Battle of the Burgers

The rebirth of downtown White Plains has spurred a burger war – with three burger joints now open within walking distance of each other. Scarsdale High School senior Daniel Jureller set out to sample them all and to determine who had the tastiest burger.

Here is what he learned: We began our expedition at Cheeburger Cheeburger on Mamaroneck Avenue. We were instantly seated in the 1950’s-styled restaurant, with pressed tin walls, neon lights and jukeboxes. If the atmosphere is not enough to keep you busy while you wait for your order, try the batch of trivia cards you’ll find on the table. I ordered the original cheeseburger with French fries and an Oreo milkshake. The burger was grilled to perfection and tasty, and made for a perfect meal when coupled with the golden brown French fries topped with original seasoning. I also enjoyed the Oreo milkshake, which I selected from a choice of 74 different flavors of ice cream! For bigger eaters, Cheeburger offers a one-pound burger challenge –eat one of these giant stuffed hamburgers and you can earn yourself a place on the restaurant’s “wall of fame”. You can customize your cheeburger, chicken sandwich, or grilled cheese sandwich with special toppings – there are over 50 from which to choose -- including lettuce, A1 Steak Sauce, tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, artichoke hearts and pepperoni. And for those who prefer salad, Cheeburger has a full salad bar where many of these same toppings are available as well. Prices are reasonable and the overall experience was great.

My next stop was The Westchester Burger Company on Westchester Avenue. Parking was tricky but we found a spot in the lot behind the restaurant and were told it’s also okay to park at Stop & Shop next door. With a bit of a fancier touch, The Westchester Burger is a step up from your average burger place. Don’t be put off by the tight seating – the sacrifice in ambience is justified by the food. After looking at the menu, I decided to order the “Entourage”, a hamburger sandwiched between two grilled cheese buns. Although it was a lot to take down, it was pretty good, and came with a side of small shoestring fries. Though we were stuffed after the burgers, we couldn’t resist the Cinnabon sundae for dessert that we ate all too quickly. Overall the service at Westchester Burger was good, prices were higher than Cheeburger, Cheeburger but well worth it.

The last stop was Five Guys on Main Street, recently opened next to Citi Center. Five Guys functions a little differently than your average burger spot. Upon entering the store, customers wait in line to order from a menu that is more limited than those at the other two restaurants. I ordered a burger with lettuce, tomato, and onions and a side of Cajun fries. After you place your order and pay, you have to try and find a seat – which can be a challenge because the place is busy. When your food is ready, they call your number and it’s self serve. If you decide to eat there rather than take out your food there are free boxes of peanuts to eat while you wait. Although the burgers are not as large as Cheeburgers or the Westchester Burger Company, they are densely packed and filling. The food was good, but probably not good for you as I could see the grease from the burgers and the fries seeping through the brown bag. Five Guys is good for a fast meal and the process is simple. I would go back just to have another order of the Cajun fries.

Who had the tastiest burger? For taste, service, atmosphere, and pricing, my favorite burger spot hands down is Cheeburger Cheeburger. Try it for a fun, casual lunch or a reasonably priced dinner with friends or family.

Cheeburger Cheeburger
84 Mamaroneck Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 437-7537

Westchester Burger Company
106 Westchester Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 358-9399

Five Guys Burgers and Fries
240 Main Street
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 422-3483

Contributor Daniel Jureller is a senior at Scarsdale High School, headed to Lafayette College in the fall.  He is looking forward to studying English and education.