Joe’s Burger Search

Weber's - 1/4 lb. Cheese Burger

Saturday, October 3, 2009

As I’ve said many times, Tulsa has some amazing burgers. Well hold on to your boots cowboys and cowgirls because Tulsa is also the home of the 1st hamburger as we know it and Weber’s was the originator. You might ask - how can that be, wasn’t the hamburger created in Hamburg, Germany or at Louis Lunch Wagon in New Haven, Connecticut or at the 1904 St. Louis Worlds Fair? It’s really pretty simple and not controversial at all. It all comes down to what is the definition of the hamburger followed by a few simples facts. Professor, would you assist?

Professor: First - we have to start with the definition of a hamburger. The most basic definition of a hamburger is a patty of ground meat, cooked then served on a bun. If you agree with that definition then the rest just falls in place. The name of the hamburger has roots with Hamburg, Germany but this hamburger had little resemblance to hamburgers we know today. These hamburg steaks were a hard slab of minced beef with emphasis more on durability, sometimes raw (tartar). Second - Louis Lunch in Connecticut did start serving cooked ground meat in 1895 but it was and to this day is served on bread slices. Third - Fletcher Davis of Athens, Texas did serve cooked ground meat at a lunch counter in the late 1880’s and brought them to the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair but these too were served on bread slices. Last - On July 4th 1891 Oscar Weber Bilby served black angus ground beef that was cooked on a home made 3’ x 4’ iron griddle that was heated by wood fire and served on his wife’s home cooked buns. So in conclusion - if you agree that a burger is served on a bun then Weber’s originated the burger as we know it today. (Sources: Definition of Hamburger; What’s Cooking America - Hamburger History; Wikipedia - Hamburger; Weber’s Story)

Thanks Professor! With that logic I bet even book authors and top tier burger/food bloggers George Motz of “Hamburger America” and Josh Ozersky of “The Hamburger” would agree.

From these 4th of July hamburgers that were served yearly on his home made griddle and fresh buns we progress to 1933 where due to consumer demand the first Weber’s was opened in Tulsa. That Weber’s restaurant includes the exact same iron griddle made in 1891 where every burger is cooked today. On this trip my son and I sampled (okay, sampled probably isn’t the correct term, more like gobbled down) Weber’s basic 1/4 lb. cheese burger with onions cooked in, topped with cheese and more onions and mustard on the bottom, fries, onion rings and root beer. Weber’s creates its own home brew Root Beer which is the best root beer I’ve ever had. We had originally ordered the 16 oz mug of root beer but once I saw that there were 32 oz mugs we upgraded. Wise choice. Seating is limited inside, only 9 stools with several tables outside also. Your order comes in a brown paper sack whether or not you ordered to eat there or to go. Due to the burgers being placed on bottom of the sack the top of the burger buns get smashed down but this does not diminish the burgers flavor at all. The burgers have a wonderful dark sear. The buns are toasted beautifully also. The fries are fresh cut and good also. The onions rings are another thing. These rings are not good, they are Great!

Going to Weber’s is like going to a museum and getting to eat the works of art. Weber’s - home of the first burger.

Although not the original 1933 building, it is in the same location

Order comes in sack. Big 32 oz home made
root beer

Look at that toasted bun
Although the bun is a little smashed
from the sack, it’s still great!

Some of the best onion rings I’ve ever had

Original grill from 1891 still used today

Created June 1891 by Oscar Weber Bilby

Rating Criteria
Cook to Order: No / Well
Thickness: Thin
Notes: Onions cooked in
Burger Cost: $3.35
Burger: 7 of 10
Fries: 8 of 10
Onion Rings: 9 of 10
Other (Root Beer): 9 of 10
Final Word: Where the burger on a bun was invented

Name:

Weber’s

Address:

3817 S Peoria

Tulsa, OK 74105

918.742.1082

Hours:

Mon-Wed 11am - 5pm

Thur-Fri 11am - 7pm

Sat 11am - 5pm