Steamed burgers...the mere thought of it may be blasphemous to many a burger connoisseur. Yet the concept is not only delicious, but healthy(er) as well. Without the help of Man v Food, I never ever would've come across Ted's - a totally unassuming dive out in the middle of no where with a small counter and several booths. My friends and I all had steamed cheeseburgers with our customized sets of toppings (lettuce, tomato and sauteed onions for me) and they were very tasty! Mr. Richman hit the nail on the head when he noted that letting the excess fat drain out allows one to better appreciate the savoriness of the beef. As for the couple comments claiming that the patty's dry...seriously? Juice oozed out of the burger and it was accentuated even further by the gooey goodness of the steamed Swiss cheese on top. $4.50 for an out-of-the-ordinary, high quality burger with no pretense and your choice of almost a dozen free toppings? I'm sold =D read more

I'm not a burger type of girl, but if I miraculously do crave one, this is my spot. The burgers are juicy and the cheese is heavenly. Those who haven't tried Ted's must give it a try :) read more

Ted's Restaurant - Steamed cheeseburger :D - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Pretty good. I hesitated a lot between 3 and 4 stars. I wish we could give 1/2 stars. Decided to go here after seeing it on Man vs. Food and because I'm staying in the area for a few days. It's definitely a local joint, TINY, but not crowded (surprisingly) when I was there today (Thursday) around 6pm. I got the steamed cheeseburger and cheese fries. I honestly couldn't decide whether I liked the burger or not. Definitely very unique. Unique flavors, not like any burger I've had before. As many people stated, the steamed cheese was probably the best part. The cheese fries were good, but again, the cheese made them. All in all, I liked it. I'm all for local stuff, and this is something very unique. I'd definitely take someone else there, I might try the double steamed cheese next time though. read more

Ted's Restaurant - steamed cheese! - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

I stopped by on a road trip to Halifax, NS. For years, I've always wanted to visit Ted's. Ever since I saw it on Motz's program, the sight of that white melty cheese and the oddity of steamed hams (an upstate New York expression, not in Utica, no. Albany), it had been a priority to visit if I ever found myself driving through CT. When I arrived, I purchased the single "Everything". With the salt derived from the mustard, ketchup, and pickles, I thought the burger was seasoned enough to draw out a good beefy taste. Missing are the browned flavors of the Maillard reaction, though it wasn't a bad rectangular piece of ground beef at all. Even better was the cheese. Go to your market, buy a brick of white jack cheese, put in on plate and nuke it in the microwave for 20 seconds. That is what adorns this burger, and it was everything I hoped for when I first laid eyes on this cheeseburger. Warm and stretchy, oh yes. Trouble is the bun. It's too goddamn big and dense. By the time your incisors cut halfway through the top bun, you've applied enough pressure to squirt the entire contents of the sandwich out the backside. What a shame. Pro Tip: I did find a solution to the bun problem. Take a knife and slice through the top bun around its equator. You'll have a thinner and more manageable top cap. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Too. much. bread. - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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My wife insisted on stopping in for a steamed cheeseburger since she enjoyed them from having lived there in Meriden years ago.....well before the Travel Channel got wind of the place. Being a southern boy myself, I've never heard of a steamed cheeseburger....so since we were in the area on vacation (does that makes us tourist then?) we just had to have one. The parking was fine (since we arrived around 3:00 pm) and the facility was fine too (considering we had our choice of seating!!) and the food was pretty good too. It was good and all, but I just felt that I would prefer a "normal" burger. The steamed burger was just too "wet" and cheesy for my taste. I would certainly eat one again since my wife was in "heaven" and the trip was more for her "memory lane" than mine.....so why spoil her enjoyment...you know? She had a blast and she enjoyed sharing her memories of the steamed burger with me. Her enjoyment was worth it, for sure. The fries (cheesy potatoes, really...) were pretty good too....and the place filled the basket with them. More than enough, that's for sure. We also had sodas with the meal. We also bought a tee shirt for my father in law....and he is wearing it out!! LOL. The staff members (2) were nice and all, and since we are from NV where the steamed burger has not yet been introduced (as far as I know anyway) the guys answered my "stupid questions" about steamed verses grilled and other such questions. Overall, I would go again and enjoy the meal. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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We had a party of 6 and we split 2 orders of Home Fries that were smothered and delicious. Between the 6 of us after a home we could not finish them. I preferred the Home Fries over the burger to be honest. I ordered the Bleu Burger that I thought only had Bleu cheese but it had another thick layer of cheese on the top. There was very little BBQ sauce and onions. I asked for no mushrooms and they got that right! The machine they use to steam the burgers is really neat. I'm certain I've seen the steamer contraption before. We sat outside because then inside was too small for a party of 6. I think it was a great set up for their space. The staff was super friendly. If I lived here I'm sure I'd go back but I'm just visiting so I won't go back because there are other places to try! read more

Ted's Restaurant - Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Had a craving for some food and Ted's steam machine food truck was at Hog River Brewery, lucky me. I ordered the buffalo blue cheese burger which was yuuuge, seriously larger than expected, and very tasty. Not the biggest fan of the bun but the rest was great. Got the fries on a whim and so glad I did. They might have been the best fries I've ever had. They had the perfect amount of crispy magic on the outside and softness inside. I'm glad I was sharing them, otherwise would have eaten them all. They were damn good; I highly recommend them! read more

Ted's Restaurant - Yuuuge buffalo blue cheese burger - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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The first thing I thought of when being set up for an interview in Meriden was making a great impression. The second thing was "Going to Teds for lunch!" Not many places can be cited for inventing a process. Ted's has the distinction of inventing, and by my thinking, perfecting the steamed cheeseburger. The place is more of a hole-in-the-wall than anything else, situated on Broad Street, with no parking except street. Once you go in you can see why they don't really need a lot of their own...the place is really small, with three or four booths, and a counter with maybe 8 stools. What they lack in space, they certainly make up in turnover, however, with a constant influx of dine-in and take-out customers. Ted's isn't fancy. Their menu, while reasonably extensive for a burger joint, is pretty much based on their signature steamed cheeseburger, where a quarter pound of fresh ground beef is fit into mini-loaf-sized pans, and steamed un a closed cabinet until fully cooked. The fat is them poured out before allowing the moist patty to touch the hard-roll. The cheese, also steamed to ooey-gooey perfection, is then "poured" over your burger. You can choose lettuce, tomato, onion, and several free toppings, along with premium pay-for add-ons such as bacon, fried egg, etc. My bacon cheeseburger with lettuce and tomato was delectable. Ted's doesn't make fries...they have a grill load of home fried instead...an interesting venture from the norm, but it works. They also provide a list of toppings for these, if you wish. I just added some hot sauce. Have I had better burgers? Sure...for $12 or more. The combination of bang for the buck, small-town ambiance, history, and the vicarious thrill of being in a place that has attracted some of the most popular TV food shows and hosts in the USA, make this an experience worthy of the drive. read more

This was my first time eating a Ted's steamed cheeseburger. I live about 15 minutes away, and passed this place a hundred times and decided to check it out. Let's start out with the beef, it was good quality, and the cheese was melted oozing deliciousness! The toppings were fresh and just the perfect amount put on the burger. The French fries were also crispy crunchy goodness. The counter attendants were also friendly and attentive. It's small inside but there are covered picnic tables out front for overflow. $10 total for a burger and fries but you pay close to that amount and a chain place for a mystery meat burger. read more

after seeing ted's on an episode of man v food, we decided to make a detour on our way home from a mini road trip to connecticut. it was a bit out of the way and kinda seemed like it was in the middle of nowhere but since we were out there in CT and hungry we decided to make a stop. the steamed burgers were pretty decent. tasty without being greasy, but unfortunately just not a whole lot of flavor going on. ordering was a bit complicated. by ordering in an "everything but..." fashion a lot of the stuff i wanted on the burger was left out ie hot sauce, jalapenos, and some other stuff that probably would have made it taste better. the steamed cheese however was pretty freaking good. it's super light and airy and overall just a very interesting (and kinda fun) texture. not that packed with flavor but good. the side of potatoes with steamed cheese was also great but please note that if you order anything with the cheese be sure to eat it relatively fast because when it gets cold it turns kinda hard and weird and doesn't taste as good. the people were very nice and overall i'm glad we made the stop to check the place out but probably wouldn't go out of my way again. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

I'm an usher at the Yard Goats games and this burger is the best I ever had. And the Tater Tots were a perfect complement

For a tiny tiny tiny little burger joint It's nice. I'm a BBQ reviewer and this ain't BBQ at all but I had to say some stuff about "World Famous Steamed Hamburgers" So I was excited to taste what a "Steamed" cheeseburger was like. They also steam a slab of Mozzarella and make it all gooey. You can get a bunch of toppings if you want, they have all the themed burgers too (ie. BBQ Bacon, Black and Blue, All American, blah blah) but I just wanted to taste the burger and the cheese. Quite honestly ... Juicy, soft, Mozzarella was interesting although it kinda tasted like it had a little bit of Swiss in there to hold it together. There was nothing wrong with it, but ... if I were to try and tell people what it tastes like unfortunately the best I can do is ... you ever gotten a microwavable cheeseburger? the ones that have the bun and all? They come frozen and you just pop open a side of the pouch and 3 minutes later you have a steamy microwaved sponge with a meat disk in it? Or better yet, have you ever gotten one of those burgers at a truck stop or convenient store that's just been sitting in that hot box all day? THAT'S The FLAVOR! of these burgers. Now, the burger itself is much better quality than those, and I just like how Soft it all is, The bun and cheese and meat just melt perfectly. Not about to say it's what a Burger should be, cause a nice grilled burger with all the toppings is just unbeatable. But hey, it's a great quick Lunch that'll put a smile on your face. read more

I was the lone vegetarian with a group of burger eaters that wanted to check this place out. One of my dining companions was very excited to eat at a place featured on Man v. Food. Luckily for me, their menu includes a sandwich with their famous steamed cheese, and a "build your own" veggie topping. From menu, it looked like I could also ask for an egg sandwich with cheese. In addition to the sandwich, their home fries come with or without cheese, and you can add on toppings that you like. If you're not vegetarian but just not into steamed burgers, their menu offers many non-burger sandwiches, including a tuna melt, chicken sandwich, or steak hoagie. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Back of menu August 2016 - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Ted's Restaurant, home of the world famous (okay, maybe for regionals and for the burger enthusiasts) steamed cheeseburgers. I arrived in the middle of the afternoon around 3 PM and walked into the small building to a small line waiting for food. The line moved quickly, and I ordered a steamed cheeseburger and home fries. The burger itself was surprisingly good. I had it with a bit of onion, that's it. I'm from the school of thought where burgers shouldn't be cooked past medium rare to optimize juiciness, so the fact that a burger could have all its fat steamed off, cooked to well done and still taste good blew my mind away. My palate was confused by the lack of the sear on the outside of the patty and how well the bun seemed to hug everything together. The home fries were chopped potatoes with larger bites yet lacked the char I like to associate with home fries. Still really good with some ketchup. At 4 bucks for the burger, it's not the best bang for your buck if you're looking for just a quick cheap eat, but Ted's definitely serves up a burger that exceeded my expectations. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Steamed Cheeseburger - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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My husband has been bugging me to come here since his first trip to Connecticut in 2012 and we finally made it during our trip over the holidays. It's a small hole in the wall place which was interesting with a toddler in tow! It was crowded but thankfully a booth opened up when we got there and the staff quickly cleaned it for us. We ordered two steamed cheese burgers, fries and chicken tenders for the little one. The fries came out piping hot but were good. I wasn't a huge fan of the steamed burger but the cheese on top was amazing. I prefer some char on my burger but that is just a personal preference. The tenders were good and we also got a chocolate shake which was delicious. Our toddler loved everything, especially dipping it in ketchup! read more

Sorry Loui's Lunch. Ted's burgers are better. One day I decided to check out Teds after driving by and reading the front sign claiming it to be "world famous". What can I say, I'm a sucker for blatant advertising. I had never heard of it before that day. But I'm glad I stopped in. My burger was different than all the burgers I've tasted before. Steamed burgers are unique in that they get cooked all the way through, no signs of pink color (not even in the middle). On a regular burger that would tend to make it very dry, but not with these burgers, they're fairly juicy. The counter person gets a bonus point for not carrying a chip on her shoulders (hello Larson family :-) read more

This place is great the price can be a killer though. The food is always fresh and tastes amazing. But let's be honest it can be super expensive even just for two people expect to spend at least $30-$40 read more

It is disappointing that they praised the prices as much as they have. While the food is still delicious, they've made certain changes like serving all sandwiches on a hard roll, which sounds like an improvement -- but not so fast -- their steamed cheeseburger with onions and jalapenos actually tasted better on the old rolls. I had been away from this area for a number of years, and I went back to Ted's to try to re-kindle the fond memory I had of the place... It almost worked...new and expanded menus with enough variety, its no wonder the prices went up... and they now accept cards, and no longer qualify as a dive... and while I hope their changes keep the place around for decades to come, I'm just pessimistic that this is yet another thing hipsters have ruined for the rest of us by efffing with history! read more

Finally made it here. Yes its very much a tiny little hole in the wall place, been here a long time. I had the steamed cheeseburger as needed and overall, it was good. Different than a traditional grilled burger for sure. You don't really get medium rare or requests for doneness. They all seem to come out the same and being steamed instead grilled with direct heat, the meat is grey colored but very juicy. It surely has an intense hamburger meat taste. They place it on a nice sort of chewy roll with all the usual toppings. Was this my favorite burger of all time? Would I make a point to find this place again? Probably no on both but it was a decent burger and was really cool getting a chance to sample local history. Gotta say the fries were outstanding. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

This place is worth the drive and wait if you hit it when there is a crowd. I have Celiac disease so no bread for me and they will make the burger for you without the bun. I thought they would look at me funny but they were very nice and quick. The burger is steamed and so is the cheese. Oh the CHEESE I will never forget that.... It is so creamy and mmmmm... I will definitely take another ride this spring for another Steam Burger... And the pictures don't lie everything is fresh and good quality. Decent prices and they have any soda you want. The place is so small but it is very inviting. If you see a line don't fret it is so worth it. read more

What do you get when a cow walks into a sauna . . . a steamed hamburger of course (ok, bad joke i know) -- welcome to Ted's Restaurant in central Connecticut. Where else are you going to get to try a steamed hamburger / cheeseburger. And of course I've seen this place on the Food Network and the Travel Channel, so since I was nearby, I had to try it (and it was highly recommended by the night manager of the hotel I was staying at). So I make my way over to Ted's (about an hour before closing), and order myself a steamed cheeseburger and their homefries. Was their anything unique about their food / burgers aside from the steaming process . . . not really (other than the fact that they were VERY moist). The cheese felt a little rubbery, but it was tasty. The homefries were good and a nice alternative from french fries I suppose. The price was reasonable and considering it is right down the block from DQ made the trip all that much more worthwhile. read more

Ted's Restaurant - A sampling of Ted's Famous steamed cheeseburgers - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

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Its not as tasty as a regular burger as you would imagine. However, it's healthier. We had the cheeseburger. If you like cheese, it's very cheesy. The chilli is very meaty. read more

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The steamed burgers are excellent, some of the best I've had. Be sure to get it with cheese, and the plain hamburgers are just .... plain. I got homefries the other day and was disappointed as they were somewhat .... previously cooked, and not hot off the grill. I'll re-edit my review if I get fresh hot homefries, but all I can say for now iis that the burgers are fantastic and I make it a point to always stop by there when I'm in Meriden. You should too! read more

Summary: clean, inexpensive, and different. I went to Ted's for lunch on a weekday and although it wasn't jam-packed, there were still a considerable amount of people in the small space they provide. There are only four booths and 6 counter spots at this location plus outdoor seating, so if you plan on visiting in inclement weather come early. I've known about Ted's for a while but I never made the time to stop by and try their famous burger. Ted's has a charming american diner feel to it. Customers can watch their food be prepared from anywhere in the restaurant. As for the burgers themselves, they were juicy and tender but weren't as flavorful as I had hoped. Ted's is definitely a must try if you are in CT and love hamburgers. read more

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Nothing but love for this place. Burgers are always consistent and on point...and the home fries are like a roman orgy on my tongue. They've recently added some new sandwich options to the menu and all are worth a try. Service is always speedy and thorough and the prices are reasonable. Really nothing bad to say about this place. If you haven't tried it...try it. If you have tried it...go again. A culinary slam dunk. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Standard cheeseburger with all the good stuff and more. Home fries doused with the cheese of the gods. Just go. - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Deliciously Different! We thoroughly enjoyed the steamed burgers and home style fries. It's a cute tiny diner with quick service. Sit at the counter and watch the food prep. read more

I've been a fan of steamed cheeseburgers for over 20 years. It is an amazing cooking technique and it is the best way to enjoy a cheeseburger. However, over the past year, we've hit Ted's four times and something has drastically changed. Either it's the quality of the burger and cheese or the way they are cooked or what have you, but something is different and it's nowhere near as good as it used to be. Yesterday, we found a bland, flavorless burger and seemingly partially melted cheese that was more like string cheese than cheddar awesomeness. Bland and a texture no longer like it used to be. Not sure why, but it's no longer worth the trip. read more

I feel lucky to live near a place that has such a history. Parking can be tough, lines can be long but if you can get past these things, you'll find a truly unique burger experience. The steam boxes create a burger unlike no other--juicy, but without all the grease! I have to say--the cheese is the best part. You can order the burger with whatever topping you'd like. The homefries are ok, nothing to write home about. What Ted's does, they do well. It is worth a stop if you are in the area, maybe if only to say you've been. It really is a central CT phenom. read more

The burger was juicy and tasteful. I am a fan of grilled burgers, but this surpassed my expectations. The steamed cheese and vienna buns really seal the deal. Regarding the wait - you either hit it or miss it! My wait was not so bad (5-8mins), and we got a booth out of the deal. worth it! If in town/passing by, go try it. read more

I was on my way from Philly to Boston with some friends and Meriden was on our way. We had seen Ted's on Man vs Food so we had to stop. We each had (2) burgers and also tried a steamed hot dog and some home fries. The burgers were cheap @ 4.50 each and came out pretty quick. As some other reviews have said the burgers are plain and small at 1/4lb. If you just want to stop for a quick burger its not a bad place. Its not somewhere you should go out of your way for. read more

The boyfriend saw this place on Man vs. Food and we did a pit stop on our way home from Boston. They make the burgers and melt the cheese in these tiny metal, single serve pans. Pretty unique and the first I've seen of it. You literally place your order and your burgers are in front of you. The burger was good and the cheese was super stringy the way I like. Everyone expects this place to be amazing since it was on TV, hence why there are so many bad reviews and let downs all around. The burger was good, the bread could be better, but between the cheese and the meat, I'd have another one without a second thought. We also had the cheese fries which are actually home fries and super yum as well. We were in and out of this place in 15 minutes and full enough to make it home. If I'm in the area I'll stop by, but I wouldn't go out of the way to come here. read more

Fun place to grab a bite to eat. This little hole in the wall restaurant was a great stop during our road trip from New Castle, DE up to CT for training. I actually came across this on TV and figured I would stop by if it wasn't too far out of our way. Right on, make a stop and enjoy this little burger joint! read more

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We had heard about steamed hamburgers and that this place had the best so when we were heading to Boston we made a slight detour. This is a very small place, but the service was professional, polite, quick and answered all our questions. Steamed hamburgers are different, I don't know exactly how to explain it, but they're also good. I had a black and blue cheeseburger with fries. Very tasty and very different, but very enjoyable as well. I would come back if I were in the area. read more

first time costumer... and the experience was amazing! best burgers in ct hands down! and top quality fries! read more

The steamed burgers are unique and awesome. Definitely a unique experience. Get lots of napkins. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Very RUDE COOK!!!!! He got our simple order wrong and when we corrected him he screamed at us! Very unprofessional. Will not be back

Oh Ted's, you are a CT burger icon. I'd been here a few times in the past for that legendary steamed cheeseburger but today I chomped away on a wonderful crispy chicken sandwich with that sumptuous hot steamed cheese. Though an area classic for more than half a century, Ted's has evolved to include a full menu of specialty burgers and sandwiches beyond the simple burger it is known for. They've got a seriously enviable menu that makes me sad that this is a 45 minute drive for me. But still worth the trek! read more

Really enjoyed the steam burger, it's of quality and quantity. My wife and I stopped by en rote to Brattleboro. We would come back here again. read more

Ted's Restaurant - Burgers Near Me - Meriden, Connecticut

Ted's is a disappointment. I moved to meriden and decided to do as the locals do, eat a steamed burger. I'm not a big fan of steamed burgers but when in Rome. Before I even finished ordering my fries the cheeseburger was done and being served. It was like getting a boiled burger with bad cheese on a giant roll (can you say "where's the beef?"). If you're in town try K LaMay's. They've got better cheese and roll plus their tried were good. read more

My friend and I stopped here on a food road trip from NY to CT. The place is small but quaint and warming. The staff was down to earth and friendly. Parking was easy and the wait was short. My friend and I only had burgers (it was both of our first times having steamed burgers BTW) and they were super juicy, fresh, and delicious. The burgers themselves are a bit small but there are a variety of toppings and sides to make up for this minor short fall or you can make your single a double burger. Both my friend and I took burgers to go. We will def be stopping here again. Thank you Lexi and Tom read more