Dundalk Restaurant Advances to 'Burger Bracket' Championship

There's good news and bad news for Donna's Tavern and Restaurant as it pursues its claim to being the home of Baltimore's best hamburger.

The Pine Avenue eatery has advanced to the final round of Fox 45's Burger Bracket competition to name the metropolitan area's best burger.

In voting that ended Sunday night, Donna's defeated the Greene Turtle of Hunt Valley.

But the restaurant's next opponent, Dempsey's Brew Pub and Restaurant, has a distinct home field advantage this week as the final round of voting takes place.

The pub, named for former Baltimore Orioles catcher Rick Dempsey, is located at Oriole Park at Camden Yards where, of course, the baseball season begins this week.

With the Orioles' home opener scheduled for Friday, Dempsey's has the opportunity to reach a lot of people, a fact that makes Donna's manager Heather Sekora a bit nervous.

"I am so excited … I can barely put my 'thank you' into words," Sekora said in an email to Patch.

The local restaurant's triumphant move into the final round of voting is "possible because of our customers … our friends," she said. "With Opening Day this Friday, the final round will not be an easy one to win."

The burger that has Donna's one week away from metropolitan bragging rights is the Crabby Patty, a half-pound black angus burger topped with crab dip, jumbo lump crab meat and blended cheeses, according to Sekora.

Dundalk residents and other friends of the restaurant can help Donna's win the title by registering and voting in the contest.

To cast your vote, visit the Fox 45 website.

Voting for the fourth and final round ends at 11:59 p.m. Sunday, April 7.

The grand champion will be named April 8, according to Fox 45's website.

Dempsey's might have Opening Day, but Dundalk has Donna's back!