Eat this burger at Side Project Brewery in Maplewood

We expected to be impressed when we heard that Side Project Brewery in Maplewood was launching a food program in collaboration with Niche Food Group alum and former Pizza Champ and Elmwood co-owner Adam Altnether.

With help from Heather Dorman (the pair having previously worked together at Elmwood), Altnether has created a tight menu of nuanced bar food that complements Side Project’s elevated approach to brewing. The Side Project burger is an obvious and unmissable starting point, and so good that you might be tempted to just keep ordering it on return visits. The burger’s two 4-ounce patties are topped with American cheese, caramelized onions and apple cider-Dijon aioli and served on a soft potato bun. The dense pile of thin-cut caramelized onions is the secret weapon here, a jammy paste that adds a touch of tart sweetness. The acid from the aioli brightens the overall flavor and primes you for the next bite, but not before dunking a few perfectly crispy fries into the accompanying mayo and ketchup dips.

Visit on Mondays and get a free beer with your sandwich. Worth waiting 10 years for? Pretty much.

7458 Manchester Road, Maplewood, sideprojectbrewing.com