Ready for the best burgers in Valparaiso? Burgerhaus is the burger spot of Costas Restaurant Group, a family of local restaurants in Valpo. It sits at 3304 Calumet Avenue and serves burgers, craft beer and wine. A great burger gets even better with the right side and the right drink. In this guide, we will show you simple burger pairings at Burgerhaus. You will learn which sides, starters and drinks go best with each burger.
What Makes Burgerhaus Special for Burgers in Valparaiso
The Burgerhaus menu says every burger is USDA Prime. Each burger comes with a choice of fries, coleslaw or a side salad. You can also swap in other sides, like tater tots, sweet potato fries, garlic fries or onion rings.
The burgers have fun names from places around the world. There is the Vermont, the Aussie, the Monaco, the Cozumel and more. Each one has its own toppings. That makes it fun to match each burger with a side and a drink.
A Quick Note on Drinks
Burgerhaus is known for craft beer and wine. The beer and wine choices can change, so we will talk about styles here, not exact bottles. Ask your server what is on tap today. They can point you to the best match. If you are under 21 or skip alcohol, a root beer float is on the dessert menu, and that works too.
Classic Burger Pairings
The Haus Burger
The Haus Burger is a classic. It has lettuce, tomato and red onion. Simple burgers like this are easy to pair.
- Side: Haus Fries or plain fries keep it classic.
- Drink: A crisp, light beer like a lager or pilsner works well. It does not cover up the beef.
The American
The American has bacon, blue cheese, caramelized onions and mustard. It is bold and rich.
- Side: Spicy Blue Cheese Fries if you love blue cheese, or coleslaw to cool things down.
- Drink: A hoppy IPA can stand up to strong blue cheese. A red wine with body is another good match.
Smoky and Sweet Burger Pairings
The Vermont
The Vermont is the Burger of the Month on the current menu. It has smoked Gouda, bacon, caramelized onions, apple slaw and a maple Dijon aioli. It is sweet, smoky and tangy all at once.
- Side: Sweet potato fries match the maple flavor.
- Drink: A malty amber ale or brown ale goes nicely with maple and smoke. A crisp cider style drink or a fruity white wine also works.
The Vienna
The Vienna has bacon, beer braised onions, bacon jam and provolone. It is rich and a little sweet from the bacon jam.
- Side: Onion rings with remoulade.
- Drink: A dark lager or a smooth stout can match the deep, savory flavors.
The Cincinnati
The Cincinnati has fire glazed bacon, A1 sauce and fried onion straws. It is a steakhouse style burger.
- Side: Garlic fries or plain tater tots.
- Drink: A bold red wine, like the kind you would have with a steak, is a great match. An amber ale also works.
Spicy Burgers in Valparaiso and What to Drink With Them
Love some heat? Burgerhaus has a few burgers with a kick. Spicy food pairs best with drinks that cool things down.
The Santiago
The Santiago has chipotle Monterey Jack, avocado and fried jalapenos on a pretzel bun.
- Side: Cajun fries if you want more heat, or a side salad to balance it.
- Drink: A light wheat beer or a crisp lager helps cool the spice. Very hoppy beers can make spicy food feel hotter.
The Cozumel
The Cozumel has grilled pineapple, guacamole, American cheese and jalapenos. It is sweet and spicy.
- Side: Start the table with Chips and Guacamole.
- Drink: A light Mexican style lager or a fruity wheat beer matches the pineapple. A slightly sweet white wine is another choice.
Fresh and Light Burger Pairings
The Tuscan
The Tuscan has fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil and balsamic. It tastes like a caprese salad on a burger.
- Side: A side salad keeps the meal fresh.
- Drink: A light Italian style red or a crisp white wine fits the Italian flavors.
The Corinth
The Corinth has roasted red pepper, feta, pepperoncini and red onion. It has a Greek style flavor.
- Side: Coleslaw or a side salad.
- Drink: A crisp white wine or a pale ale.
The Monaco
The Monaco has white cheddar, sauteed onions and mushrooms, avocado and arugula on a pretzel bun.
- Side: Garlic fries pair well with mushrooms.
- Drink: An earthy red wine or a brown ale.
Burgers That Are Not Beef
The Bozeman Turkey Burger
The Bozeman is a seven ounce turkey patty with avocado and roasted red pepper. It is a lighter choice.
- Side: A side salad or sweet potato fries.
- Drink: A pale ale or a light white wine.
The Kyoto
The Kyoto is made with sushi grade ahi tuna and a yuzu kosho mayo. The menu suggests it cooked medium rare.
- Side: A side salad keeps the focus on the tuna.
- Drink: A crisp white wine or a light, clean lager. Both go well with fish and citrus.
Starters to Share Before Your Burger
A great burger night often starts with something to share. Here are a few starters from the Burgerhaus menu:
- Pickle Chips: hand battered fried pickles with ranch. Great with a cold beer.
- Cheese Curds: a Midwest favorite.
- Carne Asada Fries: fries with cheddar, carne asada, guacamole, jalapeno sour cream and pico de gallo.
- Parmesan Artichoke Dip: served with tortilla chips.
- Buffalo Shrimp: fried shrimp in buffalo sauce over mixed greens.
Easy Pairing Rules to Remember
You do not need to be an expert to pair food and drinks. Just remember these simple rules:
- Match weight with weight. Big, rich burgers go with bold drinks. Light burgers go with light drinks.
- Cool down spice. Light, crisp drinks help with spicy burgers.
- Match sweet with malt. Burgers with maple, bacon jam or pineapple love malty or fruity drinks.
- Ask your server. The staff know what is pouring today.
Pairing by Side Dish
Sometimes you already know which side you want. Maybe you love tots. Maybe you always get onion rings. You can work backward and pick a burger that fits your favorite side.
- Love garlic fries? Try them with the Monaco or the Cincinnati. Garlic goes great with mushrooms and steak sauce.
- Love sweet potato fries? Try them with the Vermont or the Bozeman Turkey Burger.
- Love Cajun fries? Try them with the Haus Burger to add some spice to a simple classic.
- Love onion rings? Try them with the Vienna or the American for a rich, hearty meal.
- Love coleslaw? Try it with the American or the Corinth. The cool crunch balances strong flavors.
- Love tater tots? Try chili cheese tots with the Haus Burger for a true comfort meal.
Not in the Mood for a Burger?
Someone in your group may want something else. Burgerhaus has plenty of choices beyond burgers. The Haus Specials include Fish and Chips with hand battered cod, a Grilled Cheese on sourdough, a B.L.T.A. and a Taipei Chicken Lettuce Wrap. There is also a Philly Steak Sandwich.
The salad menu is big too. The Valparaiso salad has pears, candied walnuts, craisins and blue cheese. The Hollywood Cobb has bacon, blue cheese, egg and avocado. The Santorini has Kalamata olives, feta, cucumber and pita chips.
Pairing Salads and Sandwiches
The same pairing rules work here. Fish and Chips loves a crisp lager or a pale ale. A fresh salad goes well with a light white wine. A Philly Steak Sandwich can handle a bolder beer, like an amber ale.
For the Kids
Bringing the family? The kids menu has a Scout Burger, a classic grilled cheese, chicken tenders, mac and cheese and fish fingers. Pair any of them with a root beer float for dessert.
Come Taste the Pairings
Now you know how to build the perfect plate at Burgerhaus. Pick your burger, choose a side that fits and ask about the craft beer and wine on hand. It is one of the most fun ways to enjoy burgers in Valparaiso. Visit us at 3304 Calumet Avenue, or order online for an easy burger night at home.
