Burger Up

Homemade ketchup and salmon burger. DAS WASSUP!
The interior is very modern and hip! I don’t know if i would bring a huge crowd here for dinner though. The seatings are very limited and it does get crowded really easily here. But i feel like that gives off and goes along with the cozy and homey vibe that burger up was going for though.
My usual order is salmon burger with truffle fries! Hands down the best salmon burger i’ve ever had. The truffle fries are flavored to perfection. Pair that with the Jack Daniels house made ketchup?!? UM YES PLEASE! I really like that they put a jug of water at your table so you can quench your thirst after inhaling those truffle fries.
I would recommend coming here early if you’re a hangry (hungry/​angry) person. If not, you can always put your name down and walk around 12 south!

We visited our local favorite Burger Up (in the 12 South area) on Saturday 01.30.16 around 1 pm Central. We sat at the bar.
Eats & Drinks — 4 out of 5 stars
To start, we ordered a glass of the Pinot Grigio. In our opinion the wine could have been a bit fresher (the bottle was probably open for a while).
For food, we ordered 2 bison burgers:
1. Bison burger (no jalapenos), medium rare, on the regular setting with truffle fries on the side (the truffle fries are an up charge).
2. Bison burger, medium rare, on a mushroom setting with a kale salad on the side (the kale salad is an up charge). We did ask for the kale salad to be sent out before the burger and although this didn’t happen, the staff did apologize for the mistake.
We tend to believe Burger Up’s bison burger is one of the best burgers in town and appreciate the consistency with which it’s served each time. The truffle fries are definitely worth the up charge. They usually come out fresh and as a perfect mix between crispy and soft! Don’t forget to ask for the homemade ketchup and aioli. They are very sweet so a little goes a long way.
A healthy alternative choice for a side is the kale salad which is well balanced with a citrus vinaigrette, dried cherries, and hazlenuts.
Service — 5 out of 5 stars
The staff is casual but always super friendly. Expect your server to check in with you about your experience and the meal. Food is usually delivered in a short amount of time. The staff always seem to interact like one big family and this translates to the customer experience.
Value — 5 out of 5 stars
For the amount and quality of food you receive, the restaurant offers great value. Wherever possible, the ingredients (including the meat) are locally sourced. You feel good knowing that your dollars count towards supporting the community, sustainability, and humane treatment of animals.
Atmosphere — 4 out of 5 stars
The restaurant lends much of it’s main dining room to shared bench seating. While at times (due to the popularity of the restaurant) it can seem tight quarters, most patrons are okay with sharing a seat with each other to partake in a community-​like meal.
There are a few private tables in the main dining room, a bar, and a closed in patio with private tables as well.
The furniture and decoration is simple, rustic, but much of it is also locally sourced.
Miscellaneous
Parking is sometimes a concern as only street parking is available, however, in all our times (on average 2 times a month) visiting we’ve never been without a spot within 3 minutes walking distance. This restaurant has certainly outgrown this space so the indoor waiting area is essentially non-​existent, however no one ever seems to mind!

I came here the evening before a graduate school interview at Belmont, and I sat at the bar, so I can’t speak for sitting at a table, but I came here during happy hour on a Thursday and it gradually got more crowded as the night went on. Regardless, the burger and fries (with the special homemade sauces — I heard someone describe their house made ketchup as «tomato jam» which I think is a pretty accurate description) I had was awesome as well as the unique «hibiscus mimosa.» Finally, the service was amazing — when the bartender found out they were out of the wine I wanted he offered me another suggestion and ended up taking it off my check and told me to consider it a «good luck» for my interview the next day.

Burger Up is probably my fave eatery on 12S! Sometimes the wait is killer but their quality is always on point. (Pst! You can order out if you just can’t stand the wait.) My go-​to is always the Mushroom Swiss Burger with Truffle Fries (a must must must must must!). Their Triple L Classic isn’t anything special so stick with their specialties. If you need some lighter fare I crave their Chopped Kale salad sometimes.

Really good burgers! We had the Mac and cheese balls which were so rich and delicious and the sauces were amazing. Then a burger with pimento cheese! Loved the ambiance and the 12 Ave South neighborhood. Great location and food!

YUM! Delicious burgers, regardless of what you choose. (D and I shared a bacon burger and a chili burger-​both were to die for!!) Our friends had bison and lamb burgers, and they loved both of them as well. They have delicious fries (regular AND sweet potato) that are some of the best I’ve had anywhere! They serve the fries with housemade ketchup-​a nice upgrade to the regular stuff. The atmosphere is cool with communal tables (but you didn’t feel like you had to talk to your neighbor of you didn’t want to) and a really nice bar. It seemed like it was staffed with the hippest people in Nashville, some of whom really seemed to KNOW that we weren’t cool enough to be there, if you catch my drift. Regardless, service was really good, even if I didn’t walk out with a new BFF. A great selection of cocktails and beers as well. I’d really like to come here again.
Oh yeah, can’t believe I almost forgot this-​hey there EARLY! We can in around 5:15 or so, and by the time we left there was a BIG line, and there’s really nowhere to wait inside, so be prepared to stand outside until you’re seated!

Loved this burger spot. I hate burgers that have no flavor or they load a bunch of condiments, cheese and other toppings to make it taste good but, this place serves juicy, well seasoned burgers. The truffle fries were good… Very rich which in combination with a good burger was too much for me to manage but, it is a must try for those with a bigger appetite. Overall, I was very impressed with my first and last bite of my burger.

Wow this place is awesome. The place is always busy and it is really hip, a nice mixture of young and older crowds. Family friendly with great burgers. I tried the bison burgers and it was super good. They make their own ketchup and offer a jack Daniels ketchup as well both are delicious. When ever you are in town give this place a try.

We went in on a Saturday night and got a spot at the bar with no waiting. Service was prompt and friendly.
I had the pimento cheese burger with a side of truffle fries. The burger was juicy and tender, with a thick layer of delicious pimento cheese. I can’t wait to go back and have it again. The star of the meal, though, might be the truffle fries with a side of the homemade ketchup. There’s truly no excuse to skip out on those when visiting Burger Up.

The saddest thing about my experience with Burger Up’s food was that I ordered it through a delivery service that will not be named.
I ordered a pretty basic cheese burger, but it was absolutely delicious. I will stop there because the MONEY IS IN THE TRUFFLE FRIES.
Listen, I don’t really understand who came up with the idea of the truffle fry, but my goodness Burger Up has perfected this delicious side to the very last grain of truffle. The shoe string style is amazing and to top it off, the perfect house-​made honey mustard is the perfect dipping sauce for anyone and I hate mustard.
So, yes, get the fries and a side of a burger.

The lamb burger is phenomenal. It was so decadent and done to perfection. We also ordered the pimento cheese burger and oh my… I have to say I thought it was better than the lamb (and that’s saying something). The truffle fries and onion rings were also amazing and the sauce that came with the onion rings was bomb!
However, the show stopper was the Krispy Kreme bread pudding. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I’m not a dessert person and I had to stop myself from ordering another one to go. I completely indulged myself at this place and I don’t regret it for a second.
They also have great happy hour drink specials. Some $ 2.50 beer until 6 if you’re an early bird eater like me.
Overall, this was by far my favorite burger place in town.

A cute little quaint and busy burger spot with communal tables and pleasantly clean restroom. The salads are delish!!! Along with those beer battered onion rings and truffle fries. The burgers are just OK. The drinks were good. Our waitress was friendly and helpful. The burgers are just missing something.

I have been wanting to try this place. A lot of reviews state this is the best burger they’ve had in Nashville. We went at 6:15 on a Saturday night. There was a 15 – 20 minute wait, but my husband and I were able to grab seats at the bar. They have a limited beer selection, but it’s good beer. We didn’t have a whole lot of time so we didn’t order an appetizer. I ordered the pimento cheese burger with regular fries and my husband ordered the Woodstock burger with sweet potato fries. My burger had all the makings of a great sounding burger. Pimento cheese, truffle aioli, bacon, onions with a jalapeño roll. It was tasty, but not AMAZING like I thought it would be. My husbands burger was also fairly bland as well. He really enjoyed his sweet potato fries and my regular fries were delicious. The honey mustard sauce they have is really good, a little watery but the flavor was good.
The interior is small so not a whole lot of seating. They do bench type seating so you may end up sharing a table with strangers. There is zero waiting area for when it gets crowded so you will be waiting outside for a table. Not bad when the weather is nice, but when it’s winter or rainy, you will not be happy.
Honestly, based on food alone, this place probably deserves a 3.5. However the staff is so friendly and food was quick. We plan on giving it a second chance when we aren’t so rushed.

Burger Up is a good burger restaurant. Fresh ingredients and some fun dishes, but is levels below The Pharmacy.
Party of 2 at 6:15 on a Saturday night. We had to wait 35 minutes, which was fine. The 12^th South atmosphere was enjoyable.
I had the Mr. Lewis Patty Melt and potato fries. It was a good burger and the sweet potato fries were great. It was a clear step down from The Pharmacy and a little more expensive too.
TLDR Burger Up = good but The Pharmacy = better.

Ode to Cody the Bartender
When rain swarms in
For days on end
And 12^th South is
Drizzling inside and out
Have no fear for around
The corner awaits cheer
When you sit and notice
Cody the Bartender
Greeting you
With beer.
Thank you, Cody.

Theeeeeee most ahhhhhmazing Burger & refreshing cocktails. We landed here fresh off the road from Memphis and it was awesome!!! You gotta try it!,

You’ve got to give Burger Up some credit for paving the way for not just 12 South restaurants, but the burger scene in Nashville.
A few years ago this would have been a 4 – 5 star review, but the competition has peaked. While the food is still delicious and fairly sustainably sourced (+ in my book), the menu just doesn’t compete with other burger joints in town.
I went recently with some co-​workers for the 3 – 6 happy hour that includes drinks and appetizers. We ordered the fried pickles, fried mac and cheese, and fried mushrooms. Everything was tasty, but I think they’ve changed the pickle batter. They used to be my favorite in town but now the batter is too thick and there is a strange powdering seasoning I couldn’t identify and didn’t care for. I also ordered sliders for $ 8 off the happy hour menu, a good deal and a perfect size to split for the not so hungry.
I’d say Burger Up is a family friendly restaurant, but in my experience the families have not been so friendly. Kids tend block the narrow walk ways inside. I nearly tripped over several back packs on my trip to the restroom, with no apologies or acknowledgment from the families. This doesn’t change my review of the restaurant, but as a 20-​something without kids I’ll probably just find another place to get a burger to avoid unapologetic parents and their booger machines.

Wow! This place is very worth five stars. It actually makes me rethink what five stars is. The place is a little expensive for a burger place but we’ll worth every penny. Don’t come here looking for McDonald’s.
I had a delicious beer called rogue dead guy. For an appetizer I had the mac and cheese bites, which were great, but a little over fried. Then the burger came out, and I jizzed in my pants. Cooked to perfection; medium, like I ordered. The staff was friendly and even though the place was busy, everything came out quickly.
Overall, I would come here again and again, and recommend this place to anyone. Yes, anyone, because the even have veggie burgers. Be prepared to love this place.

We have been here numerous times since moving to Nashville 6 months ago… Usually there is a short wait for a table, It’s consistently very good food, a bit noisy, but still one of the top places I go to in 12 south! I usually get a mushroom Swiss Burger, hubby typically gets the Black Bean burger and raves about it,
They split the Kale salad for us… perfect meal… Then coffee at Frothy Monkey… Places like this are why we moved to Nashville!

Black and blue burger for the win! Go during happy hour and add a nice craft brew for $ 3. I LOVE this place. Only got to go while passing through Nashville and I was just completely impressed. If you’re someone who is concerned about animal welfare, this place is wonderful: they use local humanely-​raised beef and other animal products; have turkey, bison, and black bean burgers on the menu.
My burger was juicy and delicious. The fries were on point. And the homemade ketchup! Fantastic. I got a porter to go with my meal.
The atmosphere inside is a beautiful rustic wood with low lighting. I am a fan and when I pass through Nashville again, I will absolutely visit this restaurant.