Rochester, NYBurgers

A Monroe Avenue tavern known for its smash burger: ground chuck with bacon-chive-blue cheese butter, or American and Swiss with Russian dressing and sauteed onions on grilled sourdough.

A craft-burger bar on East Main Street with a full build-your-own spec and an actual bar, a newer entry to the Rochester burger scene.

Swillburger is a pinball-arcade bar and burger counter in the South Wedge, and CITY Magazine's own write-up puts the room's double smash at the center of it, griddled American and a signature sauce against a wall of machines. Order the double smash, then work through the arcade while you wait for it.

The Good Luck burger is an achievement in simplistic perfection, CITY Magazine writes: a one-pound patty of chuck and brisket sourced from Finger Lakes farms, brined in house, served on a brioche bun with vegetable slaw, Cuba cheddar and a heaping helping of fries. The size begs for sharing. Order the burger with the fries, in the Anderson Avenue room off the Neighborhood of the Arts.

The GateHouse sits in the Village Gate complex on North Goodman Street, and CITY Magazine's Rebecca Rafferty singles out its salads named for local landmarks, the Durand Nicoise loaded with prepared vegetables, a hard-boiled egg, seared ahi tuna and olives. (585) Magazine lists the room among the city's restaurants. Order the burger, or go the other way and take the Durand Nicoise as a meal in itself.