Best Burgers in Cedarburg, Ranked
Where does a huge Hefner burger land on your list?
Cedarburg may be known for its historic downtown, covered bridge, festivals, wineries and shops, but this Ozaukee County community also has a surprisingly competitive burger scene.
You’ll find premium Wisconsin-beef smashburgers, creative gastropub combinations, enormous patties paired with frozen custard and classic tavern burgers served inside some of Cedarburg’s most historic buildings.
To create this ranking, we compared current menus, burger-specific reviews, professional food coverage, recommendations from local discussions and early results from our ongoing reader poll. We gave more weight to comments about the burgers themselves than reviews focused primarily on service, atmosphere or the rest of the menu.
Taste is always subjective, of course. Consider this your starting point for a Cedarburg burger crawl and then cast your vote for the restaurant you think deserves the top spot.
Looking beyond Cedarburg? Explore our best burgers in Ozaukee County, best smashburgers around Milwaukee and complete Greater Milwaukee food and drink guide.
10. Dorsey’s Café and Market
Dorsey’s Café and Market occupies a roughly 130-year-old building in downtown Cedarburg and operates as a café, bakery, deli and prepared-food market.
The varied menu includes soups, salads, wraps, toasted sandwiches and burgers, with more adventurous burger combinations occasionally appearing as specials. One example was the Elote Burger, which paired the familiar flavors of Mexican street corn with a traditional burger.
Dorsey’s is especially useful when dining with a group that wants plenty of choices. It offers a coffee and espresso bar, bakery desserts, gluten-free selections, a children’s menu and freezer entrées, including its well-known pot pies.
Burgers are not the restaurant’s primary identity, which keeps Dorsey’s at No. 10. Still, its rotating specials, historic setting and broad family-friendly menu make it worth watching.
Current published hours are Tuesday through Saturday, with later service for Friday fish fry.
9. Jim’s Grille
Located along Washington Avenue, Jim’s Grille is a longtime neighborhood diner serving hearty breakfasts, burgers, broasted chicken, pizza and Friday fish fry.
Jim’s is open primarily for breakfast and lunch, with its official website currently listing hours of 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. That makes it a better choice for an early burger than a late family dinner.
The atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, and breakfast remains available for family members who would rather order eggs or pancakes. Burger options may not be as creative as those at the restaurants near the top of this list, but Jim’s earns its place through value, generous portions and old-fashioned diner appeal.
8. Wayne’s Drive-In
Wayne’s Drive-In provides Cedarburg’s most nostalgic burger experience.
The seasonal drive-in on Covered Bridge Road serves Black Angus ground-chuck burgers, hot dogs, pulled pork, fries, onion rings, shakes, malts and other classic drive-in fare. Its distinctive retro building, outdoor seating and warm-weather car gatherings make it an especially fun family stop.
Opinions about the burgers themselves are divided. Fans appreciate the buttery, well-charred, old-fashioned style, while some diners describe the patties as overcooked, dry or expensive for what they receive. A 2018 OnMilwaukee review of the Big Wayne praised its crisp edges, beefy flavor and moisture despite being cooked well-done.
Wayne’s maintains a strong overall customer rating, but much of its appeal comes from the complete experience: the atmosphere, frozen treats, fried sides and summer nostalgia. It belongs on a Cedarburg burger tour, although the available local feedback does not support placing it among the city’s top choices based on the burger alone.
Wayne’s is seasonal and currently lists hours of 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, with Mondays closed.
7. Maxwell’s
A downtown Cedarburg fixture since 1983, Maxwell’s is the kind of casual neighborhood tavern where burgers, cold drinks and conversation take priority over presentation.
The burgers are straightforward, filling and reasonably priced. Multiple televisions and a relaxed atmosphere make Maxwell’s a popular gathering place for sports fans and downtown visitors looking for a meal without a long production.
Maxwell’s does not attempt the creative gastropub combinations found at Stilt House or the specialized smashburgers served at Elbow Room Twelve21. Its strength is consistency: a satisfying tavern burger in an unpretentious Cedarburg setting.
Specials and entertainment schedules change, so check Maxwell’s current listings before planning a visit around a particular promotion.
6. Hefner’s Frozen Custard and Jumbo Burgers
Hefner’s Frozen Custard and Jumbo Burgers has been a Cedarburg-area favorite since the mid-1990s, pairing generously sized burgers with frozen custard.
The signature jumbo burgers are thick, filling and refreshingly uncomplicated. The larger menu includes chicken, fish sandwiches, gyros, cheesesteaks, fries, onion rings and other custard-stand favorites, making it an easy stop for families.
The Columbia Road location provides dedicated parking and sits away from the busiest downtown festival crowds. Order a jumbo burger, add onion rings and save room for custard. Dinner and dessert are equally important to the experience.
5. Anvil Pub & Grille
Blacksmith Burger: 1/3# burger, cherrywood bacon, cheddar cheese, black and tan onion ring and BBQ sauce
For the most memorable setting on this list, visit Anvil Pub & Grille inside the historic Cedar Creek Settlement.
The restaurant occupies a restored former blacksmith shop and retains architectural details connected to the building’s industrial past. Outside, the creekside patio provides views of Cedar Creek and its waterfall, making Anvil as much a Cedarburg experience as a place to eat.
The menu specializes in steak burgers, stone-hearth Forge sandwiches and other American pub favorites. The exact burger choices can change, but Anvil consistently appears in local burger conversations.
Anvil’s atmosphere may be its most distinctive advantage, but its burgers have enough local support to justify a place in Cedarburg’s top five. It is particularly convenient for visitors spending an afternoon exploring the Cedar Creek Settlement.
4. Lime Cantina
A Mexican restaurant might not be the first place you’d expect to find one of Cedarburg’s most frequently recommended burgers, but Lime Cantina makes a strong case for inclusion.
Its Cantina Smash Burger features two four-ounce patties on a toasted brioche bun with Mexican cheese, romaine lettuce and spicy house sauce. It comes with Mexican tots and slaw, giving it a distinctive identity without straying too far from what makes a smashburger work.
That kind of burger-specific enthusiasm carries more weight than a general restaurant rating. Lime’s burger is not merely an obligatory option for someone who does not want tacos—it has become a destination order in its own right.
View Lime Cantina’s current food menu.
3. Elbow Room
Opened in late 2025, Elbow Room has quickly become Cedarburg’s leading burger contender.
Every Elbow Room smashburger is made with an exclusive Hall of Fame Beef Wagyu blend from Six Springs Farm, owned by Brookfield native, former Wisconsin Badgers star and Pro Football Hall of Famer Joe Thomas. The small-batch Wisconsin beef is known for its marbling and rich flavor, giving Elbow Room a legitimate point of difference from the other burgers on this list.
The partnership also produced the JT 73 Golden Jacket Burger, created with Thomas as a nod to the No. 73 he wore during his NFL career. It features two Hall of Fame Beef Wagyu-blend patties topped with jalapeños, Swiss cheese, crispy onion strings and a honey drizzle on a pretzel bun.
Elbow Room’s burgers are not an afterthought. They are central to the restaurant’s identity, distinguishing it from bars and gastropubs that happen to offer one good burger. The regular smashburger starts with the same Hall of Fame Beef Wagyu blend and can be customized with cheese, bacon, mushrooms, onion jam, jalapeños and other toppings.
In our poll, Elbow Room captured 47% of the early vote, more than three times the share of its closest competitors.
Located at 1221 N. Wauwatosa Road, Elbow Room offers pizza, wings, salads, steaks, a large bar, numerous televisions and private event space. Its sports-bar setup also makes it one of the Cedarburg-area options to consider in our guide to where to watch the 2026 World Cup around Milwaukee.
2. C. Wiesler’s Saloon and Eatery
C. Wiesler’s Saloon and Eatery combines a strong burger menu with unmistakable downtown Cedarburg character.
The restaurant occupies a building dating to 1885 and features exposed brick, wooden booths, an antique bar and a popular outdoor deck. Unlike restaurants where the burger is a single entry on a broader menu, Wiesler’s traditionally offers several burger combinations.
C. Wiesler’s received multiple direct recommendations in the older community discussion, including one diner who described the burger as “amazing” after a recent first visit. Its support was not limited to one specialty creation, suggesting that the restaurant has a broader reputation for consistently good burgers.
The current menu may include combinations built around bacon, smoked cheese, bourbon-inspired sauces, onion strings and other tavern-style toppings. Check the restaurant’s current menu before visiting, since availability and prices can change.
For the combination of burger variety, value, historic atmosphere and local support, Wiesler’s earns a place in Cedarburg’s top three.
1. Stilt House Gastro Bar
For the strongest combination of burger quality, creativity, consistency and unmistakable Cedarburg atmosphere, Stilt House Gastro Bar takes our No. 1 spot.
Since opening in 2013, Stilt House has built its reputation around elevated comfort food, thoughtfully matched ingredients and an extensive selection of American craft beer. Its burgers reflect that approach, combining quality beef with distinctive cheeses, house sauces, savory toppings and sturdy artisan buns that complement rather than overwhelm the meat.
One of its most memorable creations was the StiltBurger, built with a half-pound Angus patty, bacon, Gouda, ale-braised onions and bistro sauce on a pretzel roll. In a dedicated OnMilwaukee Burger Trail review, food writer Lori Fredrich particularly praised the pretzel bun and the way its flavor complemented the Gouda, bacon and beer-braised onions. She also found that the burger remained balanced despite its substantial toppings.
The menu evolves, so that exact StiltBurger may not always be available. Current selections and occasional specials continue the same gastropub philosophy: familiar comfort food elevated through carefully chosen cheeses, sauces, vegetables and contrasting textures. That changing menu is part of the appeal, although diners should check the restaurant’s current offerings before visiting for a particular burger.
Stilt House also succeeds as a complete dining experience. Its historic Washington Avenue building, polished but comfortable dining room, craft cocktails, extensive beer selection and patio near Cedar Creek make it equally appropriate for a casual family meal, date night or stop during a day exploring downtown Cedarburg.
Other restaurants on this list may specialize more narrowly. Elbow Room Twelve21 has premium Wisconsin Wagyu-blend smashburgers, C. Wiesler’s offers a classic tavern experience and Wayne’s delivers drive-in nostalgia. Stilt House earns the top ranking because it brings the pieces together: a thoughtfully constructed burger, a track record of independent praise, a creative kitchen and one of Cedarburg’s most inviting settings.
Menus change, but the care behind the burger remains consistent. That combination makes Stilt House our current pick for the best burger in Cedarburg.
Plan Your Cedarburg Burger Crawl
Downtown Cedarburg is the easiest place to begin. C. Wiesler’s, Stilt House, Maxwell’s, Dorsey’s and Jim’s are all located on or near Washington Avenue, while Anvil anchors the nearby Cedar Creek Settlement.
Hefner’s, Wayne’s and Elbow Room Twelve21 require short drives but provide easier parking and distinctly different experiences. Save Wayne’s for its seasonal operating months, visit Jim’s earlier in the day and check Dorsey’s current hours and specials before heading downtown.
If you want to turn lunch or dinner into a larger outing, explore our Cedarburg guides and community updates or plan a visit around one of the city’s signature events, including the Cedarburg Strawberry Festival.
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A ranked guide to the 10 best burgers in Cedarburg, Wisconsin — from a 1950s drive-in and jumbo burger-and-custard stands to historic saloons and a creekside gastropub.