DETROIT – We are on the hunt for the very best hamburger in Metro Detroit.
Like you, we’re sick of these “top 10 burgers” lists put out by every news organization and their mother. That’s why Carmichael Cruz and I, Cassidy Johncox, are putting our arteries at risk as we taste our way through the burgers of Southeast Michigan.
Together, we’re going to try every burger we possibly can to narrow down the best of the best of Metro Detroit. And we’re taking you along for the ride.
We’ve visited spots like Miller’s Bar, Grey Ghost, Redcoat Tavern and more. Now, we’re stopping at Bar Pigalle in Detroit’s Brush Park neighborhood.
Next stop: Bar Pigalle, Detroit
A French restaurant may not be your first thought when burger hunting, but we just couldn’t ignore Bar Pigalle in Detroit. We’d heard so many good things about their burger, so we knew we had to try it.
The “playfully modern French” cocktail bar, as it calls itself, has been open since 2022 on John R Street. The space was beautifully designed and lit, and was so welcoming on a cold weekday afternoon.
We got there right when they opened, sat down on the green velvet bench, and ordered burgers. No appetizers, no sides, no drinks. Straight to business.
The burger, which is only listed on their bar menu, costs $17 for a single and $21 for a double. I ordered a single and Carmichael ordered a double.
Both burgers came with “house” American cheese, dijonnaise, shredded iceberg lettuce, raw onion, and dill pickle on a brioche bun. They both arrived with some flaky salt sprinkled on top.
We attached little microphones to our shirts so we could record our reactions while eating. To spare you from the gross chewing sounds, we’ve written out the conversation for you to read, instead.
Here’s how it went.
Chewing the fat
Carmichael: Right off the bat, I love those little pinches of salt.
Cassidy: And not because we’re obsessed with salt. Laughs. It’s just cute.
Carmichael: This smells sooo good, too. I can smell the sauce.
Cassidy: That brioche bun smells amazing.
Carmichael: I can’t wait anymore! Let’s eat.
First bites commence.
Cassidy: Wow.
Carmichael: Mmmmm. That is so buttery. And there’s a tartness that’s so evident in that first bite.
Cassidy: That is something you don’t really get with burgers. That’s one of my favorite flavor profiles, so I’m liking it.
Carmichael: I like the taste of the salt on top, too. It’s not overly salty, but I definitely taste this salt and it works well.
Cassidy: Agreed. This bun is nice and crispy on the inside where it was grilled, but it’s also pillowy soft on top. It’s flaking apart almost like a pastry. I love it.
More chewing and telling the server that we’re enjoying our meals.
Carmichael: I think the tartness is coming from the pickles? Maybe the sauce? It’s still coming through and I really like it.
Cassidy: How is the double burger? Are the ratios alright?
Carmichael: Yes! It’s perfect. A perfect double.
Cassidy: These are proper smash patties, at least. It’s not a massive double like you’ve had before. Mine’s smaller than yours, but the proportions feel perfect here, too.
Cassidy: The bun actually looks really thick, but it’s honestly light as air.
We both decide to take bites of just the meat to see how it tastes.
Carmichael: The meat is delicious on its own. Even without the cheese. Good, beefy flavor.
Cassidy: And it’s really simple in flavor, but still prominent. It’s clearly salty.
Carmichael: The burger tastes like beef and salt. And that’s what you want. Good-tasting meat.
Cassidy: There’s a lot of flavor coming from everything else, especially the sauce. So, the meat flavor pairs well.
Carmichael: I think even without the sauce, this would be a great burger.
Cassidy: The sauce really sets it apart, though. I don’t think I’ve ever had a burger that tastes like this. It does help that the pickles are quite vinegar-y. Maybe even a malt vinegar?
Carmichael: I could see that. I also like the amount of cheese here. It’s not overly cheesy, but they add a good amount.
Cassidy: It’s completely melted just how I like it. It’s also holding in the onions, which I appreciate.
Savoring our final bites.
Carmichael: It’s actually a somewhat greasy burger, but I love it. It’s not dripping oil or anything, but it’s super moist.
Cassidy: Is that the grease? I don’t know. This does kind of remind me of an elevated fast food burger. And this bun is seriously like a croissant.
Carmichael: I am literally licking my plate clean.
Cassidy: I don’t think this is my top burger yet. It’s not my favorite in terms of overall flavor, so far. But this is still an excellent burger.
Carmichael: I’d come back for this, for sure.
Cassidy: Oh, yeah! Me too.
Overall rating
As we taste more and more burgers, our ratings may change in the future. Until our final results are published, all of our ratings will be considered preliminary. Still, we have established a baseline, and where the burgers fall on our grading scale is becoming clearer and clearer!
For Bar Pigalle: The burgers were excellent. All of the ingredients were tasty and of great quality, and the proportions were perfect. This was one of our favorite burgers so far. The only reason it isn’t at the top of our list is because of its distinct flavor -- which wasn’t a bad thing at all, but also wasn’t exactly what we’re searching for. The search continues, but we’d definitely return for these burgers (and wonderful service).
Our ratings are as follows (on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being the best):
- Carmichael’s rating: 9.1
- Cassidy’s rating: 9.2
Find all Burger Breakdowns here
Why are we doing this?
After trying countless hamburgers in our lives, we are on the hunt for the very best burger Metro Detroit has to offer. We’re selecting restaurants from viewer submissions, the most common “top burger” lists, and from our own lists, and tasting them all to see which is really the greatest.
When asking viewers where the best Metro Detroit burger is, we received over 600 responses. While we can’t try 600 burgers (I don’t think we’d survive), we’re going to get through as many as we can.
In short, we’re on the hunt for the moment when we can say: “Now, that’s the best burger I’ve ever had,” and we’re reporting on what we find. We’re both huge lovers of food, cooking, and the social scene, and we’re frequently trying new food and places throughout Southeast Michigan.
This journey will take us to many different restaurants that cater to different budgets. While we can’t get to every Metro Detroit restaurant and burger, we aren’t excluding any specific type of establishment from our search -- save for chains that aren’t specifically local.
As we hunt for the very best burger around, we will stop in at some dives, some higher-end spots, and everything in between. Our criteria will be the same for everyone, and we won’t be rating the more expensive burgers higher for any reason -- they’ll be graded for their quality and value just the same.
Have a spot you think we absolutely have to try? Let us know in an email or in the comments below, and we may add it to our list! Again, we’re avoiding chains, unless they’re local.