The Burger Barge is back on Torch Lake and with new owners. And if you ever go to the Torch Lake sandbar, you would know the legacy of the Burger Barge that started in 2003. The previous owner retired and new owners are ready to carry it on. I was able to spend an afternoon with them to see what Busters Burger Barge is all about.
“So, Dave’s been out here doing this since 2003,” said Cody Donahue, Head Chef. “Since I was a kid, I was coming out here to get burgers, and I just always thought it was really cool. And I had seen Dave retired. I called up Dave, and he couldn’t have been a nicer guy. Glad to be out here doing serving the people and giving out good meals. And people are always satisfied.”
The legacy of the Burger Barge will now continue and Donahue couldn’t be proud to be apart of it.
“It’s just something that’s kind of iconic,” said Donahue. “It’s just always been something I thought was really cool. And I’m just glad to be a part of it.”
They stack their burgers from the bottom so you can add your condiments on top.
“That was Dave’s way. Trek to the trade. He has years of knowledge and was way ahead of where I should be. He was a very helpful man. And a part of that we also kept the same sign to keep on with that. Like it’s the same sign since 2003. And, a lot of Dave’s followers come to us loyally.”
The barge also has a mini fridge on the front of the barge to keep all their condiments cool. The Burger Barge typically has a long line, with people excited to eat.
“It’s high energy. It’s fast paced. When it gets going, it gets going,” said Donahue. “I enjoy serving the people. People come up and say hey we we’ve been coming here since these guys were kids and their kids are grown up now. It’s just gone full circle, it comes around.”
The boat has an order station, a counter to assemble, a deep freezer, hand wash station and a grill. You can also purchase merch onboard.
Click here for more information on the Busters Burger Barge.