Following a recent dinner of mixed cereal topped with blueberries, I read the latest publication of Cardinal & Pine. What caught my attention more than Congressman Chuck Edwards’ latest news and a confirmed tornado in western North Carolina, was the mention of the state’s best hamburger restaurant locations.
Among the hamburger restaurants mentioned were in Siler City, Sanford, Charlotte, Lexington, Durham, Ocean Isle Beach, Mocksville, Cherryville and a few others.
Perhaps, one of the best in North Carolina, in my opinion and not mentioned in the Cardinal & Pine is located in downtown Forest City — Slim’s — my favorite and it can’t be beat when it comes to burgers and its many other menu items.
But first, a few of Cardinal & Pine’s descriptions of other hamburger joints in North Carolina.
“Jimmy Buffett made himself a billionaire by singing about things like eating cheeseburgers on the beach. He was on to something,” said one author. “So is Beaches Burgers, an Outer Banks destination that’s legit, and you can tell because they serve their food on that red and white checkered wax paper that all the best diners use,” said another.
“They have something called a “biggie challenge.” If you can eat their large chili cheese fries and their “biggie”—a “huge” double cheeseburger—you get a free Koozie,” said the writer.
“Johnson’s Drive in Siler City apparently has been around since 1946. Remember then? Harry Truman was President, Civil War veterans were still alive, and the Baby Boomer were being born.”
About Brooks’ Sandwich House at Ocean Isle Beach, “They’ve been serving up burgers since 1973, which means all the trendy condos in the area grew around them like weeds and they stayed the same. Respect the little red shack.”
The Shake Shop in Cherryville serves burgers — Carolina Style with mustard, chili, coleslaw and onions, it’s all the-way.
At the Cherryville Shake Shop there is a Lottaburger—two patties inside a hoagie-style bun with slaw, tomato and pickle. No chili. No ketchup. No exceptions. Hamburgers have been that way since 1943, when textile mill workers flooded in after shifts. Locals still pack the small eatery today, washing their Lottaburgers down with their signature Cherry Lemon SunDrop—a crimson-hued concoction of SunDrop, cherry juice, candied cherries, lemon slices and lemon juice, wrote Cardinal & Pine.
In Forest City, Slim’s offers a great hamburger, and you can get it your way — all the way, cheese, mustard, slaw, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onions, chili, ketchup. My great-niece prefers her hamburger with mayo on both sides of the bun, but absolutely no burger.
Slim’s, with owner Thomas Melton, is good all the way around. Meeting families and friends and even finding a seat on the tailgate of an old truck, parked inside the restaurant.
But long, long before Slim’s, the Shake Shop in Spindale or even Spake’s, Chimney Rock Smokehouse, River Watch Bar & Grill or the Green Hill cafe, I was most acquainted with Keller’s Cafe in Spindale. I was a mere child, a long time ago now it seems when our family would walk into Keller’s on a Saturday. We didn’t go often, but when we did, it was a genuine treat for the Gordon girls. We’d often climb on one of the stools at the bar where, right before our very eyes hamburgers were frying in pans of grease and were flipped by Mr. Keller. There was always a kind hello and “how are you?”
You’d call out your order, sometimes, and right then your custom burger was being prepared. I don’t remember anything about fries, but I know there were potato chips and Coca Colas in the small glass bottles. Keller’s also had the best hot dogs and beef dogs ever.
Tables were scattered throughout the small restaurant’s wooden floors where families might sit and wait on their hamburgers and catch up on the latest news.
Today, each time I drive along Spindale Street in Spindale, a flood of memories come to me as I pass the location where Keller’s was located. It wasn’t just where the best ‘burgers in town were served, but also the place where families, friends, textile mill workers from nearby Spindale Mills and Stonecutter, gathered for a great meal and no doubt appreciated the kindness of the Kellers and fellowship of the patrons who for years gathered for so much more than a pan-fried hamburger.
I’m glad I came across the Cardinal & Pine newsletter, as I had a great trip down memory lane to Keller’s Cafe. I can literally see the Kellers, who seemed to me to be really tall and always with the full-length white apron tied around their waists and a white chef’s hat.
So, where’s your favorite hamburger joint?
Since we can’t go to Keller’s Cafe, wanna meet me at Slim’s?
Jean Gordon is an award-winning journalist and spent almost 50 years writing news about Rutherford County in two newspapers. She also contributes copy for Rutherford Weekly on a regular basis.
