I had a great time running the contest last month for the restaurant/bar with the best burger(s) in the Madison area. The Village Green won with 59 percent of the vote, followed by the Blue Moon (34 percent), Dotty Dumpling’s (five percent) and the Great Dane (two percent). The four finalists received the most nominations in the first round, in which all restaurants and bars were eligible.

The Village Green received a certificate indicating its distinction.

Although Dotty Dumpling’s took the initial lead, it soon became a back-and-forth race between the Blue Moon and the Village Green, as each held the lead three separate times.

It’s interesting to note the changing tastes of various demographics. Many longtime (older) Madisonians love the burgers at the Plaza, but it did not receive any votes in the first round. That same group would likely not have voted for the Great Dane, which was shown to be a favorite among the relatively younger crowd that voted.

Outside Wisconsin, the Village Green carried Minnesota, Michigan, Missouri, Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee and South Carolina, while Dotty Dumpling’s won California, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio and New York and the Blue Moon took Mississippi and North Carolina.

Also, congratulations once again to Stephanie Byrnes of Madison. We picked one voter at random for a prize pack containing a Bucky Book, $15 Starbucks gift card and $50 gift certificate to the winning restaurant.