Meet the finalists for the best burger in NSW

The search is once again on to find the best pub burger in New South Wales, as part of the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence, with 16 finalists revealed, reports The Shout.

With takes on this pub classic including ‘The Truffle Shuffle’, ‘The Wagyu Luxe’ and ‘The Widow Maker’, it promises to be a tough competition this year, with the winner to be named at a gala ceremony on Monday, 24 October 2022 at The Cutaway, Barangaroo.

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said the competition is only in its fourth year but has already become a popular part of the annual awards.

“A hamburger has obviously long been a staple part of the pub menu, but the burgers listed in this year’s awards are in a category all their own,” said Whelan.

“Despite the challenges of the last few years, our pub chefs have been working away on new and creative takes on the pub classic, and the results are as varied and unique as the choice of beers to wash them down with.

“These burgers are the most photographed items on social media so they look good, but at the end of the day it always comes down to the taste.”

The finalists include:

Bangor Tavern, Bangor,
Cauliflower Hotel, Waterloo
Commonwealth Hotel Newcastle, Cooks Hill,
Elanora Hotel, East Gosford
Greenwood Hotel, North Sydney
Newmarket Hotel, Rosebery
Rose of Australia, Erskineville
Royal Hotel Bowral, Bowral
Royal Hotel Darlington, Darlington
Tattersalls Hotel, Inverell
The Burwood Hotel, Burwood
The Camellia Hotel, Rosehill
The Prince of Merewether, Merewether
The Riley, Darlinghurst
The Shortland Hotel, Shortland
The Windsor Castle Hotel, East Maitland

Whelan said the Awards for Excellence celebrates the hard work and achievements of the hotel industry.

“It’s something we have not been able to do since 2019, so there has never been a better time to come together and recognise the resilience and innovation of our incredible industry after some tough years,” he said.

“This stand-out list of finalists is proof that despite the adversity and impacts of COVID-19 our pubs are still the best in the world.”

A full list of finalists for this year’s AHA NSW Awards for Excellence can be found at www.ahaawardsnsw.com.au