This is not the best burger in metro Detroit
Monday, October 1, 2012 at 8:02AM | Becks Davis 
There are people who will tell you that Miller’s Bar in Dearborn has the best burger in metro Detroit. They are wrong. What you will find at Miller’s is the best damn, no-nonsense bar burger in the area.
By bar burger, I mean you get a beef patty on a hamburger bun. That’s it. If you opt for cheese it’s going to be Swiss or Velveeta.
Complete with rotary phone, Miller’s Bar is stuck a few decades back in time. And that’s OK. In fact, that’s the charm. When you walk in, the place will most likely be full. You wait in line until a table is ready for you. Don’t expect them to bring you a menu once you're seated. There is one small menu hanging near the grill but you shouldn’t need it.
Let me explain.
Miller’s doesn’t have a full kitchen or chefs or ‘gourmet’ burgers. Nope. They have a grill and limited options. Hell, they don’t even have plates. Your burger will arrive at your table on a sheet of wax paper.
Your options? You can have a hamburger or a cheeseburger, or as they like to say, with or without. You can have fries or onion rings. Yes, they do have a few other items on the menu but why in the world would you go to a place known for their burgers and order a chicken or tuna sandwich? That just doesn’t make sense.
Along with your burger, they’ll bring over ketchup, mustard and a vat of pickle slices. If you’d like raw onion, they’ll happily serve that up for you on an additional piece of wax paper. There is some Grey Poupon behind the bar but just as I doubt you rolled up to Miller’s in a Rolls Royce, I doubt you’ll need or want the fancy mustard.
The burger is thick and juicy. Smartly, they put the cheese on the bottom half of the bun so it doesn’t needlessly intermingle with your condiments. The fries are OK but onion rings are definitely the better side item here. Order the onion rings!
You won't find a ton of choices behind the bar, either. They have pop in cans and until recently, limited beer options. Up until about six months ago your beer choices were little more than Miller or Budweiser. They have now added ‘craft’ beer, meaning additional choices such as Sierra Nevada in a bottle and a Leinenkugel seasonal on tap.
When you are finished with your fine bar burger, you won’t get a check. This doesn’t mean you’ve just happened upon a free lunch. Simply go up to the bar and tell them what you had, “two cheeseburgers, fries, onion rings, two beers and a pop.” Done. Bring cash.
No, the Miller’s Bar burger isn’t the best burger in metro Detroit. But… it is a juicy, tasty burger and the experience isn’t like any other in the area. This burger easily makes my top 10 list and it might even creep into the top 5. More than that, Miller’s Bar should be on your list of places to check out in metro Detroit.
Reader Comments (7)
I agree that it's not the best burger, but if you say that around some loyalists they might punch you in the mouth. Miller's is indeed beloved by many a Detroiter. And I also love the back-in-time ambiance. But let's face it, a lot of places can boast that. And Miller's definitely does not have back-in time prices...in fact, they are priced as if they are the best burger - which is too much for a bar burger served on wax paper. Personally, I prefer Mason's in Livonia for no-nonsense bar burgers. They are a bit cheaper, a few more choices for toppings, and you even get a plastic basket.
But you won't hear me saying any of this out loud in mixed company...I value my teeth.
Yes, they have a great bar burger. But their beer list is an embarrassment. I know it's a no-frills local joint, but the last time I was in there they had 0 Detroit or Michigan beers. The best was a Sam Adams BOSTON Lager. They don't have to go all beer snob, but how about a hat tip to the local brewers?
Rebecca,
I totally agree with you on price, way too much money for what you get. My husband and I each had a cheeseburger, we shared an order of fries, and had one half pint of Leinenkugel and one bottle of Bud. The total? $20.
I haven't tried Mason's, thanks for the tip!
JD,
Again, I totally agree with you! We like our craft beer and supporting the local breweries would be a great touch.
I'd like to think of myself as a bit of a burger aficionado, and have sampled some of the best burgers out there. From Santa Monica's Father's Office and their no ketchup policy to New York's treasured Shake Shack as well as their darker more sinister cousin Blackshack (complete with fountain drink chocolate soda!). I've even ventured out to Top Chef Angelo Sosa's restaurant Social Eatz to consume their renowned Bibimbap Burger!
Yet amidst our favorites in metro Detroit, all stand up nationally: Hunter House, Bates, Red Coat. I'll still stand by Miller's as hands down, best burger I've ever eaten. They could bottle the wafting smell of grease that trails you as you walk onto Michigan Avenue and I'd buy it by the bottle at Macy's.
So in that regard, I respectfully disagree - Miller's, in my humble opinion, is worth the money, and has earned a piece of the BCS (Burger Championship Series) title.
Craig,
Thanks for stopping by!
Miller's Bar definitely deserves a place in the Detroit BCS. It's just not MY favorite burger in Detroit. However, I think it's a place everyone should experience and, as I said, it's a damn fine bar burger.
I respect your opinion and love the outpouring of support for Miller's Bar from people who have ties to Dearborn.
I have a front-runner for my favorite burger in Detroit. But...I'm not satisfied. There is a burger in Milwaukee—that I haven't had in 15 years—that I still long for. Still searching for that burger brilliance that I once had.
Have any of you been there lately...............we went on a Saturday afternoon and it was 3nd rate at best....when we left the waitress chased us into the parking lot and told us to come back on a Wednesday, that's the day the "good" cook worked.