Best of Boston

2003 Best Burger

Mr. Bartley’s Burger Cottage

With comfort food topping the cravings charts these days, it’s no wonder that getting a table at Bartley’s has become an Olympic sport. The crowds come for the addictive handcut fries (regular or sweet potato), extra-thick mocha frappes (spoon required), and fun, pretense-free atmosphere. But most of the mob is here for the burgers, each meaty special dolled up according to the politico or celeb it’s named after. (The Mike Tyson is a turkey burger; the Ted Kennedy, “a plump, liberal amount of burger.”) The fresh-ground sirloin comes perfectly grilled, its center tender, deeply flavored, and juicier with every bite.

1246 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-354-6559, mrbartley.com/