Winners announced in Pittsburgh's Best Burgers contest

WPXI viewers submitted thousands of votes and on Thursday, I surprised the winners of the Pittsburgh's Best Burgers contest.

The first-place winner was Burgatory, located in Fox Chapel.

The second-place award went to Beer Nutz Bottle Shoppe & Grille, located in O'Hara Township.

Bubba's Gourmet Burghers and Beer in Bridgeville won third-place in the competition.

The final results were determined by combining each finalist's taste test score and the result of the public vote.

TASTE TEST:

The Pittsburgh’s Best Burgers blind taste test was held at the Channel 11 studios on March 12.

The top finalists were invited to submit a signature burger, and our panel of celebrity judges, including personalities from WPXI-TV, KISS FM, Pittsburgh Zoo and The ScareHouse put each one to the test.

With a wide variety of toppings, each finalist scored very high in the competition.

While it was a close race, the winner of the taste test was Burgatory in Fox Chapel with its Potluck Burger. The Potluck Burger features an all-natural beef burger with coffee braised pot roast, pan gravy, aged sharp cheddar, haystack onions and horseradish aioli on toasted brioche.

The unique Ruination Burger from Beer Nutz in O’Hara Township overwhelmed the judge, and took home second-place. The Ruination Burger features a beef burger topped with cheese, bacon, onion rings, lettuce, tomato and a fried egg between two large grilled cheese sandwiches posing as the bun.

The third-place winner was the Dirt Rag Delight from Over The Bar Bicycle Café in the South Side. The Dirt Rag Delight features a beef burger topped with American cheese, pickles, peppered bacon and dressed with a unique honey roasted peanut butter.

Bubba’s Gourmet Burghers and Beer scored big points with its N’awlins Burgher featuring brisket, prime rib and short ribs ground fresh with homemade Cajun seasoning, fresh chipotle mayo, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion on a fresh baked kaiser roll.

BRGR in Cranberry wowed the judges with its 3 Little Pigs burger featuring smoked pork belly, pepper bacon, Angus beef, bacon chili aioli, braised red cabbage and smoked cheddar cheese.

Finalist Someone Else’s Bar in Castle Shannon submitted its fantastic Breakfast Burger featuring Angus beef, bacon, cheddar cheese, egg and a homemade potato pancake.

The largest and most intimidating looking burger belonged to Jergels Rhythm Grille in Warrendale. The Jergles Double Burger stands more than 8 inches tall and features two large beef burgers, BBQ pulled pork, bacon, American and provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Winghart's Burger & Whiskey Bar in Pittsburgh is no stranger to the competition, taking third-place in the 2011 Pittsburgh’s Best Burgers contest. Wingharts submitted a delicious burger featuring all-natural beef, hickory smoked bacon, caramelized onions, white truffle aioli on a fresh bun.

East Coast Sandwiches in Sewickley brought the mouthwatering Hot Sausage Burger. The Hot Sausage Burger is a mix of hot sausage and ground beef topped with melted bleu cheese crumbles and a homemade BBQ sauce.

The burgers were judged on taste, appearance and texture.

If your favorite restaurant did not place at the top of the taste test, never fear!

Voting will open to the public Monday, March 18 at 3 p.m. on WPXI.com and close Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m.

The winners are determined by a combination of the public vote and taste test scores. They will be revealed during the week of March 26. Award plaques will be given to the first, second and third place restaurants. Award certificates will be given to the remaining finalists.

The burgers were judged on taste, appearance and texture.

CONTEST FINALISTS:

Beer Nutz Bottle Shoppe & Grille, O'Hara Township

OTB (Over The Bar) Bicycle Café, South Side

Winghart's Burger & Whiskey Bar, Market Square

BRGR Bar, Cranberry 

Someone Else's Bar, Castle Shannon

East Coast Sandwiches, Sewickley

CONTEST GUIDELINES:

1. The top 10 burgers were first determined by the number of valid nominations received and second, by the willingness of the burger restaurant to participate.

2. The nomination process opened Wednesday, Feb 13, 2013 at 12 p.m. and closed Wednesday, Feb 27, 2013 at 12 p.m. Our finalists were determined at that time.

3. A taste test was held at the Channel 11 studios during the week of March 11. Each finalist delivered one style of signature burger of their choice for the test. If a restaurant did not show up for the taste test they were disqualified.

4. Voting will open to the public Monday, March 18, at 3 p.m. on WPXI.com and close Tuesday, March 26 at 3 p.m. Voting results will remain hidden.

5. The winners will be revealed during the week of March 25. Award plaques will be given to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners as determined by the public vote and taste test scores. Award certificates will be given to the remaining finalists.

WPXI