Burgers by the Beach

The Grille - Boca Raton, FL

2013-05-15T14:56:00.000-04:00

Seriously? With all the competitions going on in and around South Florida... You name your burger "Boca's Best Burger"... Well then, we have to try it! And we did. Best in Boca? No, sorry. Even though there may not be too much competition in Boca. It didn't crack the top of our list.

However, I was impressed with the solid 10oz portion of ground chuck. Seasoned and open flame grilled very well. Nothing impressive. Just a solid burger. The bun was a giant soft potato roll which held the burger together very nicely. I don't know why you would add $1 for cheese (only 3 options: Cheddar, Swiss & Provolone). Seems like a typical Boca thing to do. Although, the place for lunch was slammed. It is right in the heart of the business district in East Boca off Yamato / 95, so that is to be expected. Burgers may not be their specialty but to advertise it as the "best"... Time to rethink your marketing.

Overall Rating: Rare (worst - 1) to Well-Done (best - 5):
The Grille - Medium (3)

"Sharing our leftovers..."

2013-05-15T14:32:00.001-04:00

Food Truck Invasion will be celebrating National Hamburger Month on Thursday May 23rd from 5-10PM in Wellington! All the Food Trucks are coming up with “Specialty Burgers” for the month to celebrate plus they’ll still have their full menu! The Dessert Trucks are also creating specialty desserts too! The panel of judges (Burgers by the Beach, Dine Out With Mike & WalkAbout Wellington) will decide who has the “Best Food Truck Burger” and “Best Themed Dessert”. If you love Burgers & you love Food Trucks then you NEED to be here!

A special thanks to Custom Food Truck Builders (builders of Grill Master Cafe, Miami Press Truck, Cold Stone Creamery and Da Burger Shack) who are sponsoring this event.

Burgers:

BC Taco: Caveman Burger – Burger Patty topped with Steak and Braised Beef Shortribs with Lettuce, Tomato, Cheddar Cheese, Mozzarella Cheese and Half a Hard Shell Taco.

BITE Gastrotruck: BAMF – Burger with American Cheese, Bacon Jam, Chipotle Mayo and for Dessert – Apple Pie Milkshake

Che Grill: Gaucho Burger – 8 oz. Beef Burger topped with Mozzarella Cheese, Ham, Egg, and Bacon on a Fresh Bun.

Da Burger Shack: Bomb Burger – 8oz Angus Beef Patty seasoned with our special seasoning,Topped with Caramelized Onions, A thick slice of Pepper Jack Cheese, Apple Smoked Bacon,Lettuce, Fresh guacamole, Pico de Gallo, and jalapenos, Served on a lightly toasted kaiser bun.

The Daily Special: Hoisin Glazed Tuna Burger with Fresh Avocado and Mango Salsa.

El Rey De Las Fritas: Frita La Criolla – It’s an Original Frita a Caballo with a Sweet Tostone

Grill Master Cafe: Deep Fried Burger

The Health Nut on Wheels: Free Range Antelope Burger with Lettuce, Wild Tomato, Avocado & Brie.

International Classic Cuisine: Maui Wowie Burger – Our Specially Blended Ground Beef, Ginger, Water Chestnuts, Secret Sauce, Garlic, Shredded Chinese Cabbage, Hawaiian Glaze, Manchego Cheese. Handcrafted Taro Chips as a Side.

Killer Pasta: Grim Reaper Burger – Freshly Ground Beef, Bacon, Chipotle Aioli, Cheddar Mac n Cheese, Jalapeño Jelly on a Toasted Bun.

Loaded Burger: Loaded Baked Potato Burger – Black Angus Stuffed with Chunky Garlic Potatoes, Bacon, Chives and Cheddar Cheese injected with Sour Cream.

Lucilles on Wheels: 2 Four Ounce Patties with Melted Cheese, Paprika infused Pastrami & Mesquite Ranch Dressing.

Miami Press: The Post – Ground Angus Sirloin, White American Cheese, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Romaine Lettuce, Vine Ripe Tomatoes, Crispy Hand Cut Onions, and Spicy Mayo served on Ciabatta Bread.

Monster Burgers: Monster Burger – 8 oz. Beef Burger with Bacon, Extra Mozzarella Cheese, Onions, & Monster Sauces.

Palate Party: The Egg Big Macn’ – Mac’n'Cheeseburger with an Over Medium Egg.

Parabas Grill: Bacon crusted Bleu Cheese Burger on a Truck Baked Bun.

Pescados Unidos: El Chupacabra – 12 oz Sirloin/Chuck Blend, Peppered Bacon, Cheddar Cheese, Roasted Poblano Pepper, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Chive Aioli on a Brioche Bun

Purple People Eatery: The Succubus – All Natural Grass Fed Beef Burger with Fois Gras, Caramelized Shallots, Quail Egg, Aged English Cheddar and Truffle Aoili.

The Rolling Stove: Duck Bulgogi BBQ Burger – With Crispy Honey Sriracha Glazed Ginger Pork Belly, Orange Marmalade, Raw Red Onion & Wasabi Mayo served on Brioche Bun.

Slow Food Truck: Green Burger – 1/2 lb Burger, Served with Grilled Queso Fresco, Bacon, Avocado, Mixed Greens dressed with White Balsamic Vinaigrette and Cilantro Lime Aioli. Served on a Martins Potato Bun

Desserts:

Dolce Gourmet Cupcakes: Red Velvet Sundae Burger – Red Velvet Bun Perfection with an Ice Cream Patty of your Choice.

HipPOP’s Handcrafted Gelato Bars - HGB (HipPOPs Gelato Burger) – Gelato Burger Patty with Dulce de Leche Lettuce on a Macaroon Bun.

Joji Yogurt: Special Hamburger Pop – Imagine our Chocolate Fudge layered on both sides with our Salted Caramel & Mini Candies on both sides to resemble Sesame Seeds.

Munchcakes: Burger Macaroon – Sesame Seed Shell, Chocolate Ganache with Mint Leaf ‘Lettuce’ and Strawberry ‘Tomatoes’.

Potoffee: The Whiskey Bent & Heaven Bound – A decadent Dark Chocolate Burger with Whiskey-Glazed Bacon, Whiskey Caramel Sauce and Creamy White Chocolate Mascarpone Mayo on a Sesame Pâte à Choux Bun.

Sweet Sensations: Funnel Cake Burger

The Details:

National Hamburger Month edition of the Food Truck Invasion
at Wellington Amphitheater
Date: Thursday May 23rd
Time: 5PM – 10PM
Location: 12150 Forest Hill Blvd Wellington, FL 33414

Big Al's - Delray Beach

2013-04-26T11:41:00.002-04:00

100% Ground Ribeye. Simple. That's the Cheesesteak Burger served at the window here in right on Atlantic Ave & Federal Hwy at Big Al's Steaks. For a double patty, you are getting the same amount of Rib Eye meat used on a 9" Philly. Nothing fancy. Blended with worcestershire to keep the burger moist, flat top grilled on the same grill as the philly's & served on a potato roll bun. You can top it however you like... I decided to make this a classic Philly cheesesteak burger & topped it with mushroom, onions, peppers wit Wiz! It got a little messy but who cares... This was delicious! I just kept licking my fingers and using the thick cut fries to scoop up all the extra cheese! If you find yourself out partying late night on the Ave... Stop by Big Al's.

Overall Rating: Rare (worst-1) to Well-Done (best-5)
Big Al's Delray - Cheesesteak Burger = Medium-Well (4)

Fort Lauderdale - Riverwalk Burger Battle 2013

2013-04-25T17:15:00.000-04:00

The gang at Riverwalk is getting ready for the 4th Annual Riverwalk Burger Battle™ presented by Publix Aprons Catering and Cooking School on May 31st along the New River in Downtown FTL’s Huizenga Plaza. It sizzles (in more ways than one!) and pits local burger joints and broward county restaurants against one another.

Here are the contenders in 3 categories (one will reign supreme):

Burger Joints:
- Burger Zone
- Charm City Burger Co. (Returning Champion)
- The Burger Freak
- Elevation Burger
- Gimme a Burger

Bar & Grill Contenders:
- America's Backyard
- Georges Alibi (2x Judges Champion)
- The Downtowner Saloon
- Big Bear Brewing Co.
- Rosie’s Bar & Grill (Best Bar & Grill Burger)
- ROK:BRGR (Previous Fan Favorite)

Knife & Fork Burger Contenders:
- Timpano Italian Chophouse
- The Grateful Palate
- Grille 401
- Big City Tavern

EAT ~ DRINK ~ ROCK from 7 - 10pm on Friday, May 31st

Guests Will Enjoy:
- Samples of all 16 Beef Burger locations entered in the contest
- The Capital Grille's FRENCH FRY BAR
- Treats from Susie Scrumptious Sweets Dessert Bar
- NOW 3 Drink Tickets!!! (Barefoot Wine, Jack Daniels, Budweiser & Voss)
- A Voting chip to help choose the Fan Favorite Burger Award
- Live Music from SWEET 903
- View a local celebrity slider eating contest presented by Krystal
- Upgrade to the VIP EXPERIENCE that offers a private area, open bar & catering
- GENREAL ADMISSION = $40 / VIP EXPERIENCE = $125
- CLICK HERE TO BUY YOUR TICKETS
- General & VIP Admission (21+ )

Burger Belle (along with Burgers by the Beach) is excited to announce some exclusive info on Riverwalk’s Burger Battle™. They just recruited a Chef-Driven Judging Panel to work together to award the ‘Best Burger’ award and bragging rights in area code 954. Who will win Best ‘Burger Joint’, Best ‘Bar & Grill’, Best ‘Knife & Fork’ Burger? You get to choose your ‘Fan Favorite’! Here is the line-up, they know their burgers (and get rewarded for their hard work with some cool swag from Jack Daniel’s and Barefoot Bubbly):

2013 JUDGES:
- Returning for his 4th Battle is our own Burger Beast (only Judge to sample all 20 burger bites last year)
- Returning for a 4th Battle, Chef Director Jack Kane at the Int’l Culinary School at the Art Institute
- Returning for a 3rd Battle is Resident Chef Wes Bonner of the Publix Apron’s Cooking School
- New to the team, 3x Contender, Executive Chef Marc Gruverman, The Capital Grille
- New to the team, Burgers by the Beach (burger blogger) - Jamie Frankel

- Guest Writer: Burger Belle

Shake Shack - Boca Raton, FL

2013-04-22T14:15:00.000-04:00

IT'S FINALLY OPEN!

Burger fans! FAU Students! Boca Residents! Shake Shack is officially open! Just East of I-95 off Glades Rd (University Commons plaza). As of 11am, April 22nd, 2013 (Earth Day), the doors have opened to allow Palm Beach county residents the opportunity to enjoy their incredible menu items: The Shack Burger, The SmokeShack, 'Shroom Burger & Shack Stack, also they serve a ShackMeister Ale (brewed exclusively by Brooklyn Brewery), Flat-Top Dogs such as the Shack-cago Dog, DogMeister, Friskey Dog & Chicken Dog and of course, Custards & Concretes like the Mizner's Muse, Burrowing Banana & Glades Doughnut (See a pattern here Boca...)! They did a great job making you feel right at home. Check out the full menu posted below... It's a welcomed experience, seeing as how they're in the same plaza as J. Alexanders & P.F. Changs. FAU students need a place like this right across from campus.

Salt Life Food Shack - Coral Springs, FL

2013-04-09T11:26:00.001-04:00

Floridian's. The brand you see labeled on the back of every truck & visor of every fisherman has brought its "Salt Life" beach-living ways to the South Florida restaurant scene. Coral Springs, FL to be exact. You know. That quiet little beach town cornered in-between the Everglades, Sawgrass Expressway and I-95. Wait? Huh? That's not right, is it? A brand dedicated to living your own "Salt Life" in Coral Springs? Seems a bit odd. But who can blame them for opening up their first S. Florida location right in the heart of restaurant row on University Drive in Coral Springs.

When you first walk in, you are of course greeted by Salt Life shirts, hats, and the famous stickers. With a nice sized bar area, it was pleasant to see locals just hanging out on a weeknight. Something a little different for Coral Springs. A nice sized salt water aquarium separated the bar from the dining room, leaving a nice open feel to the restaurant. But let's get down to the goods...

The theme of the evening seemed to be "fried." We didn't really notice it until afterwards, when (spoiler alert), we were over stuffed and exhausted from eating. Joined by members of local rock band FUSE (fuserocks.com), we ordered a few appetizers to keep us entertained. First up were the Bimini Conch Fritters. Lightly fried. Moist & full of flavor. Not overdone on the filling & the Shack Sauce was a nice compliment for dipping. Also on the table was a Crunch Roll - tempura battered shrimp, carrot, cucumber & cream cheese rolled in panko bread crumbs, flash fried and served with eel sauce. Lastly, a GIANT plate of Chorizo & Shrimp nachos joined the flavor party. These were topped with corn, black beans, jack and cheddar cheese, pico & finished with a cilantro-lime cream drizzle... YOU FULL YET? I know just from typing out my meal that I can skip lunch today.

With 3 burgers on the menu, the 3 of us thought it would be a good idea to just order 1 of each and share... Mistake? Probably. Seeing as how the appetizers were enough to feed a all 17 of Octomoms kids. (awkward reference)... moving on.

There was the SHACK BURGER - wood-fired served with lettuce, tomato, onion & pickle. My first reaction to this burger was "it looks and tastes like a restaurant-made Whopper." Nothing fancy. Simple and too the point. Fresh ingrdients. Just no wow factor. But again, we are in a seafood restaurant.

Next we had the BURGER CLUB - applewood bacon, ham, cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato & mayo. A nice twist on a classic club sandwich. Great thick cut bacon. Sliced in quarters like a typical club would be. Served on skewers, making it fun to grab and eat.

Lastly, we had the TUNA BURGER - grilled yellow fin tuna, drizzled with a wasabi cream & asian sweet sauce, topped with "fried" avocado fries. To enhance the overall flavor of the tuna, the patty was mixed with quite a bit of peppers. It was a solid sized, hand-made patty. Partly overcooked, but they did explain that they cook them one way to ensure proper temperature of the fish when served. The burger had a lot of different flavors, that I don't think came through all that well together. Got a bit messy to eat. The avocado fries were a bit large to top a burger with... Now are you full? I may be even skipping dinner tonight as well after all this...

Over rating: Rare (worst-1) to Well-Done (best-5):
Salt Life Food Shack: Medium (3)

Max's Harvest - Delray Beach, FL

2013-04-05T11:59:00.002-04:00

$21 Burger. Yup. We found it. And didn't have to go far either. Right in my backyard at Max's Harvest in Delray Beach. It's been near impossible to get a reservation here. The concept of Farm to Fork has gained popularity with the Delray crowd, making this the "hot spot" on the Ave for almost 2 years. Its great to see local farming making an impact in our community. With most of the food served being farmed no further than Palm Beach County, and with daily deliveries being made, you truly are eating the freshest ingredients $$ can buy.

We started off with the Daily Soup - Tomato Bisque with small grilled cheese slices for dunking. Brings me back to camp days. I love the combo. I really enjoyed the appetizer. Something so simple brings the child out in all of us.

We also ordered Deviled Heritage Hen Farm Eggs - chives, truffle sea salt & champagne vinegar. The eggs were incredibly light but the "deviled" part was a bit too sweet for our taste. Almost tasted like it was made with relish. Didn't do it for us. And for $5 - 4 eggs seems a bit steep.

But our main focus was "The" Burger! At $21 its gotta wow me. Its made with Dry Aged Prime, House Sauce, Aged Grafton Cheddar, Brioche Roll & All the Fixin's (lettuce, tomato, pickles, onion). I also went ahead and added the House Smoked Bacon ($2). Which now brings me to a $23 burger. A burger can be defined in many ways. I tend to think of hamburgers as a social food, gaining popularity in a down-economy. Making it easy to cook/order with an entire family on a budget. I also feel the same way about "Farm to Fork." Shouldn't an order that is cutting out the middle-man distributor cost less? I understand bulk orders = less overhead cost but getting food direct from the farm shouldn't increase the cost just because its "thats fresh." ... but I digress.

Yes, I know your asking yourself. This burger was worth every dollar of its $23 price tag. As another guest sitting next to us told the waiter, "It's like a meatloaf on a bun. It's huge." We weren't the only table to order it... I saw at least 3 more going out to guests. Could be because it's the cheapest item on the menu but as I tasted, it truly was a knockout item! The handmade patty was oversized. Cooked EXACTLY the way I asked (huge plus for me) and had such an incredible fresh taste. I know. I know. Thats the point right. But even the tomato seemed like taking a bite right off the vine. Each bite got better than the next.

Overall Rating: Rare (worst-1) to Well-Done (best-5)
Max's Harvest = WELL-DONE (5)

Smoked Gouda & Pancetta Mac 'n Cheese

Burger Madness Bracket

2013-03-21T10:04:00.000-04:00

CONGRATULATIONS to The Burger Freak!
Our 2013 Burger Madness Bracket Champion! They beat out 31 of South Florida's best burgers to claim "The Peoples Choice" for best burger! Over 4,200 votes helps decide our champion this year...

Click here to check out all the results here:
FINAL RESULTS

Sybarite Pig - Boca Raton, FL

2013-03-18T16:12:00.001-04:00

Listen up Boca. There is no reason to be suckered into the chain restaurants anymore! The locals already know and it's time the word spreads to help you stay away from the over priced, reservations only, full-stacked menus & bright lights of West Boca. The Sybarite Pig brings their Craft Beers & Craft Grub right into the belly of the beast. You can find them on the NE corner of 441/Glades. Yup...

Sybarite Pig brings the right attitude to craft beers. They don't just overload the taps and stock the coolers with everything you can already buy in Publix. Owner, Daniel Naumko, has collected a fine selection from the top craft breweries in the US and brought them down south to us! Yes, he has Cigar City, but he takes it to the next level with their hard to find, specialties like Gauanabana. Haven't had it yet? My point exactly. Along side Daniel, his wife & in-house baker, are preparing the breads and pastries for the menu. Sybarite keeps it local and fresh. A fresh change from every other place surrounding them just a few steps away.

With 2 burgers on the menu... No, wait. I need to begin with the house-made sausage! I ordered the Pistachio Pork Sausage sandwich. I couldn't get passed the name on the menu. It tasted just as good as it sounds. I had no intentions of eating the whole thing, knowing I had a burger to try later on, but after 2 perfectly paired craft beers, the sausage didn't stand a chance. Slightly dry, but when you slice in half to finish off the cooking, thats going to happen. But it took nothing away from the flavor at all. I chose the Mac & Cheese to go with it... SURPRISE! It was made with bow-tie pasta & what seemed to be up-to 3 different kinds of cheese. It was nice to see such a small portioned side dish so perfectly executed! I'll be emailing Daniel for the recipe as soon as this blog goes live...

Okay... burger time! I was instantly drawn to the Tri-Tip Burger (a bottom-sirloin cut) on a kaiser roll, tomato, red onion, shallot jelly & aioli sauce. The burger is not overwhelming at all. It's a simple hand-made patty, that is flat top grilled & remained incredibly juicy. Again, every bite was sweet and spicy. I didn't know what to expect from the toppings but I am going out on the edge here and placing this onto my top 5 creative burgers. Most places have a hard time combining flavors and for a craft burger, this was done VERY-WELL! I paired the burger with the Duck Fat Potato Salad. The combo of red potatoes & creamy duck fat sauce that is finished with Chicarron (Go ahead - Wikipedia it) didnt last long either.

Throughout the night, the crowd filled in. From the family reuniting to the live acoustic musicians & the girls night out laughing it up, everyone was having a good time. No one had to wait at the bar for a drink. It was nice to enjoy a Friday night out without having to knock people over, scream across the bar or pay $10 for a beer.

Overall Rating - Rare (1) to Well-Done (5):
The Sybarite Pig - WELL-DONE (5)

20642 State Road 7
Boca Raton, FL

Bacon Fest 2013 - Coconut Creek Casino

2013-02-25T16:08:00.000-05:00

I'm still burping up bacon. I have brushed my teeth countless times. Nothing has gotten rid of the Bacon Flavor in my mouth. I'm not complaining but one man can only eat so much Bacon in one night. For any of the 2,500+ people who were there, I'm sure they know this feeling. As the night went on, the lines got longer, making it hard to enjoy everything the event had to offer. But that wasn't going to stop anyone. Most people I talked too had eaten enough and really were enjoying themselves.

BACON!
Yes, bacon was truly the star of the show. From Bacon Fest Slap Bracelets to the Harlem Shake with Bacon Bites Mascot "Smokey the Pig" - Bacon Fest truly celebrated the swine. 20+ vendors put their best spin on bacon and served it up in ways you could only dream: Bacon Covered Twinkies, yes! Bacon Wrapped Chicken Wings, yes! Bacon & Jalapeno Ragoon, yes! Apple-Caramel Bacon Cake Pops, yes! Need I go on? You can read the menu from all the vendors at the bottom of this post. I'm beginning to sweat bacon... I showed up with an empty stomach and left with a heart full of Bacon. No I haven't scheduled a cardiologist appointment... yet, but this much bacon may of put my over the edge. I'll need a Bacon Detox. I'm sure someone, somewhere has invented one.

Aside from all the guests getting to devour the bacon, a panel of judges - local and national celebrity - were on-hand to judge 3 categories: Appetizer, Entree, Dessert. The host of the event and national celebrity judge - Chef Todd Fisher from US of Bacon TV show. If not for bacon, I'm sure he would or possibly is a stand up comedian. He was a great host for the event, as he stated so perfectly, "All thats missing this year is a Bacon Slip-N-Slide."

Event Winners:
Appetizer - Kapow Noodle Bar (Boca Raton)
Entree - Gimme-A-Burger (Deerfield Beach)
Dessert - Bacon Bites (New Jersey)
* See full menu for details of each winning dish

Personal Favorites:

Creativity - Sybarite's: Bacon Pinwheels

Best Flavor - Shooters: Bacon Reuben Crisp

Best Burger - Smokey Bones: Applewood Bacon infused Pretzel Bun Slider

Amongst the Bacon, they sprinkled in a few entertainers... Power 96's own DJ Zog (personal local favorite) mixed everything from Old School to Classic Rock. Then we were treated to a solid, funny, entertaining performance by The Dan Band (yes, the dirty cover band seen on big screen films such as Hangover & Old School). They truly are the #1 cover band. Played almost a full hour set along with "3 fake encores" of the most popular songs from the movies.

Then came Kevin Bacon. Yes. Actor Kevin Bacon was, of course, at Bacon Fest. His Bacon Brothers Band put on quite a performance. I don't know if its just the allure of Kevin Bacon or if they really enjoyed the music but the crowd was into it. I don't think anyone knew the lyrics but it didn't stop them from dancing. I'm sorry I didn't buy a "limited edition" Bacon Brothers T-Shirt... Maybe next time.

Seminole Casino Coconut Creek did not disappoint either. They put on a great event! Also, the marketing team at The Buzz Agency, carnival game operators, Chefs, vendors... Job well done!

Here is a full MENU from the vendors that attended:

1. Bacon Bites - Chocolate, peanut butter covered bacon

2. Big City Tavern - Bacon wrapped porchetta
with bacon crusted cider donuts & maple glaze

3. Bru’s Room Sports Grill - Bru’s Triple Collosal Bacon Threat Wings

4. Caffe Luna Rosa - Bacon maple flavored popcorn topped with jalapeño bacon salt

and a jalapeño bacon salted virgin bloody mary
5. Gimme a Burger - Bacon Burger

6. Grind Espresso - Swedish bacon ginger snaps

and ice latte garnished with chocolate bacon

7. Hibiscus Café - Bacon quiche

8. Jodi’s Cupcakes - Maple Bacon mini-cupcakes

9. Kapow! Noodle Bar - Bacon and jalapeño rangoon with chimmchuri sauce

and a shot of a smoked strawberry lemonade with bacon salt

10. La Marquise Desserts - Peanut butter, chocolate bacon mousse

11. Lime Mexican Grille - Bacon, bean and cheese quesadillas

12. Melting Pot - Chocolate bacon fondue and bacon milkshakes

13. Over the Top Culinary Affairs

14. Red Rock Oasis - Bacon-wrapped fried shrimp w/ cream cheese and jalapeño

15. Rock n’ Roll Ribs - Chili topped with bacon and sour cream

16. Shooters - Bacon Reuben Crisp

17. Smokey Bones - Bacon 'infused' cheddar pretzel sliders with basil mayo

18. Susy Pops - Bacon cake-pops

19. Sybarite Pig - Piggy Pin Wheel

20. The Gypsy Horse - Flavored Bacon Twists

Food Trucks:

1. Ms. Cheezious (Burgie Awards Best Food Truck Miami/Dade) - Grilled blue and bacon

AND NOW...
Please enjoy these tasty pics & resist the temptation to eat your screen!

Keg Bowling

Melting Pot & Gimme-A-Burger

Susy Pops

Brus' Room

Cafe Luna Rosa & Lime Fresh

Sybarite & Hibiscus Cafe

Dada's & Kapow Boodle Bar

Shooter's & Ms. Cheezious

Smokey Bones & Bacon Bites

La Marquise & Cafe Luna Rosa

Bacon Girls & yes... Free Bacon!

Jane the Mechanical Pig

True Bacon Lovers!

Bacon Fest 2013 - Harlem Shake

Bacon Fest 2013 - Jan the Mechanical Pig

BurgerFi - Sunrise, FL

2013-01-26T10:08:00.001-05:00

The "burgerfication of the nation" is upon us. BurgerFi is grilling up franchises all over the US now. This local gem has become an industry mainstay. I recently made my way down to the Sunrise, FL location to visit a family member, who we will now call "Buns of Steel".

This location, like the originals, is placed right near the beach. On the Westbound side of Sunrise Blvd so leaving the beach hungry is no longer an option. It was dinner time, so the crowd was spares but we were here for burgers not people.

Buns of Steel ordered the Ultimate Burger: brisket topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles & blue cheese. He was pleasantly surprised the the blue cheese dust over power the burger flavors. It was a bit salty but with brisket, blue cheese and pickles, it's only natural to be a bit in the salty side.

I, Lunchbox, ordered off the secret menu. Yes, next time your in, grab a paper menu at the register for some great surprises. I went with the Alternative Style Burger: all natural angus beef, grilled onions, American cheese, mustard and secret sauce. The double patties were not greasy. Still full of flavor. The onions were sweet but that could of been the secret sauce as well. Really happy with my selection.

We ended the night with a MUST HAVE - Key Lime Concrete. It's vanilla custard hand mixed with chunks of tart key lime pie & crust. Amazing!

Dada's - Delray Beach, FL

2013-01-05T15:23:00.001-05:00

All the credit for this burger blog post goes to my wife. On a night where I ordered the Flat Iron Steak and our guests ordered the Mediterranean Platter & an amazing 7 Cheese Grill Cheese sandwich (Blend Of Cheddar, Swiss, Goat, Blue, Sheep Feta, American & Provolone, Served W/ Tomato Soup)... She actually wanted a burger!

The pretzel bread phenomenon has officially arrived in Palm Beach County (Delray - my backyard). Dada's in Delray has a signature Desi Burger - Grilled Natural Beef (real solid burger size) on Pretzel Bread. Cooked to perfection & topped with lettuce, tomato, red onion & avocado slices. Perfectly fresh. The focus is on the meat. As it should be. Also it's grilled not flat topped grilled.

If you haven't yet enjoyed a pretzel bun burger, get over to Dada's. Few places have tried but this tops the list down here so far...

Dada's is a staple of the Delray Atlantic Ave scene. The Dada house was built in 1924 and renovated in 2000 when they opened the restaurant. Each room is decorated in a slightly different theme and has a character all its own. Local bands play the living room while the bar sits in the main dining room.

Whether you're a local or just visiting... Make a reservation. Even if you don't try the Desi Burger, order the meatloaf or s'mores dessert. You really can't wrong with much on the menu.

Overall rating:
Well-Done (5 out of 5)

Dada's
132 N Swinton Ave
Delray Beach, FL 33344

Johnnie Brown's - Delray Beach, FL

2012-12-30T13:12:00.001-05:00

You just can't give up on places so fast. As the new year approaches I am willing to give a local popular Delray spot another chance. They renewed my faith in bar burgers!

I chose "The Juantio"... avocado salsa, pepper jack cheese, chipotle mayo, red onion & lettuce. My wife next to me and the guy sitting down the bar all made comments that they really wanted to try it... Too bad I wasn't sharing. This burger was seasoned perfectly. Cooked just the way I ordered. And the flavors were great. The chipotle mayo & avocado salsa were perfect.

Putting this spot back on my Must See / Must Try spots in Delray Beach.

Primanti Bros - Ft. Lauderdale, FL

2012-12-26T14:17:00.001-05:00

Top 5 burgers to try on my list for sure!

This Pittsburgh classic is a 24hr pizza joint right on the beach in Sunrise, FL. The Pitts-burger is a solid beef party, topped with coleslaw, french fries & tomato on a soft fresh baked bread. Yes, the fries are on the burger. No need for side items... It all ends up in the same place so why not eat it all at once!

Primanti Brothers,
North Atlantic Boulevard,
Fort Lauderdale, FL
(Sunrise Blvd & A1A)

Well-Done (5 out of 5)

Park Tavern - Delray Beach, FL

2012-11-25T17:07:00.001-05:00

Don't buy into the Atlantic Ave - Delray swanky hype... Your simply paying for the atmosphere with this burger.

For any burger that costs $13 (base) with additional $2 per item upgrade is a wallet draining price. Add-ons include: Vermont Cheddar, Blue Cheese, home smoked bacon, caramelized onions, sautéed mushrooms & a fried egg. Any of those worth an extra $2 eac? No. But I decided to add Vermont Cheddar & a Fried Egg. The 'house ground' meat patty was a solid portion. Cooked to my liking. But the add ons and presentation really made this a poorly executed, expensive burger.

The cheese was hard to find & taste. It seemed to disappear under the fried egg completely when melted. Evaporating Vermont Cheddar, never heard of it. Then the placement of the fried egg was horrible. It was slanted to the edge of the burger so when sliced open, ALL the egg yolk dropped right off the side of te burger. Not a SINGLE bite of my burger had egg yolk on it to enjoy. How dries the chef not see this when you paying extra for it... Poor execution overall but still solid flavors.

Overall rating:
- on a scale of Rare(1) to Well-Done(5)
Medium (3)

Food Truck Invasion - Wellington, FL

2012-11-08T12:03:00.000-05:00

Food Truck Invasion which puts together Food Truck Events in South Florida is invading Wellington. Starting today(November 8th) and Every Thursday (at least through December) from 5:30PM – 10PM you will find the rolling caravan of fully equipped kitchens serving up food to folks at the Wellington Amphitheater. For you first timers make sure to bring out Chairs, Blankets and Cash as not all the trucks take credit cards. Oh and bring your friends for sharing!

November 8th Line-Up:

Best French Fries
Big Mike’s BBQ
The Big Ragu
BITE Gastrotruck
Che Grill
Crazydilla
Dolce Gourmet Cupcakes
Flour Power Food Truck
Fry Daddy
Joji Yogurt
The Loaded Burger
Lucille’s on Wheels
Mobile Culinary Kitchen
The Philly Grill
Stocked N Loaded
Taco Fresh

The Details:

Food Truck Invasion @
Wellington Amphitheater Park
Address: 12150 Forest Hill Blvd. Wellington, Florida 33414
Date: Every Thursday
Time: 5:30pm until 10:00pm

For a FULL LIST if Wellington Amphitheater Events: Click Here

"Sharing our leftovers..."

2012-10-29T17:11:00.001-04:00

We love Halloween & decided to carve a custom pumpkin for a local favorite HiWay Burger in Delray Beach, FL.

What do you think?

9/18 is National Cheeseburger Day!

2012-09-18T10:54:00.000-04:00

Need help finding a place to celebrate the nations tastiest day of the year?
Here's a list of our favorites:

Palm Beach Area
BurgerFi - Delray Beach, FL
Lindburgers - Delray Beach, FL
Between the Bun - Boynton Beach, FL
Relish - West Palm Beach, FL
Russell's Blue Water Grill - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
CG Burgers - Jupiter, FL

Ft. Lauderdale Area
The Burger Freak - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
Gilberts 17th Street Grill - Ft. Lauderdale, FL
ROK:BRGR - Ft. Lauderdale, FL (Downtown)
Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger House - Pompano Beach, FL
Char-Hut - Davie, FL

Got any other great places we should be trying?
Send us an email or leave a comment...

"Sharing our leftovers..."

2012-08-31T10:22:00.005-04:00

Our love for burgers doesn't stop once we cross the Palm Beach County line & neither should yours... We encourage our fellow burger lovers to "Share your leftovers..." with us in hopes to find the best burgers this country has to offer. With that being said, our latest installment of viewer's leftovers actually comes to us from our lovely neighbor to the north - Toronto, Canada.

Mina Stefan (@minastefan) of MinaStefan.com is a beautiful model who decided to share her love for the Big Mac. Yup. Models do eat burgers... And if this is any indication of who eats Mc Donald's in Canada, "I'm lovin' it."

She wrote a great review & sent us some exclusive photos of her experience... ENJOY!

--------------------------
My little "entry"

Nobody can honestly tell me that they hate the Big Mac. For many people, burger lovers especially, their love of hot grilled beef between a fresh sesame bun didn't stem from their dad's back yard grill, it came from those evenings as a kid, sitting in the back seat of the family car on a drive home from somewhere boring like Home Depot begging your parents to stop for dinner just to have a taste of the perfect combination of sweet and savoury heaven.

The perfectly soft bun, the creamy sweet Big Mac sauce, the delicate crunch of those pickles all complimenting those thin beef patties…Tell me you don't want one right now.

And anyone who says "I hate MacDonald's" or "Who would want to eat that fake crap"…Remember, I'm in Canada where they legally can't sell me falsely advertised products. So my beef patties, are 100% beef, my cheese, is 100% Canadian cheddar…my Big Mac, is real effin tasty.

So please, before you berate me for submitting MacDonald's to a burger blog…remember…Chances are you grew up with Grimace, the Hamburglar and Mayor McCheese.

AND if you still hate MacDonald's after my short declaration of love, then at least enjoy a hot chick eating a burger :)

- Mina

Mina Stefan (@minastefan) of MinaStefan.com

We're Published!

2012-08-29T15:38:00.004-04:00

We really want to thank Staci Sturrock @StaciSturrock for publishing a great article about our love of burgers. This interview is now featured on the PB Pulse / Entertainment section online (soon to be published in the Palm Beach Post newspaper).

Click the image below to get the full article!

Grangers - Delray Beach, FL

2012-08-16T21:48:00.001-04:00

I've passed this place a 1,000 times and never gave it a second chance. Now after trying their self proclaimed, "Best Burger in Palm Beach County," I won't officially be giving it a second chance.

We tried the "house favorite" - RP McMurphy Burger::: It was a very solid sized burger. Cooked perfectly (Medium) with juices streaming out of the bun. Then topped with a mountain of burnt grilled onions, red peppers and undercooked sautéed mushrooms. The meat had zero salt or seasoning... Leaving this burger overall flavorless.

This sounds bad, I know but Grangers did redeem themselves with their AMAZING made-to-order donuts with raspberry dipping sauce.

Still, we are here to eat meat & we left very I satisfied.

Overall rating on a scale of Rare (1) to Well-Done (5-best):
Medium-Rare (2)

Grangers Grill
215 Northeast 6th Ave
Delray Beach, FL

Publix Apron's Cooking School

2012-08-05T22:01:00.000-04:00

I finally got to cash-in on my birthday present from earlier in the summer... My family bought my father and I a burger cooking class at the Publix Apron's Cooking School in Boca (Military & Clint Moore). The class was called Main St Burgers, with a full menu of 5 varieties of burgers, fresh cut fries & a milkshake. All hands on, interactive fun with great instructors Ray and Anthony. These 2 have plenty of teaching experience with a great sense of humor. They made it real easy for the 11 of us in the class to cook, learn and enjoy our meal. Take a look at their classes (click here). Not only do they have hands on, but they bring in executive chefs for four-course meals to simply enjoy. This is a fun alternative and nice way to learn some new recipes and enjoy cooking with friends.

We had 5 burgers on the menu:
- Cheesy Chili Saturn Burger
- Quarter Pounder Classic Cheese
- Rise & Shine Buffalo Beef Burger
- Buffalo Chicken Burger with Grilled Cheese Buns (you read that right...)
- Turkey & Roasted Pepper/Avocado Burger

I'll try to break each one down as best I can for you.
Overall Rating on a Scale of... Rare (worst/1) to Well-Done (best/5)

Let's start with the Cheesy Chili Saturn Burger. Very basic seasonings, salt/pepper & garlic powder. 1lb of Chuck. Cooked Medium with a slice of Cheddar, then a very generous handful of shredded cheddar on top, covered to melt the cheese... As the cheese drips and cooks on the flat-top, it forms a solid ring. Placed on the bun and topped with chili... This was a fun burger to cook. The overall flavor really depends on the chili used. We had a pretty mild one so the wow factor wasn't really there. But the creativity was on-point.
OVERALL-RATING: Medium-Well

The Quarter Pound Classic Burger was seasoned perfectly (for my taste buds); Salt/Pepper, Garlic Powder, Onion Powder, Paprika & Worcestershire sauce.
OVERALL-RATING: Well-Done

Rise & Shine Buffalo Beef Burger peaked the interest of many in the class! Who doesn't like a bacon egg & cheese croissant? Well add in ground buffalo beef, with salt/pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, dry mustard & bacon fat taken from the bacon we cooked to top this burger, mix well, cook to liking and combine... This is a late night burger lovers dream! The buffalo beef was a soft ground meat to work with. Not much fat, which is why we added to bacon fat to help keep burger moist. Out of the 5 burgers on the menu, this one had NO leftovers.
OVERALL-RATING: Well-Done

The Buffalo Chicken Burger with Grilled Cheese Buns was the talk of the night... How could it not be? Anytime you read "grilled cheese buns" you just have to know more. Let's start with the meat; Ground Chicken, 2 egg yolks, salt/pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne, worcestershire & hot sauce (we weren't shy to go hot!). So thats the burger... We also threw 1 onion, chopped on the stove to sweat, reduce and caramelize. Then, we made 2 grilled cheese sandwiches (single slice) to use as the buns... Need to make a cardiologist appointment yet? The combination is awkward but I'll say, the overall flavor aftertaste was amazing! Salty, Sweet & Hot. I'll be attempting to make this burger on my own, but not a few months, lol.
OVERALL-RATING: Well-Done

Lastly we had Turkey & Roasted Red Pepper/Avocado Burger. This was a nice, fresh tasting mix of ground turkey, egg yolks (keeps burger moist), salt/pepper, garlic powder, onion powder & cumin. The best part was roasting the peppers over stove top flame. Charred black, placed in a bowl and covered to steam off the char. Sliced, then placed on top of the burger with the avocado spread on the bottom bun.
OVERALL-RATING: Medium-Well


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The Backyard - Boynton Beach, FL

2012-08-03T22:07:00.001-04:00

It seems like only locals know about this spot. Redesigned and reopened in February, formally Cuttys, now The Backyard is just that. The perfect south Florida backyard. Ring game, bags, wood tables, tiki torches, gravel walkways and 2 huge bars make this a comfortable place to enjoy yourself.

The most interesting part is the kitchen... Everything is cooked out of an old Airstream trailer. Simple bar menu with high priced ingredients. The only burgers on the Menu are Kobe Beef Sliders (3 for $13).

Salty meat, great sauce, typical melted slice of cheddar. After a few more local craft beers and I could validate spending $13 for the sliders, but not now... You're paying for the crowd and atmosphere, not the burgers.

If you're headed here... Turn when you see the neon palm trees.

Overall rating:
Medium (3 of 5)

"Sharing our leftovers..."

2012-07-24T14:39:00.000-04:00

Opening soon in Boca Raton & North Miami Beach!

Relish - West Palm Beach, FL

2012-07-20T11:57:00.003-04:00

This was a fun experience... Relish has really put a nice twist on the "create-your-own" burger joints popping up everywhere. They specialize in the relish toppings. Not only can you enjoy Buffalo, Italian Sausage, Veal, Wild Boar, Lamb or even a Shrimp burger (to name a few...) You also have a selection of over 20 relish toppings to add onto your burger.

In addition to trying a new burger restaurant, we were joined this evening by 2 new honorary members of Burgers by the Beach, from the Palm Beach Post: Media Savvy & Fish Eye. We're going to be published!!!! Keep your eyes out for a local food selection write up in the Palm Beach Post very soon... We really had some good laughs last night with them & we're eagerly looking forward to seeing Media Savvy's article & the great photos taken by Fish Eye.

Double Stack ordered a Beef Burger with Scotch Bonnet Mango Relish. When it arrived in front of him, it just looked to pretty for a manly-man like Double Stock but he REALLY enjoyed it. Cooked perfectly & complimented well by the relish topping. He mentioned a few times, that he really is looking forward to coming back...

Rating: Well-Done

After being the first one to arrive and still staring at the menu for 20 minutes... Sgt. Sauce switch it up a bit and ordered a Lamb Burger with the Tangy Tzatziki Relish. Really fresh & flavorful. Ground lamb was a first for Sgt. Sauce. He was expecting it to be sliced gyro meat on a bun. Nope. Really happy with the way it turned out. The solid 1/2 lb (after cooking) burger really held up. It turned into a finger licking good burger...

Rating: Well-Done

Lunchbox went further off the grid and ordered the Italian Sausage burger with Drunken Onions relish (with a side of the Sweet Roasted Tomato relish). When placed down on the table, you could really smell the sausage. I was prepared to get messy but I was not prepared for the amazing sweet onions that were on top. They really set it off for me! The overall flavor of the sausage was great. smokey, fennel mild sausage. True italian flavors in a 1/2 lb burger patty. You can really tell they take pride in what they make at Relish. All home made. Prepared fresh. WELL-DONE!

Rating: Well-Done

We couldn't help but notice all the other great burgers being sent out of the kitchen. So we stopped a few people to get their reactions and they were just as pleased! These sun-soaked ladies dove right into their burgers and still had room for a Relish Shake & one of our leftover donuts... OH YEAH, try the donuts! WOW!

AMAZING FRIED MAC & CHEESE!!!

Fish Eye capturing our Blogging Experience

Red Velvet Shake

Sgt Sauce and his shake

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Campfire Shake!

Thanks to Relish and their staff!!!