Nothing has changed about these burgers in 100 years.
Not even the grease.
The year was 1912.
Credit: Courtesy of Kendall Robertson
Americans electedWoodrow Wilsonas U.S. President,Arizonabecame the 48th state and theTitanic sankinto the Atlantic Ocean.
That same year, in Memphis, Tennessee, another piece of history was unfolding.
Elmer “Doc” Dyer opened the doors to his new cafe aptly namedDyer’s Burgers.
Credit: Courtesy of Kendall Robertson
But these were not your average hamburgers.
Dyer’s burgers were made from specially seasoned ground beef that created extra grease when cooked.
Then one night, there was a mistake in the kitchen.
Credit: Courtesy of Kendall Robertson
“It’s the same molecules from 1912, it’s never been changed.”
Something else that hasn’t changed is the way the burgers are served.
“We only do mustard, pickle, onion and pepper.
And don’t ask him what the special seasoning is made of.
“I can’t tell you!”
“That’s part of the secret!”
Theburgersstart out as three-ounce balls of meat.
They’re pounded down with a wooden mallet into paper thin patties before being dropped into the legendary grease.
The burgers are cooked in huge custom-made cast iron skillets.
“They’re about four inches deep and they’re probably three feet wide,” said Robertson.
Each skillet can hold up to 75 burgers at a time.
“When it cooks it gets a little bit smaller, so most people get doubles.
But we have a triple also, because a single doesn’t really fill you up.”
Some patrons special order their burger, taking full advantage of the world-famous grease.
“It’s called ‘double dipping it’,” described Robertson.
That’s how they want it.”
“We keep five-gallon pickle buckets, and I think right now I have 10.”
“It’s got three meats and three cheeses on it.
And then it’s got polish sausages on it,” said Robertson.
“It all comes on a bun just like the burger does.”
The grease-laden menu plays into the restaurant’s slogan, ‘Have you had your vitamin G today?’
That’s “G” for grease, of course.
Three of Dyer’s employees have worked there since the restaurant moved to Beale Street in 1999.
Linda Burks is one of them.
Robertson said that list includes famous faces such as Tom Hanks, Michael Jordan and Mike Tyson.
“It’s a great experience,” said Burks.
“I get to meet a lot of people.”
Burks said she’s collected pictures over the years that she now keeps in a shadowbox.
“But we haven’t gotten there yet.”
