Top Five Chef's Burgers

1. Bison Burger at The Local Eatery & Pub
14655 N. Gray Rd., Westfield, 317-218-3786, localeateryandpub.com
Sea salt and Cabernet-caramelized onions flavor the lean bison meat. Melting cheddar and house sauce (a combination of mayo, stoneground mustard, and horseradish) put it at the top of the list of house burgers at restaurateurs Derek Means and Craig Baker’s family-friendly brasserie. $15
2. Plancha Burger at Plow & Anchor
43 E. 9th St., 317-964-0538, plowandanchor.com
Chef John Adams starts with two patties seared on the 400-degree Spanish grill from which this gourmet burger gets its name. The beef balances on butter lettuce, with spicy ketchup, onion jam, fresh pickle chips, and drunken goat cheese. $15
3. Black Market Burger at Black Market
922 Massachusetts Ave., 317-822-6757, blackmarketindy.net
A beef-and-lamb patty comes topped with grilled red onion, green-tomato pickles, and a goat-cheese spread with the perfect creamy fattiness to cut the char of the burger, which chef Micah Frank serves medium-rare. $16
4. The Grille’s Signature Cheeseburger at The Capital Grille
40 W. Washington St., 317-423-8790, thecapitalgrille.com
Offered on the lunch menu at the high-end chain’s downtown-Indy location, this mammoth puck of chopped sirloin blended with bacon and onions is sheathed in molten white cheddar. $17
5. 403 Burger at Topo’s 403
403 N. Walnut St., Bloomington, 812-676-8676, topos403.com
Soft-crusted pita bread made in house and smeared with a spicy feta spread serves as the bun in this chic Mediterranean restaurant’s take on the lamb burger. Chunky sweet onion–tomato chutney stands in for ketchup. $16