32 burgers. 31 matchups. 11,178 votes. One champion.

Village Bar’s Brick Burger cruised to a Burger Bracket championship this weekend, defeating Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry’s Melting Pot Burger.

Championship voting results:

Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Melting Pot Burger — 27.003%

✓ Village Bar: Brick Burger — 72.997%

We wanted to find Madison’s best burger, but we needed your help. We arranged a competition bracket — like the NCAA tourney, but edible — made up of 32 of our favorite burg spots in the city. Over the past couple weeks, you voted for your favorites until just one remained.

Brick is one of the most underused cheeses, especially when it comes to topping burgers. That’s one reason why the Brick Burger is so good. The other reasons? It’s griddled right behind the bar; it’s got a nice squishy bun (or hard roll for a little extra); perfectly seasoned beef; gooey, thoroughly melted cheese; those unfancy pickle chips; the little disposable plate it’s served on; and it’s cheap as hell. If you want a classic burger without any pretentiousness, Village Bar is your spot. (Hamburger aficionado George Motz featured the Brick Burger on an episode of Burger Land if you’d like to drool right now.)

The full tournament results and previous vote totals are below.

Round of 4 (semifinals) voting results:

Previous voting results—

Weary Traveler: Bob’s Bad Breath Burger — 44.97%

✓ Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Melting Pot Burger — 55.03%

✓ Village Bar: Brick Burger — 50.14%

Caribou Tavern: ’Bou Burger — 49.86%

Round of 8 (Elite Ate) voting results:

✓ Weary Traveler: Bob’s Bad Breath Burger — 61.2%

DLUX: DLUX Burger — 38.8%

✓ Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Melting Pot Burger — 51.2%

Tipsy Cow: Tipsy Burger — 48.8%

✓ Village Bar: Brick Burger — 60.3%

Plaza Tavern: Plazaburger — 39.7%

Mickey’s Tavern: Mickey Burger — 44.5%

✓ Caribou Tavern: ’Bou Burger — 55.5%

Round of 16 voting results:

✓ Weary Traveler: Bob’s Bad Breath Burger — 72.3%

Alchemy: Tinshack Smokehouse Burger — 27.7%

Graze: Graze Burger — 42.7%

✓ DLUX: DLUX Burger — 57.3%



✓ Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Melting Pot Burger — 75.2%

Sweet Home Wisconsin: Garlic Guitar Lick Burger — 24.8%

✓ Tipsy Cow: Tipsy Burger — 50.6%

Tornado Steak House: Smoked Muenster Burger — 49.4%

✓ Village Bar: Brick Burger — 53.7%

Blue Moon Bar & Grill: Blue Moon Burger — 46.3%

Tip Top Tavern: Tip Top Burger — 48.0%

✓ Plaza Tavern: Plazaburger — 52.0%

Dexter’s Pub: The Classic — 26.8%

✓ Mickey’s Tavern: Mickey Burger — 73.2%

✓ Caribou Tavern: ’Bou Burger — 62.5%

Paradise Lounge: Paradise Burger — 37.5%

Round of 32 voting results:

✓ Weary Traveler: Bob’s Bad Breath Burger — 80.0%

Tangent: Tangent Burger — 20.0%

✓ Alchemy: Tinshack Smokehouse Burger — 63.5%

Avenue Club: Avenue Club Burger — 36.5%

✓ Graze: Graze Burger — 61.0%

Merchant: Merchant Burger — 39.0%

✓ DLUX: DLUX Burger — 54.5%

Brasserie V: V Burger — 45.5%

✓ Dotty Dumpling’s Dowry: Melting Pot Burger — 67.5%

Nitty Gritty: Gritty Burger — 32.5%

Camp Trippalindee: Cheeseburger — 48.3%

✓ Sweet Home Wisconsin: Garlic Guitar Lick Burger — 51.7%

Old Fashioned: Old Fashioned House Burger — 49.4%

✓ Tornado Steak House: Smoked Muenster Burger — 50.6%

✓ Tipsy Cow: Tipsy Burger — 73.5%

Great Dane: Texarkana Burger — 26.5%

✓ Village Bar: Brick Burger — 72.0%

Oakcrest Tavern: Hamburger — 28.0%

✓ Blue Moon Bar & Grill: Blue Moon Burger — 72.6%

Badger Tavern: TD Burger — 27.4%

Brothers Three: Bacon Cheeseburger — 45.3%

✓ Tip Top Tavern: Tip Top Burger — 54.7%

✓ Plaza Tavern: Plazaburger — 65.5%

Jordan’s Big 10: Bucky Burger — 34.5%

Players Sports Bar: Bacon Bleu Burger — 44.6%

✓ Dexter’s Pub: The Classic — 55.4%

✓ Mickey’s Tavern: Mickey Burger — 66.6%

Harmony Bar & Grill: Walnut Burger — 33.4%

✓ Caribou Tavern: ’Bou Burger — 59.9%

Baldwin Street Grille: Original “Juicy Lucy” — 40.1%

✓ Paradise Lounge: Paradise Burger — 55.3%

Laurel Tavern: Laurel Brewmaster Burger — 44.7%