Sometimes the best burgers are able to be modified in interesting ways. Bastone's burger is simple on the surface: high quality ground sirloin on a bun.

However, Bastone – the Belgian-inspired downtown Royal Oak restaurant and brewery – doesn't want you to stop there. On our visit, the manager put together his favorite combination of flavors: grilled red onions, avocado, kalamata olives and bleu cheese. There's at least a dozen other toppings and cheese choices to contemplate.  

All of the toppings in the world wouldn't matter if the burger isn't tasty. Bastone's burger delivers on all fronts. Order your burger medium rare to medium because sirloin is lean so it tends to dry out. If you top your medium rare burger with the toppings we sampled, you'll get a briny, sweet, bitter, creamy, tangy taste explosion. 

The toppings work shockingly well together. Slightly charred red onions are sweet and bitter. Creamy, fatty avocado stands in well for the lack of fat in the burger. Kalamata olives and bleu cheese offer both tang and brininess. All of this in a bun that's been toasted, adding another layer of flavor.

As if the burger wasn't enough, make sure you order a side of frites (french fries) and a pint of beer. Bastone's frites are served with mayonnaise dipping sauces (trust me, they're awesome).  As for the beer, try the IPA with the burger. Its assertive bitterness is a good foil for the richness of the burger.

So when visiting this downtown restaurant and brewery at the corner of Main and Fifth, you can have your Belgian and your burger, too.