Lately I’m obsessed by the burgers! 😉 Probably the reason is to be found in my decision to write this article on this matter or because burgers are always very appetizing. In recent months, I have collected different lunches and dinners in some different places of the city where it’s possible to eat this lovely dish. Here, you can find the result of my “hard” work (;)): my list of 10 places where to eat gourmet burgers in Modena.

Probably there will be many other places that I will not miss to discover and try in the future (if you know, please write them in the comments), because in recent years the phenomenon of gourmet burgers has diffused itself in many Italian cities, after having depopulated in other countries of the world.

Hamburger, a great American classic, which owes its name to the German city of Hamburg, became gourmet at the beginning of the year 2000 thanks to the famous French Chef Daniel Boulud, owner of several restaurants in New York and around the world, who starts to get interested in this preparation. He was able to make it become a cool dish, very different from the version served in fast-food restaurants. In New York, the hamburger, simply called burger, has become almost an art: people usually don’t eat it at home but in the restaurant or in burger places.

In Italy, today, it is believed that Milan is the Italian capital of gourmet burgers but we also owe partly of the success of them to our Chef Massimo Bottura, a Modenese character who doesn’t need many presentations, who diffused the revisitation of the hamburger in our country and not only. His “Emilia” version, which includes a beef and Cotechino burger, enriched with green sauce and balsamic vinegar mayonnaise, has become, in fact, very famous and it was presented at the Shake Schack of New York for the Columbus Day in 2014. Today the Emilia Burger has been inserted in the menu of Franceschetta 58, one of my favorite restaurants in my city.

Gourmet burgers in Modena: 10 places that I suggest

1) Franceschetta 58

So I couldn’t start my list from… the original Emilia Burger, Chef Bottura’s creation: made with beef, Parmigiano-Reggiano, green sauce, sausage of Cotechino and balsamic mayonnaise prepared with balsamic vinegar. You can found this burger both in the tasting menu and in the regular menu, among the starters, of Franceschetta 58, a place that I love so much. Although Emilia Burger is a mini version, here, I guarantee you that it is really good! Try it 🙂

Franceschetta 58 is in via Vignolese 58, not so far from the center of Modena by foot.
Phone +39 059 3091008 – www.franceschetta.it

2) The “Ristretto”

When I think about “Ristretto“, I immediately remind its lovely Pastrami burger. Pastrami is a particular type of preparation based on beef, but also pork or mutton, with Turkish, Romanian and Israeli origins. With a smoky and very spicy flavor, this specialty is obtained by following a precise process that derives from its primary conservation: raw meat is put under brine, then dried and seasoned with various spices (such as garlic, pepper, paprika, coriander and cloves), smoked and finally steamed and sliced. Pastrami, that is very diffused in the United States, is becoming a refined dish also in Italy and the hamburger is a great classic. In addition to Pastrami burger, you can also find at Ristretto another type of burger, specially thought by Chef Silvia using only seasonal ingredients.

Ristretto is in the center of Modena, in vicolo Coccapani 5.
Phone +39 059 839 6497

3) Maxelâ 

Maxelâ is a restaurant that I really like both for the cozy and easy atmosphere, typical of an Italian “osteria”, and for its different and excellent meat dishes. Maxelâ is the perfect place for meat lovers: here the meat is prepared in many ways (raw, grilled and in the pan) and of course they can’t miss inviting gourmet burgers. Chips (made at the moment) to accompany the dishes are delicious. This place is a great classic that is always appreciated!

Maxelâ is located in the heart of historic center of Modena, in Vicolo Frassone 10, a side road of Corso Canalchiaro.
Phone +39 059 238080

4) Mattatoio

Mattatoio is a steak hall. The meat here is served with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a pinch of salt. We start from the cuts of meat with bone to arrive to… burgers! Many are the types of burgers offered here, including some vegan variants. I’ve tried the butcher’s burger with durum wheat bread, double cheese, bacon and grilled vegetables. Very appetizing!

Mattatoio is in via Berengario 86, it’s near the center but you can reach it also by car.

Phone + 39 059 219809

5) Il Luppolo e l’Uva

Another interesting place to enjoy a good gourmet burger is Il Luppolo e L’Uva, a wine bar that serves also foods, run by Chefs Stefano Corghi and Marisa Facci. It’s a nice place, suitable for an informal but quality dinner, where dishes are prepared only with seasonal ingredients in order to give you the opportunity to taste only the best products of the territory. Even the burgers that you find in the menu are inspired by the same philosophy: meat comes from fine breeds, vegetables are Bio and grown at 0 km and sauces are strictly home-made only with selected ingredients.

Il Luppolo e l’Uva is in via Staffette Partigiane 31, in Sacca (La Marmora) neighborhood (you need a car to get there).

Phone + 39 059 8638009 – www.luppoloeuva.it

6) Mob Burgers & Cocktail

This nice place is perfect to eat burgers. The choice is varied: it starts from meat burger, to get to fish or vegetarians ones, all accompanied by chips or salad. In the menu, reported on the placemat used to set the tables, there are other delicious dishes such as “i fritti & gli sfizi”, that are fried food and fine appetizers. Mob Burgers & Cocktail is an interesting address that remind a little bit an American bar but more sophisticated: it has an urban style, nice wooden furniture and some rustic details. During the summer you can eat under the beautiful veranda overlooking the lively Pomposa square. Next to this burger bar, there is also its restaurant & lounge bar a trendy place, where the burgers disappear and sophisticated tapas are served.

Mob is in center of Modena, in Pomposa square, in via Castelmaraldo 42.
Phone + 39 059 839 5370

7) Lo Steba – Braceria e Pinseria

Lo Steba is a place to eat delicious burgers but also special “pinsas”, with organic flour and a 72 hours natural leavening. The idea is by Stefano Beretta, whose nickname is “Steba”, who after working for several years in the marketing field has changed his life and has opened this place. Together with pinsas, the main specialities here are the burgers. The menu is full of offers and types, also studied for special occasions or celebrations. 

The bread is homemade prepared with little yeast. The ingredients are deeply linked to our Modenese territory. This is way in which very interesting proposals have been created: the SteBoun Burger, with Cotechino of Modena IGP, pumpkin cream, traditional balsamic vinegar of Modena and green sauce or the SteMudnés Burger, based on the sausage of Modena DOC, pesto of becon, cream of Parmigiano-Reggiano seasoned 24 months, a reduction of balsamic vinegar of Modena and fondue of golden onions of Medicine. Needless to say that this place should be tried!

Lo Steba is in the center of Modena, in Corso Adriano 13A.
Phone +39 3493768656 – www.losteba.it

8) Punta Macelleria

The Punta Macelleria Bistrot, as the name describes, is a butcher-bistro where you can go for lunch or dinner to enjoy delicious dishes and meat specialties, gourmet burgers included!
At lunch the proposal is of 5 types of burgers: the Fabulous, Traditional, Emilian, Perugino, Montanaro. At dinner a menù is present a Trio of Mini Burger (Traditional, Emilian, Mountain). The place is small, there are 6 or 7 tables, the service is very qualified and the quality of raw materials used is high. There is a wide choice of wines thanks to a well-stocked wine shop: more than 200 labels are on the shelf.

Punta Macelleria is located in Strada Vignolese 464
Phone +39 059 363306- www.macellerialapunta.it

9) Hamerica’s

Hamerica’s is the perfect place to immerse yourself in an authentic American context. It is located in the historic centre, in Piazza Matteotti, and is a very pleasant place furnished in a 1970s “industrial” style. There are also some outdoor tables, under the portico, overlooking the square.
You’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to American-style inspired dishes, among which the excellent quality hamburgers stand out. The sweet potatoes are good. Also try the desserts.

Hamerica’s is located in Piazza Matteotti 10
www.hamericas.com

10) Oh Modena

Oh Modena offers quality hamburgers, with a unique taste and original combinations. The place is nice in a modern industrial style. An interesting stop for those with a sweet tooth.

Oh Modena is located in Viale Jacopo Barozzi 142
www.ohmodena.it

These are my suggestions for burger lovers! In these places you can test the best gourmet burgers of Modena. Let me know in the comments what you think and if you have any other places to add to my list. I love burgers and it would be great to discover new places 😉