The Village cheeseburgerurger, at Village Burger restaurant in Dunwoody, Georgia, features two beef patties, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and village sauce. The family-owned restaurant opened in 2010. (Photo by Carmen K. Sisson/TumbleweedSOUTH)
Village Burger is a jewel of a find, down a nowhere road I never could have expected would yield so much beefy goodness and the cheeseburger of my dreams.
Now I love a great cheeseburger — some of you have probably seen me wax poetic about a few places (like Ron’s Hamburgers & Chili in Tulsa, Oklahoma). I keep a running list of places I would drive hours to return to, and tonight, Village Burger was added to that elite roster of hedonism.
I was charmed by the joint the minute I walked in and saw the chalkboard menu and wooden farmhouse tables scratched by years of good use by hungry eaters. Nice, laid-back atmosphere suitable for all ages. They have two additional locations in John’s Creek and Tucker, but I highly recommend Dunwoody.
The line was to the door, but it moved quickly. I ordered the Village Burger cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, grilled onions, cheddar cheese, mayo, and Village sauce, with a side of seasoned fries. In preparation, I got some malt vinegar and Village sauce to dip my fries.
Patrons line up to place their orders at Village Burger, June, 1, 2014, in Dunwoody, Georgia. The family-owned restaurant was established in 2010. They serve an excellent cheeseburger. (Photo by Carmen K. Sisson/TumbleweedSOUTH)
Would you like fries with that cheeseburger?
Now let’s stop for a minute and talk about French fries — those supporting characters in an all-star cast.
These aren’t your average, forgettable pommes frites; these are real, skin-on fries. And somehow, Village Burger has achieved what seems hard for so many: They have produced a fry that’s lightly crunchy on the outside and soft and fluffy inside, without being overly greasy.
I didn’t add salt, and I didn’t need the Village sauce (which was a fairly innocuous substance that may be mayo/catsup or mayo/Thousand Island). Why mess with perfection?
The Village Burger cheeseburger: A two-handed treat
The burger was massive — a real two-handed treat. Two patties that were perfectly juicy, neither pink nor charred, surrounded by a fresh bun and toppings. I never tasted the Village sauce. Maybe my added mayo drowned it out.
My meal, with a Coke, came to $10.46, a real steal. I have paid double that for gourmet garbage. They also offered shakes and concretes.
The little building was equally enchanting. I loved the dimly lit interior, the close proximity to the kitchen, the way it felt like an odd mix between a diner, a pub, and a food truck. I also liked the music, which was not too loud or too soft but was a pleasant acoustic mix of Audioslave and Johnny Cash. It worked.
The whole setup worked. The atmosphere, the food, the price, the employees, the customers. Village Burger currently sits #2 on my list of All-Time Best Burgers.
It was just an off-the-chain, banging burger experience. Well done, Village Burger. Well done. (No pun intended.)
Patrons eat at Village Burger, June, 1, 2014, in Dunwoody, Georgia. The family-owned restaurant was established in 2010. (Photo by Carmen K. Sisson/TumbleweedSOUTH)
Info
Village Burger
1426 Dunwoody Village Pkwy/
Dunwoody, GA 30338
770-522-1600
Open 7 days a week 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
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