We know D.C. Get our free newsletter to stay in the know.

Prior to opening his new gourmet burger joint, the Fat Cow, Doug Hosford of Baton Rouge, La., did what any respectable restaurateur would do. He took his team on a research trip to the biggest mecca of the genre. In Hosford’s case, that meant East Coast beef patty haven Washington, D.C. Louisiana State University student newspaper The Daily Reveille has the scoop:

Hosford said his team went to Washington, D.C., to taste the country’s best burgers and sampled 20 different ones in 20 hours.

“After number five, you can really critique a burger,” Hosford said. “There are lots of good burgers, but you have to have good condiments.”

Photo by Chris Shott