Brookline’s Fireplace Restaurant Ranked #1 in Online Burger Battle

(Brookline, MA) – July 13, 2012 – Almost 10,000 votes were cast but at the end of the Boston Magazine and Amstel Light-sponsored online contest for the area’s best burger, The Fireplace Restaurant in Washington Square stands alone as the winner.

“This is a tremendous honor not only for The Fireplace, but for chef-owner Jim Solomon and for Brookline,” says Harry Robinson, Executive Director of the Brookline Chamber of Commerce. “Jim and the Fireplace represent not only the best burger around, but also what it means to be a successful business person in Brookline – who also gives back to the community in so many ways. The Chamber is delighted to celebrate the success of one of its own.”

There were 57 contestants in the online competition, each with its own creative take on the American staple. “I like simple food with integrity, and I’m always a sucker for a good burger,” says Solomon. “I went with the best versions of some pretty simple ingredients, and a bun that doesn’t take over, so you can taste them.” The Fireplace entry – a Shelburne Farms cheddar stuffed grass-fed Vermont burger with thick cut bacon, caramelized onions, lettuce, tomato and a house brined dill pickle on a homemade English muffin - ranked in the top ten from the very start, but faced a heated race to first.

“I’m psyched that we took first, because we’re a locally owned and operated green business, not a chain,” said Solomon. “We’re committed to using what’s local and in season in our restaurant and in our catering. It’s about integrity for me, and it’s a nice affirmation that that’s what diners want too.”

Solomon and the Fireplace Restaurant will now compete against 19 other finalists in a cook-off on August 7. “We hope to make Brookline proud - and we’d love folks to come out to the Fireplace to taste why our burger won.”