accessAtlanta

The newest contender in the area's beef battle is Jackson Hole Burgers. The 8-ounce Premium Gold Angus Beef patties are sizable competition for popular joints like Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries and Steak 'n Shake. They're just down the street from Jackson Hole, in Lawrenceville's Village Shoppes at Creekside at the corner of Duluth Highway and Lawrenceville-Suwanee Road.

Daniel Mann and his father-in-law, Joe Briguglio, who owned a Jackson Hole in Manhattan about 30 years ago, are partners in the first Jackson Hole outside of the New York/New Jersey area.

Gavin Averill/special (ENLARGE)
The turkey burger with barbecue sauce and bacon.
Gavin Averill/special (ENLARGE)
The Philly cheese steak.
MOST POPULAR STORIES Police: Jeffrey Donovan arrested, suspected of DUI Report: Abdul's return to 'American Idol' doubtful Beastie Boy Adam Yauch has 'very treatable' cancer Fallon's '7th Floor West' is a silly, soapy treat Chris Brown apologizes for Rihanna beating
EMAIL THIS PRINT THIS MOST POPULAR
• Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Mondays-Saturdays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Sundays • Reservations: Yes • Recommended dishes: Burgers, Philly cheesesteak, chicken sandwiches, fries • Prices: Burgers and sandwiches only, $4.95-$9.95; platters with sandwiches and a side, $6.95-$11.95; sides, $2-$4 • Verdict: Juicy burgers and sandwiches with plenty of choices.

Their Jackson Hole eatery has a slightly different menu (especially with a burger called the Tara – fried onions, American cheese and sautéed mushrooms) and burgers an ounce bigger than the Northeast locations. Although some of the burger platters reach up to $11.95, it's still more than $3 less than the most expensive items in the New York menus.

But it's not all about burgers. The choices at Jackson Hole, which opened this fall, are evolving. Mann plans to add new sandwiches and even breakfast, possibly by the end of the year.

Big burgers

Jackson Hole is all about variety. The menu lists more than 30 offerings, from a traditional cheeseburger with American cheese and topped with bacon to its Santa Ana burger, topped with fire-roasted corn and bean salsa. There's chili burgers, pizza burgers, barbecue burgers and even the Texas burger, topped with a fried egg. Options include beef, turkey or veggie. And the bun selection is as varied: sesame seed, whole wheat, corn-dusted Kaiser, egg challah and English muffin.

To test the quality of the meat, we stuck with more traditional fare. First choice: A beef burger with sautéed fresh mushrooms and American cheese. It's so thick that it barely made it into my mouth, but I was glad not to miss out on the moist and delicious burger. Second choice: A turkey burger slathered with sweet barbecue sauce and topped with thick bacon, sautéed onions and melted Monterey jack cheese. It's another excellent choice, and Jackson Hole thankfully doesn't make the mistake of drying out the turkey burger. The large English muffin held up well under the burger and toppings, and added a toasted texture.

The rest of the menu

The shoestring fries come out hot and crispy, just like we like 'em. The onion rings are OK, but nothing spectacular. Those sides, which also can be doused with chili or cheese, and potato chips accompany the burgers and sandwiches. The plump 7-ounce chicken also makes a good sandwich, with plenty of melted Swiss and mushrooms piled high on the one we sampled. The quality of the beef shines through in the Philly cheesesteak, which Mann says is only going to get better when they begin bringing in fresh Amorosa rolls from Philadelphia.

No hole in the wall

The centerpiece at Jackson Hole is a wall-sized mural of horses at the back of the restaurant. It's visible from outside because of the huge windows at the front of the restaurant. The color scheme is bright and happy – yellow walls and orange booths. There's no host stand, but servers immediately greet diners as they walk in. That avoids confusion and catches people before they head toward an area used for takeout orders.