Big Max Burger Co

"Simply the prospect of Big Max Burger Co.’s bacon-beef patties and herb-salted shoestring fries is enough to get us through a long Monday—a scenario that should be followed by a cheeseburger. The burgers here, covered in aged cheddar, caramelized onion, chunky bread and butter pickles, and special sauce, are excellent, as is the Nashville-style fried chicken sandwich complete with a smoky chili glaze and lots of ranch. Supplement your meal with a milkshake, individual bottles of frozen rosé, caesar salads, fried brussels sprouts with kettle corn caramel, and puffy battered chicken nuggets with sweet and sour for dipping." - aimee rizzo, gabe guarente

"This “fine fast food” restaurant in Upper Queen Anne — from chef Maximillian Petty, of fancy Eden Hill fame, whose own young kids feature heavily in the company’s social media presence — serves nostalgic burgers a cut above thanks to challah buns, smoked cheddar, house ketchup, and patties made of local beef and bacon ground on-site. The Little Sammy Slider shrinks the package with a two-ounce patty manageable for smaller appetites. Big Max’s milkshakes, chicken sandwiches, and chicken nuggets are winners too." - Harry Cheadle

"The “Big Max” cheeseburger at this family-friendly restaurant in Queen Anne is a two-handed, happily messy mass. Big Mac lovers will enjoy the nostalgia factor, with two beef and bacon patties, “Max” sauce (tangy from sherry vinegar and mustard), aged white cheddar, pickles, plus a combination of caramelized white and raw red onions that makes this a super-elevated McDonald’s experience." - Jay Friedman

"Simply the prospect of Big Max Burger Co.’s bacon-beef patties and herb-salted shoestring fries is enough to power us through a long workday or a grueling weekend hike—two scenarios that should be followed by a cheeseburger. The burgers here, covered in aged cheddar, caramelized onion, chunky bread and butter pickles, and special sauce, are excellent, as is the Nashville-style fried chicken sandwich complete with a smoky chili glaze and lots of ranch. Supplement your meal with a milkshake, individual bottles of frozen rosé, caesar salads, fried brussels sprouts with kettle corn caramel, and puffy battered chicken nuggets with sweet and sour for dipping." - aimee rizzo

"The bacon being ground into the burgers at Big Max is just one of the reasons why they belong on this list. This smoky and fatty beef mixes with sharp cheddar, tangy bread and butter pickle chunks, and special sauce in a way that pairs very well with fancy homemade chicken nuggets and herbed shoestring fries. Plus, the combination of caramelized and fresh onion gives you both sweetness and a raw bite. " - aimee rizzo, kayla sager riley