BirminghamBURGER winners announced
Terra (The Michigan Reserve Burger) Elies (Mediterranean Burger)
The Birmingham Shopping District (BSD) has announced the winners from the third annual BirminghamBURGER competition which wrapped up on October 31.
This year’s event drew remarkable enthusiasm from both diners and restaurants and the competition was close, according to the BSD, with most participating restaurants receiving high ratings in all three categories from over 9,924 voters.
Terra Kitchen & Cocktails, located at 260 North Old Woodward Avenue, received the highest combined rating and total number of votes, and will keep the title in the People’s Choice category as Birmingham’s Best Burger for the second year in a row. Terra Kitchen & Cocktails impressed diners with its Michigan Reserve Burger – a 45-day house-ground dry-aged beef blend, cherry wood-smoked pork belly, aged Michigan cheddar, Guernsey buttermilk crispy onions, dressed arugula, savory bourbon cherry jus, Traverse City cherry and a mammoth bourbon toasted sesame bun, accompanied by steakhouse potato wedges.
"We participated because it's a fun way to connect with the community and introduce new guests to Terra. Birmingham means a lot to us, and we're proud to be part of the local restaurant scene that makes this city special. Winning for the second year in a row speaks to our team's consistency and the incredible support of our guests. This win belongs to our team — in the kitchen and on the floor — who take pride in every guest experience, every single day. For our business, it builds awareness and brings new people through the door, giving us the opportunity to turn a visit for a burger into a lasting relationship with Terra," said owner Randy Foumia.
This year, a Judges’ Choice award was introduced to further recognize the culinary expertise and creativity of the top-rated restaurants. According to the BSD, during the final days of the competition, four local judges and self-proclaimed foodies, visited the three restaurants with the highest average ratings and experienced each burger without disclosing their identities or purpose. The judges included Susan Selasky, food writer, Detroit Free Press; Anna Robb, on-air talent, Channel 955’s Mojo in the Morning; Kevin “Kev” Irwin II, on-air talent, Channel 955’s Mojo in the Morning; and Ryan Kearney, Birmingham Police Chief.
Once all of the judges’ ratings were tallied, the BSD said, one burger was the clear winner – the Mediterranean Burger from Elie’s Mediterranean Grill and Bar, located at 263 Pierce Street. The non-traditional burger highlighted traditional Mediterranean cuisine featuring a homemade kafta burger topped with grilled Lebanese cheese (halloumi), aioli garlic sauce, grilled onions and tomato on a brioche bun, served with homemade seasoned potatoes.
Elie’s burger wowed judges in all of the three categories including taste, presentation and creativity. “This burger has so much flavor, the colors are astonishing, and from the burger to the potatoes there was cohesion throughout – I am blown away,” said Kevin “Kev” Irwin II.
When presented with the award, Elie’s owner, Elie Mondalek stated, “Elie’s has proudly been part of the Birmingham community for 34 years, and this city has always been a big part of who we are. Participating in BirminghamBURGER felt like a natural choice for us – an opportunity to support the community that has supported us for so many years, while introducing people to our own unique take on a classic burger. Although we’re known for our Mediterranean cuisine, we’ve always believed that great food has no boundaries. Winning Best Burger in Birmingham is a truly touching moment for us. We are deeply honored and grateful to the community for its continued love and support.”
Judges’ Choice runner-up, Hazel’s Surf the Earth Burger, received high praise overall with Anna Robb noting its creativity and police chief Kearney calling out the “amazing flavor combination that is unexpected and just works well together.” Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse’s traditional Steakhouse Burger also received high marks for taste among all of the judges, receiving a perfect 10 out of 10 from judge Susan Selasky, who described it as “juicy and seasoned very well, which made it outstanding.”
Other burgers receiving high combined ratings included Adachi Restaurant (the 2024 competition winner), Madam Restaurant inside of Daxton Hotel, and Streetside Seafood.
