Dec. 31, 2025

This piece is sponsored by Vanguard Hospitality.

Call it the ‘Godfather’ of all burgers.

This year’s entry from Minervas in the 2026 Downtown Burger Battle doesn’t just bring a dash of Italian flair to the annual competition — and a fun twist on a side dish.

It’s a locally sourced dish that also hints at what’s to come next door.

The Don Corleone’s Vendetta Royale: Minervas Edition Burger features a Hadrick Ranch premium Angus beef patty, sourced from Hadrick Ranch in Faulkton, alongside lamb ragu bolognese that’s sourced from Prairie Coteau Farm in Astoria.

It’s served on a garlic herb brioche bun with sun-dried tomato basil aioli, mozzarella, Parmesan fondue, smoked paprika, cracked black pepper and basil oil.

And then there’s the side.

It’s a hand-breaded, 10-ounce “mobsterella stick” served with bold marinara. Cue the cheese pulls: This one deserves to be captured on video.

“It’s very massive, very bold, more of a statement feature,” executive chef Jordan Klein said.

So why pay tribute to the classic mob bosses of the mid-20th century? In part because of what’s taking shape next door at Paramount Studio Cocktails & Food, which is being redesigned in preparation for reopening soon.

“We’re kind of going more of that mobster-mafia theme over there, so we based this burger and the ‘mobsterella’ stick around that,” Klein said.

Try the Don Corleone’s Vendetta Royale: Minervas Edition Burger Jan. 2-31 at Minervas in downtown Sioux Falls.