Southern Burger: Poetry of Beer and Burger
In the past few years, artisan burgers have become something of a cultural phenomenon in Chattanooga. This fabulous trend in culinary art is partially a result of the hard work and determination of Christian Siler, owner of Southern Burger.
Back in 2010, Christian began to tickle the taste buds with his Southern Burger food truck, supplying downtown with “the meanest gourmet burgers the streets of Chattanooga have ever seen.” Since then, his enterprise has blossomed into a full restaurant in Ooltewah, where they take the art of the burger very seriously.
Southern Burger compares their sandwiches to poetry, saying that “A good burger has a lot in common with a sonnet. Each has a set structure to support almost infinite creativity. In a burger’s case you start with two buns, a patty and the toppings. In a sonnet’s case you start with a set rhyme scheme and number of stanzas. Where you take your burger or your poem from there is up to you.”
If you like hand-crafted burgers and craft beers, this restaurant will blow your mind. Every item on their menu is made from locally and regionally sourced products; they even make their own ketchup (five gallons of it every week). They grind their own beef and serve it on a Niedlov’s bun. They use Duke’s mayonnaise, Wickle’s pickles, Red Oak lettuce, and kale from Fall Creek Farms.
Furthermore, all of their sauces are made in-house: mustard, ranch, buffalo ranch, curry ketchup, Southern sauce, Bacon Jam and Habanero Jam. Their fries are hand cut, and their milkshakes are hand dipped.
There’s nothing quite like enjoying a delicious milkshake made from local milk after devouring a majestic artisan burger and fries.
Though a craft beer works just as well.
