Hamburger America: Bud's Bar in Sedalia, Colorado
Burgermeisters! Here's another excerpt from George Motz's book Hamburger America. George and his publisher were kind enough to allow us to run them here, along with George's beautiful photos. We'll be running one every other week. Eat up! —The Mgmt.
Bud's Bar is one of only a few businesses in the small downtown of Sedalia, Colorado. The 60-year-old bar sits between two busy railroad rights-of-way that are only a few hundred feet apart. It's not uncommon to be stuck at either crossing for longer than 20 minutes waiting for a long coal or cattle train to pass. "Some guys walk out, see the train, and say 'oh well!' and head back inside for another beer," Mike Steerman told me. Mike should know. He owns the place.
The burger at Bud's is a classic, griddled, quarter-pounder with American cheese on a white squishy bun. It's absolutely amazing and transcends the standard notion of bar food. The burger bursts with flavor and is one of the juiciest griddled burgers I have ever eaten.
People go to Bud's for two reasons – because they know everyone in the bar and for the burgers. Outside of drinks at the bar, Bud's has served only burgers since the beginning. "It's simple," Mike explained, "We don't offer lettuce, we don't offer tomato, and we only use one kind of cheese." Fries? Nope. Chips will have to do. But trust me, you'll be focusing on this burger and nothing else.
