By Ana Ferrer /

For The Jersey Journal

Whether it’s the number three special on your favorite fast food menu, the patty melt at your favorite greasy spoon or the organic, grass-fed piece of pure beef that your friend makes for every barbecue, everyone has a favorite burger.

For some, there are fewer things more comforting than a cheeseburger, and if made right, a burger can be a religious experience.

After some research on Yelp and a solid recommendation from a colleague, I sampled burgers from 9th and Coles Tavern, Park and Sixth Comfort Food and New Park Tavern, all of which are in Jersey City.

A cheeseburger made at New Park Tavern

From 9th and Coles Tavern, located on 174 Coles St., I ordered the basic 8-ounce beef burger with cheddar and fries. The burger, served on a not-so-buttery-and-soft brioche roll, started to fall apart with the first bite, so much so that it was easier to eat the patty and cheese with my knife and fork.

The patty itself looked like it was made in-house and not straight from a freezer. My partner in crime ordered the “9C Signature Burger,” which comes with sautéed mushrooms, a slice of taylor ham, hot pepper mayo and a fried egg. He enjoyed the mess even though his burger, like it’s smaller counterpart, started to fall apart as well.

Overall, the food was similar to going to a diner, which is by no means a problem since you can’t always go to your favorite diner and have a few beers with your burger and fries.

Also, you can’t go wrong with some Metallica and a few verses of “Pour Some Sugar On Me” playing in the background.

I suggest the appetizer sampler with your beers or at the very least the bacon-wrapped jalapeno poppers.

From Park and Sixth Comfort Food, located at 364 Grove St., I ordered the Powerhouse Prime Burger with gorgonzola and sweet potato fries. They use ground short rib for their burgers, which in my opinion made the flavor beefier and the burger juicier, but I could have just been cheese-drunk on the mac and cheese they serve. Either way, this burger was top notch.

I suggest pairing the burger with their homemade iced tea, which has its own unique flavor. To me, it tasted like peaches, honey and cinnamon ,and to my dining partner it tasted like an Arnold Palmer.

I suggest the powerhouse prime burger and the brussels sprouts hash, and if you’ve got the room, go halfsies on a macaroni and cheese – you won’t regret it.

At New Park Tavern, on 575 West Side Ave., the menu, a chalkboard at the end of the bar, has about six items listed on it. We ordered a burger and a corned beef sandwich from this hole-in-the-wall bar. Both were deliciously simple and uncomplicated.

The burger, which was a bit bigger than a hockey puck, was perfectly browned on the inside and juicy in the middle and sandwiched in a poppy seed kaiser roll.

The American cheese was melted and covered the patty like a yellow comforter. They don’t crowd the bun with lettuce, onions and tomato either. It’s straight beef, cheese and bun and I’m OK with that.

A more basic burger would be impossible to find.

The only thing missing on the burger? Ketchup.

My biggest disappointment was that I hadn’t been there sooner.

Also, the prices are incredible. Two beers, two burgers and fries and a corned beef sandwich came out to about $30.

Where’s your favorite burger joint? Drop me a line at alovesfood@gmail.com.