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That’s right, I’ve been on the hunt for the best gourmet burgers that Napa Valley has to offer and I’ve compiled a fantastic list. Is it just me or does Saint Helena have the lock-down on burgers? I know there’s more than just these five, but surely this is a good start for all you burger lovers out there!

1. Goose & Gander | 1245 Spring Street | Saint Helena
I just can’t get enough of the fanciful burger at Goose & Gander in Saint Helena. Made with grass-fed beef, gruyere cheese, bacon, remoulade and Manhattan pickles, this burger is anything but ordinary. Did I mention it comes with a side of duck fat fries? Plan on skipping a couple meals before you chow down on this bad boy, because it’s a hearty serving and you won’t want to leave any of those fries behind—trust me! And if you’re feeling the need to go over the top, you can choose add-ons like bone marrow and foie gras. How’s that for gourmet?

2. Farmstead at Long Meadow Ranch | 738 Main Street | Saint Helena
I’ve been to Farmstead too many times to count and each time I visit, it’s hard to deny the temptation of their grass-fed cheeseburger on a potato bun with cheddar, arugula and crispy potatoes. Cooked to medium-rare perfection, this juicy burger hits the spot, and the crisp potatoes are an upscale, tastier version of fries. I like the use of arugula instead of lettuce in this burger, giving it that delicious earthy bite that arugula always offers. Like any good Napa Valley burger, it comes with the option to add a farm-fresh fried egg, bacon or fresh slices of heirloom tomato. Delish!

3. Gott’s Roadside | 933 Main Street in Saint Helena | 644 1st Street in Napa
There’s two great locations in Napa Valley to get your Gott’s fix and in my eyes, that’s a good thing, because this is the kind of place you go when you just have to get your hands on a classic burger—Napa Valley style! My favorite is the good old-fashioned cheeseburger, served with the classic lineup of American cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and Gott’s delicious secret sauce on a toasted egg bun. Pair that up with a side of garlic fries and you’re craving will be satisfied in no time. But by no means is the classic burger or cheeseburger all Gott’s offers—the options here are endless, with all kinds of topping combinations that will tickle your taste buds. If you’re feeling more gourmet, opt for one of the burgers that have ingredients like a fried egg, bacon, beer-battered onions rings, Point Reyes blue cheese, avocado or grilled mushrooms—told you the options were endless!

4. Boon Fly Café at The Carneros Resort & Spa | 4048 Sonoma Highway | Napa
I’m a total sucker for upscale diner-style restaurants. Boon Fly Café brings classic diner dishes to life with their fresh and tasty ingredients, and their burgers are to die for. They’ve got two options, both served on a house-made brioche poppy seed bun with the classic fixings of lettuce and tomatoes. Yes, these burgers are simple, but they are absolutely delicious because the beef is just so good. The first option is a Kobe beef burger—yes please! And the second option, for all you locavores out there, is a Stemple Creek grass-fed burger that comes from cattle raised at Stemple Creek Ranch in Petaluma. Classic add-ons like cheese, avocado, mushrooms and a fried egg are also offered. You can order this with fries or a salad, but trust me, you’ll be sorry if you miss out on the deliciously crispy, thin-cut fries. (Side note: you should probably save some room for their melt-in-your-mouth homemade donuts, served with chocolate dipping sauce.)

5. Kitchen Door in The Oxbow | 610 1st Street #24 | Napa
The Oxbow is only about ten minutes from The Wine Advocate office, so I find myself there for lunch on occasion when the leftovers I brought don’t seem appetizing. Although the monstrous ½ pound Kobe beef burger at Kitchen Door is more of a dinner-sized portion, rather than lunch, it’s nice to splurge every once in awhile and bring home the leftovers for my hubby. Grilled medium and topped with tasty stewed onions, Swiss cheese, secret sauce (always a favorite ingredient of mine) and house-made pickles, this is a hearty burger that is sure to hit the spot every time. And just like every place on this list, the fries are everything you want: thin, crispy and full of flavor.