Sloppy Mama’s Barbecue Hub on U Street Turns Into a Prime Beef Burger Bar

The Sloppy Mama’s barbecue operation inside Solly’s tavern is no more.

Owner Joe Neuman has replaced the U Street NW hub with a new brand, Butters’ Burgers, which will focus on simple, ground brisket patties and a few specialty burgers topped with smoked meats.

Butters’ rolled out earlier this month as a delivery option via Uber Eats. The full burger bar menu will become available at Solly’s once Sloppy Mama’s opens inside the Quarter Market food hall in Ballston later this month.

Neuman says his burger bar on U Street will use prime beef and house-made sausage, just like Sloppy Mama’s. Early favorites include “The Classic,” a single- or double-stacked burger with grilled onion and special sauce, and “The MVA,” a bratwurst-style patty lathered with spicy beer mustard and Chow-Chow relish. The “Western Bacon Chee” comes topped with smoked brisket, bacon jam, shaved onions, pickles, and Kansas City barbecue sauce.

Butters’ also offers a fried chicken thigh sandwich , and there’s a vegetarian Impossible Burger topped with special sauce, sweet pickle, arugula, and shaved sweet onions. Sides of fries are included in the orders ($13-$17).

This spring is shaping up to be busy for Sloppy Mama’s. In January, Neuman announced plans to open a flagship restaurant in Arlington, which will consolidate his smoking operation. Sloppy Mama’s will continue to sell barbecue at Union Market, too.

“Converting Solly’s to a burger joint meets a market demand and a production issue on our end,” Neuman says. “We can only make so much barbecue, and we will be stretched super thin until our restaurant opens in the next couple months.”

The Sloppy Mama’s food truck is also still running. Neuman says he won’t cut off service until he finds a buyer for the truck.

• Sloppy Mama’s Barbecue Has Finally Found a Permanent Home in Arlington [EDC]