Murfreesboro now has a wealth of spots to grab a burger; new restaurants continue to open all over town, each offering its own spin on the American staple. But one spot predates them all.
Buster’s Place has operated in its modest home, a small brick building on Broad Street not far from Northfield Boulevard, since the early 1970s, and still continues its burger and beer tradition there today. It’s not overly fancy, but comfortable.
“Looks like your ‘hole-in-the-wall joint’ but we all know how most of those are,” Tracy Mitchell Marquez said of Buster’s.
The menu and the atmosphere stay simple. The single-sheet menu contains burgers, wings, fries, onion rings, chili and a few other items such as a pork chop sandwich, grilled chicken salad, hot dogs and fried green tomatoes. Various TVs show sports while country music from years past plays, and a whole smattering of different college football helmets and MTSU gear decorate the place.
And thousands and thousands of burgers have come off of that hot Buster’s flatiron over the decades.
“Walking up to the door we could smell meat grease (in a good way),” a diner, Mel, posted in a review. “Just a good burger joint filled with locals.”
This Murfreesboro institution founded in 1973 has slowly evolved from a dive bar where cold beer flowed and bikers converged to a beloved piece of local nostalgia where diners young and old can enjoy a cheeseburger, the kind of place soaked in local vibes where longtime regulars feel right at home and newcomers quickly understand why.
“If you’re not looking for it, you’ll completely drive past it. But I’m telling you, this is one place you don’t want to pass up,” according to Sarah, a Smyrna resident. “If you’re looking for a burger spot in Murfreesboro, definitely give Buster’s Place a try!”
Another local diner, Andy, said he has lived in Murfreesboro for years, but just recently finally tried Buster’s for the first time.
“Best burger I’ve ever had in a restaurant,” he reported.
The classic Buster Burger—the straightforward cheeseburger with lettuce, onion, pickles and a thick slice of tomato, the one that “made them famous”—remains the foundation. But the menu goes well beyond the burger basics.
Buster’s rotates a selection of 21 different burgers, each one taking its turn as the featured weekly special, one at a time.
On a recent week, the Boutique Burger stacked fresh mozzarella, bacon, pesto and arugula atop the beefy patty.
Other popular specialty burgers include the sloppy joe burger, various creations involving pulled pork, and the doughnut burger sitting upon a split and grilled Donut Country doughnut, according to the team.
“The jalapeño popper is the best burger on the menu with chorizo burger coming in second,” according to a customer, Amber B., who said she appreciates the unique options, juicy burgers and fantastic service. “This diamond in the rough has a great atmosphere.”
A couple of specialty burgers remain on the menu always: the pimento cheese and bacon burger, a mushroom Swiss burger, the Frito pie burger (containing chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, jalapeño and Fritos), as well as the whipped feta, bacon jam and pickled onion burger—a “great combo of sweet and smoky,” another pleased diner said.
Some of these specialty builds, though, can become ridiculously unwieldy. With slippery toppings like bacon jam, pimento cheese, chili, salsa verde, soft fried egg, mac and cheese or sauces layered on generously, some burgers can fall apart and definitely present more of a fork-and-knife situation than a neat and clean handheld experience.
For diners looking for a manageable sandwich, the classic bacon cheeseburger may be the safe route, though Buster’s seems to conceptualize its specials with the idea that the messier and wilder, the better.
Beyond burgers, the chicken wings also stand out as a strong offering.
Smoked first and then fried, these are some of this writer’s favorite wings.
“Quite possibly the best plain smoked wings I’ve eaten,” Scott Mueller said. “Flavor and crispness were perfection.”
With their smoky flavor and crispy exterior, the wings are delicious naked, but also available tossed in Buffalo, BBQ or Nashville hot. Or, they pair quite well with the restaurant’s poppin’ jalapeño ranch.
“These were the absolute best wings we have ever had,” said another customer, Shawn Luman, in a Google review.
Other menu items round out the experience. The grilled pork chop sandwich, topped with barbecue sauce and slaw, offers a solid alternative for those not in the mood for a burger, while those in need of a fried green tomato fix can find that Southern side that they seek here.
The chili, onion rings and cheese fries receive lots of praise; the crinkle-cut fries draw some mixed reactions. Some enjoy them, while others say they feel they don’t exactly have a “wow” factor, they could be a bit crisper, and don’t match the quality of the burgers.
As with many eateries lately, value is a concern.
A classic single Buster burger sits right at $10; though, that’s without a side, and adding sides, going with a specialty or double burger and drinks, prices can climb quickly.
“The food was fresh,” Kirsten Sanders said. “But for five of us it was $100. Five single patty burgers, five fries, two waters, three teas and an order of fried green tomatoes.”
Some longtime customers also suggest the burgers may not be quite as juicy or loosely packed as they remember from years past; still, the overall sentiment surrounding Buster’s Place leans strongly positive.
In a town full of new restaurants and a world full of constantly evolving food trends, Buster’s Place remains a constant, doing what it has done for more than 50 years—keeping it relaxed and simple: burgers, bikes and beer. And wings!
“Your good, old country town burger joint,” said Eric McElroy. “Burgers are always on point. . . . There is nothing more Boro than Buster’s.”
Buster’s Place
1615 NW Broad St.
Mon.–Sat.: 10:30 a.m.–8 p.m.; Sun.: 12–6 p.m.
615-895-5464
Classic single Buster burger: $9.95; Half dozen smoked wings: $9.95; Grilled pork chop sandwich: $8.95; Whipped feta, bacon jam and pickled onion double burger: $14.95; Large chili cheese fries: $8.95; Half dozen fried green tomatoes: $5.95
bustersintheboro.com
