in-house daily. Topped with cheddar, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles, this burger is all about balance, with a perfect bun-to-meat ratio.

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Smash Buddies (460 S Front St) 

This veteran-owned spot in the Brewery District is the ultimate smashburger experience. Smash Buddies started as a food truck and quickly became a brick-and-mortar favorite. Their weekly special burgers are always worth trying, but my go-to is the Buddy Pounder: double patties, American cheese, pickles, yellow onion, ketchup, and mustard. Simple, fresh, and delicious.

Blackbird Kitchen (1200 W 3rd Ave)

Located inside Woodlands Tavern, Blackbird Kitchen serves up fun, classic dishes with quirky twists. Their Flat Top Smash Burger is everything a smashburger should be—perfectly smashed beef patties on a buttered brioche bun with house dill pickles, shaved onion, and American cheese. Get a double or triple, and on Wednesdays, it’s just $6.

Hangry City Grille and Spirits (1252 Hill Rd. N., Pickerington)

Burgers are very customizable, but sliders take it to the next level. It’s great having sliders instead of a full-size burger because you can mix and match the chef’s creative creations. Here’s my lineup:

The Ron Swanson: deep-fried bacon, fried pickles, lettuce, tomato, garlic aioli.

The Topanga: black bean burger with sriracha aioli, avocado mash, lettuce, tomato.

The Danny: classic beef with cheddar, bacon, tomato, lettuce, and garlic aioli.

Want to read more? Check out our print publications, (614) Magazine and Stock & Barrel. Learn where you can find free copies of our newest issues here!

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