Mad Mike's Burgers & Fries (Newport)

The original NKY outpost of a locally owned concept that built its following on big, unapologetic gourmet burgers made from 100% Black Angus beef. Quarter-pound patties, hand-cut fries, and a menu that rewards both the decisive and the indecisive. The Pride of Zeus — gyro meat, feta, tzatziki over two patties — is the one that gets people talking, but the Look-Out-Below (cream cheese, jalapeños, fried egg, mad sauce) has its own camp. Build-your-own flexibility, competitive pricing, and a following that travels for it.