(Huxley, Iowa) – A restaurant in Huxley has claimed the title of “Iowa’s Best Burger,” for 2023. The Iowa Beef Industry Council reports the Flight Bar + Grille, in Huxley, was crowned winner for their burger they call “The Foundation,” a double-smash burger with cheddar cheese. “It includes mustard aioli, lettuce, tomato, caramelized onions and is topped with thick-cut bacon served between a beautiful and buttery brioche bun,” explained Katie Boughey, executive chef and kitchen manager. She said “We use simple seasonings – salt and pepper – to let the beef’s flavor be the star of the burger.”

The burger features 80% lean, fresh ground beef – the ideal ratio for creating outstanding flavor. The never-frozen and Midwest-sourced beef is rolled into a meatball and then smashed straight on the grill with a steak weight to give it a crisp crust. The judges noted the crust preserves the juices inside, resulting in a perfectly cooked burger that makes the food an exceptional experience. House-made pickles and flight fries (aptly dubbed the most delicious fries you’ve ever tasted!) round out a plate of goodness that has taken off for patrons of this restaurant turned must-visit destination. It’s one of a half dozen mouthwatering burgers on Flight’s menu.

The Foundation burger at the Flight Bar & Grill, in Huxley.

Restaurant owners Marianne and Matt Pacha moved to Huxley six years ago, immediately felt at home with the sense of community the central Iowa town of 4,500 provided. The intersection of community and family values with a desire to create a restaurant with a hometown feel led the Pachas to develop and open Flight Bar + Grille in 2022. Their establishment name was inspired by the local Ballard school district’s mascot – the Ballard Bombers.  In addition to the prize-winning burger, other menu items give a nod to the aviation theme with Flight Fries with house-made aioli sauces, Bomber Sliders, the Flight Club and a kids’ menu for pilots in training, featuring Jet Sliders named for the town’s youth football program mascot.