THEN & NOW
Wisconsin Burgers
From fairgrounds to supper clubs, the Wisconsin hamburger keeps its practical roots while finding new settings across the region.
At the Outagamie County Fair in the late 1800s, Charlie Nagreen had a problem — meatballs weren’t exactly fair food you could eat on the move. So he flattened the beef, slipped it between bread and kept serving. Midwestern practicality at its finest, and yet kind of brilliant.
Charlie Nagreen, affectionately known as “Hamburger Charlie,” didn’t intend to create something lasting. Then, it was just a simple idea that worked: portable, filling and no extra effort required for fair-goers.
Now, there are few things more American — perhaps Midwestern in particular — than enjoying a well made hamburger and all the toppings. While burgers have become a staple, they’ve also modernized, just as Wisconsin’s earliest communities have grown into bustling towns.
Today’s hamburgers offer the same concept at heart, while shifting slightly depending on where you land. The same down-to-earth attitude in more contemporary surroundings.
Same Idea, Different Settings
Every summer, Burger Fest leans into Hamburger Charlie’s story and Wisconsin’s connection to hamburgers. It has small-town energy — parades, music, families and friends enjoying a day together. Just like that county fair in Seymour, there’s a sense of community and a dash of ingenuity.
Nightingale Supper Club’s burger sits quietly on the menu without a lot of splash. The house-ground black angus burger doesn’t need a spotlight or push. Diners order it because they know what they’re getting — a hearty, traditional burger that fits with the Wisconsin supper club tradition and matches the quality of their featured dishes.
At Lodge Kohler’s Taverne in the Sky, you’ll find their wood-fired burger on the lunch menu made with a familiar and tender black angus patty. Taverne in the Sky knows how to dress it up, of course, topping their burger with housemade chimichurri, black garlic aioli and aged yellow cheddar.
The wood-fired burger stays true to its roots with refined touches that are perfect for a meal in a room with panoramic views.
