Brownsville’s ‘The Basket’ wins TDEC’s Best Burger contest

BROWNSVILLE, Tenn. — The grill is extra hot at “The Basket” in Brownsville this week after they’ve been named the best burger in the state of Tennessee by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
“They ran brackets, one against another restaurant all the way to the final two, and we were the winners — the best burger in Tennessee,” Ron Hart, owner of “The Basket,” said.

After being open just seven years, Hart said they’re glad to be able to bring a good product to his hometown.

“Quality product. Special seasoning. Cooked to order’s the big thing,” Hart said. “Our burgers aren’t sitting in a window in a box. You walk in, you order, we cook yours right then and there. It comes out hot and fresh, juicy. A little different than all your fast food places.”

It’s that attention to detail customers told WBBJ keeps them coming back.

“Best burgers I’ve eaten,” customer Gaquita Chearis-Goodman said. “It’s good and you get your money worth. It’s a small place that speaks big volumes.”

“I think they deserved it,” customer Branden Garcia said. “They got a good burger, good price, especially compared to fast food places, and it’s a hometown place.”

And that hometown, the owner said, he’s glad to be able to represent.

“It says Brownsville has a good, tight community,” Hart said “They support their own. Just real good people here, and they know a good cheeseburger.”

The basket had to beat 900 other burger places across the state for the title given out by the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.

They won the final round by a mere 14 votes.