It was a close race, but a Valley Cottage tavern won lohud's favorite burger poll

It was a close race between Brookside Tavern in Valley Cottage and the Burger Loft in New City for who has Rockland's best burger but in the end, Brookside Tavern won with 42% of the vote. (The Burger Loft got 38%).

Tom Zorn, who's run the Brookside kitchen with Paul Carlucci since 2017, said what makes their burgers so good is their variety and use of house-made toppings and sauces. The two own Hocus Smokus BBQ, and say their passion lies in barbecue. Hence, the focus on sauces.

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"Our burgers are each carefully crafted with ingredients to stand out, and taste great," said Zorn. "Plus, we believe sauces can make or break a burger." 

Among their most popular patties: The Bobb O, topped with cheddar cheese, bacon, crispy onions and a whiskey barbecue sauce. The two created the burger as an ode to their friend and mentor Bobby Lowrey of Stony Point Pizzarena. 

Other burgers include Buffalo Bleu (with blue cheese crumble, crispy onions and Buffalo sauce), West Coast (pepper jack cheese, bacon, avocado and chipotle ranch) and the Knoxville burger (cheddar, honey barbecue and an onion ring stuffed with bacon and jalapeños).

Meanwhile at the Burger Loft, a Rockland staple since 2012, burgers are made with a tri-blend mix of brisket, short rib and chuck meat that's ground every morning. And while you can get them with sautéed mushrooms, provolone cheese or caramelized onions, the most popular remains the classic with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion and Loft sauce. Even better: At The Burger Loft, you can pair your burger with a handcrafted beer from next door sibling District 96. 

Other burgers in the running included Sutter's Mill in Suffern, which got 11% of the vote, the Breakfast & Burger Club in Nyack, with 6% and the Filling Station in Palisades and West Haverstraw with 2%.

What other poll would you like to see? Email JRMuchnick@gannett.com and look, soon, for a Westchester burger poll. 

Jeanne Muchnick covers food and dining. Click here for her most recent articles and follow her latest dining adventures on Instagram @lohud_food or via the lohudfood newsletter.