DC's Burger Wars Heat Up

• June 30th 2010

by Mark Wellborn

Two weeks ago it was furniture, last week it was gadgets and this week our retail/restaurant segment focuses on an American institution: the hamburger.

This morning, WBJ’s Missy Frederick reported that Bobby Flay, one of the original celebrity chefs, is looking around DC for a place to open an outpost of Bobby’s Burger Palace. According to Frederick, Flay is looking at “sites in the 3,500 square foot range in the higher-end neighborhoods of DC.” Word has it that he was interested in the old McDonald’s space in Cleveland Park, but that will be occupied by the second branch of Georgetown’s Tackle Box.

If Bobby’s Burger Palace ends up opening, it will be just the latest contender in DC’s burger wars, and it probably won’t open in Dupont Circle, an area that has become saturated with grease in the past several months.

In late October 2009, BGR Joint opened on Connecticut Avenue just north of Dupont Circle and made headlines with a tattoo promotion and recently with its 14-pickle Strasburger, in honor of Washington Nationals ace Stephen Strasburg’s penchant for strikeouts. A few months later, Rogue States joined the battle by opening up on the other side of the Circle and offering eclectic options like No Burger, No Cry (toppings include jerk spices, red onion and habañeros). And, as if two wasn’t enough for the neighborhood, BLT/GoBurger from the Bistro Laurent Tourondel franchise, is set to open up across the street from Rogue States in the old Salad O Mio location this coming fall/winter.

Needles to say, Chef Flay will likely choose another neighborhood for his burger spot.

This article originally published at https://dc.urbanturf.com/articles/blog/dcs_burger_wars_heat_up/2221.