Forget the Bun: This New Bedford Burger Is All Flavor

There’s nothing like a delicious smash burger, but one New Bedford spot is smashing convention when it comes to the popular burger style.

Why Go Bunless? The Rise of Carb-Conscious Consumers

In today’s carb-conscious world, where people are either on weight-loss drugs that require a low-carbohydrate diet or they have an intolerance for gluten, many of us are finding a way to do without bread and buns.

Honestly, it was always my least-favorite part of the burger anyway. Quite often, I find myself pulling the meat out of the bun and just eating that alone.

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That’s why I was intrigued by the Drunken Dutchess burger, one of the new weekly specials at Ryan’s Sports Pub and Billiards in New Bedford. If you’ve never been, it’s located inside the Whaler Inn & Suites at 500 Hathaway Road, and it’s a laid-back pub atmosphere with delicious food and drinks, big portions and affordable prices. What I like most about Ryan’s, though, is that they like to have fun with what they serve, and they’re not afraid to take chances – such as putting out a bun-less burger.

I asked Beth, the awesome bartender who waited on me, why it was called the Drunken Dutchess. She said because it was sloppy, but still had an elegance to it. I would definitely agree with that.

Inside the Drunken Dutchess: What’s in the Burger

That elegance is in its simplicity: it features two smash burger patties layered with melted cheddar cheese and Ryan’s signature burger sauce (a tangy treat) with sautéed onion rings instead of the bun.

Sometimes, a breadless “sandwich” can be more gimmick than meal. Remember when KFC had a chicken sandwich that was just two fried chicken breasts with some bacon in the middle? Fun in theory, but it wasn’t too exciting in reality.

However, the Drunken Dutchess is an experience. The lack of the bun allows the flavors to fully come through, without the bread soaking up some of the seasoning and taste. As stated on the menu, “No bun, no rules burger built for serious flavor chasers.” They’re not kidding.

Customer Reactions to the Bunless Smash Burger

The burger is already catching on with SouthCoast foodies; Ryan’s had about 10 people come in and order it on Thursday, and it was only the first day it was being offered.

The Mess Factor: Can You Eat It by Hand?

Just because it doesn’t have a bun doesn’t mean you couldn’t pick it up and eat it with your hands, although I’d recommend going the knife-and-fork route. Kendra, the general manager of Ryan’s, said two people tried eating a Drunken Dutchess handheld-style on Thursday. I’m guessing they’re doing a load of laundry on Friday.

READ MORE: We Created a Secret Sandwich at Dartmouth's Tailgate Sports Bar That You Have to Taste to Believe

If I can offer one bit of advice to those who order a Drunken Dutchess: don’t try to pick up anyone at the bar after you’re done eating it. You just ate a lot of onions, and you’re definitely going to give off the wrong impression.

Still, totally worth it. You can try for a date tomorrow night.