Elm’s Club makes Iowa’s Best Burger list for third year

Elm's Club in Creston is cooking up a tradition of being among one of the top places in the state to order a hamburger.

The restaurant made Iowa’s Best Burger Top Ten list for the third year in a row. Elm’s Club co-owner Donna King said they are hopeful the third time is the charm to take the contest’s top honor.

“It is exciting because it involves a lot of restaurants and a lot of people,” King said.

Iowans submitted more than 4,000 nomination votes between Feb. 11 and March 10 that selected the top restaurants of 2015. A total of 286 Iowa restaurants received votes.

This is the sixth year for the contest, which is put on by the Iowa Cattlemen’s Association and Iowa Beef Industry Council.

“It is a real postive for us, and it is a lot of fun,” King said. “It gives people something to talk about. We even have some people that will make the rounds and have their own little contest ... going around to each of the restaurants and deciding which one they think is best.”

In 2014, Brick City Grill in Ames won the crown for the state’s best burger. The resturaunt’s owner, Jason Mikkelsen, is an Orient-Macksburg graduate.

New restaurants making the list this year are Saucy Focaccia in Cedar Rapids, The Cider House in Fairfield and Down Right Delicious in Clarinda.

“The addition of new restaurants shows that Iowa restaurants know that burgers will always be a popular item on their menus,” said Iowa Beef Industry Council Chairman Roger Brummett of Bedford. “Restaurants love to make burgers and their customers love to eat them.”

Elm’s Club, 108 N. Elm St., is owned by Mike, Donna and Gus King. Mike and Donna purchased the business in 1976 and Gus joined as a partner in 1987. The restaurant celebrated their 39th year March 15.

Their signature burgers are fresh, never frozen patties that are hand-prepared each morning.

“Nothing has really changed,” King said. “We know the presentation is a big part of it ... we don’t have the luxury of using china plates, but we focus on fresh produce and preparing our patties fresh each morning.”

All 10 restaurants will be visited by judges who will evaluate the hamburgers based on taste, appearance, and proper serving temperature (160 degrees).

King said another fun part of the contest is never knowing who the judge is, or when he or she comes in to try their hamburger.

“This year we have a good representation across the state, which shows Iowans have a very special place in their heart for burgers,” Brummett said. “The burger is the all-American classic served in almost every restaurant from the local cafe to the finest white tablecloth establishment.”

In addition to their burgers, Elm’s Club was recognized for their tenderloin sandwich by the Iowa Pork Association in 2003.

To learn more about the burger contest, visit www.iabeef.org where you can find a map of the 10 finalist or "friend" the Iowa Beef Council Facebook page. The winner will be announced May 4.

“We always like to praise our staff and our customers,” King said. “We will keep plugging away and hopefully we can win.”