IARN — After tallying the votes and nominations received from February 14 to March 14, the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association announced the Top Ten list for this year’s Iowa’s Best Burger Contest.
The number of votes each restaurant received determined the 2022 Top Ten restaurants. The restaurants making the Top Ten list (in alphabetical order) include:
Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill, Wilton
Cattlemen’s Steakhouse, Sac City
Flaming Office Bar and Grill, Toledo
Foodie Garage Eatery, Dubuque
Lachele’s Fine Foods, Des Moines
Pally’s Bar & Grille, Clive
The Flying Elbow, Marshalltown
The Handlebar, Dallas Center
Victoria Station, Harlan
West Towne Pub, Ames
To qualify, the burger must be a 100% real beef patty served on a bun or bread product and may include any combination of condiments, sauces, cheese, or other toppings.
“In total, we had more than 5,400 votes from 265 cities and towns across Iowa,” Kylie Peterson, Director of Marketing for the Iowa Beef Industry Council, said. “This year’s Top Ten restaurants are award-winning worthy, but are only a few of the many restaurants in Iowa that do an outstanding job of promoting and serving our beef products to their customers on behalf of Iowa’s beef farmers.”
Of the Top Ten restaurants, eight are new qualifiers. The two returning competitors are Arty’s Ice Cream & Grill and Foodie Garage Eatery.
With the Top Ten list decided, the final phase in the quest for the 2022 Iowa’s Best Burger will now begin. Each Top Ten restaurant will be visited by a panel of anonymous judges who will evaluate the burgers based on taste, appearance, and proper doneness (160 degrees Fahrenheit). The judges’ scores and comments will then be compiled, and the winner will be announced on May 3 to kick off Beef Month.
“Iowa cattle producers work tirelessly to provide high-quality beef to consumers across the state, country and globe,” Iowa Cattlemen’s Association President Bob Noble said. “We are proud to support the Best Burger contest, and would like to congratulate the Top Ten, who serve 100% real beef. We thank you for serving our product and bringing out the best of beef.”
The 2021 Iowa’s Best Burger Contest winner was Bambino’s of Ossian. Previous winners include Twisted Tail Steakhouse & Saloon of BeeBeeTown in 2020, Wood Iron Grille of Oskaloosa in 2019, Café Beaudelaire of Ames in 2018, The Smokin’ Hereford BBQ of Storm Lake in 2017, The Chuckwagon Restaurant of Adair in 2016, The Cider House of Fairfield in 2015, Brick City Grill of Ames in 2014, 61 Chop House Grille of Mediapolis in 2013, Coon Bowl III of Coon Rapids in 2012, Rusty Duck of Dexter in 2011, and Sac County Cattle Company of Sac City in 2010.
To learn more about the contest and the Top Ten restaurants, including addresses and hours, visit www.iabeef.org.
Story courtesy of the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network.
Image courtesy of the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association ICA.
