For National Cheeseburger Day, bite into some of the best burgers in Palm Beach County
As ubiquitous as they are, burgers can’t be dismissed as random. A well dressed burger can be a restaurant meal in itself. A simply dressed one can be a feast.
While there's no right or wrong when it comes to burgers, there are favorites. Meat or plant-based. Cheese or no cheese. Wheat bun or gluten-free bun. And toppings dictated by your fancies.
Your “best burger” list might read very differently than the list that follows, which was compiled by burger-loving Palm Beach Post staffers. These are our local favorites, some tangy with blue cheese, some hefty, including one that boasts two patties.
Critic's Choice: Six best restaurants for proper prime rib in Palm Beach County.
Tropical Smokehouse 'Old Fashioned,' West Palm Beach
3815 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach; eattropical.com
The story: Tropical Smokehouse was the first place we went to eat a sit down meal after the pandemic. I’m not a huge fan of barbecue, although I like pulled pork with coleslaw. I chose this burger because it seemed a classic can’t-go-wrong burger. And it was.
The order: The Old Fashioned Hamburger with cheese came wrapped in a classic diner-style sleeve with cheese oozing out the front. My favorite part is the patties — which are thin, like McDonalds thin, so you have to get a double. But the flavor is incredible and the juiciness is just enough so that the bun doesn’t get soggy but the burger stays moist and delicious.
The sides: I like to get it with a side of fries to split.
The wisdom: I’m always asking my boyfriend to make our burgers thin at home. Apparently, it’s very difficult, which makes this burger particularly special.
Dixie Grill & Bar 'Black & Bleu Burger,' West Palm Beach
5101 S. Dixie Hwy., West Palm Beach; dixiegrillandbar.com
The order: My go-to fave is the Black & Bleu Burger at the Dixie Grill & Bar in West Palm Beach. The impressive half-pounder is full of flavor and always seems to be cooked right when ordered medium-rare. Nothing beats blue cheese on a burger, and topping it off with bacon, mushrooms and onions is a decadent but satisfying selection.
The sides and the wisdom: Dixie Grill brews its own beers, so I usually accompany it with one of their home-grown IPAs, plus a side of seasoned green beans for rationalization purposes.
Five Guys 'Cheeseburger,' various locations
Locations in Palm Beach Gardens, Wellington and Boynton Beach; fiveguys.com
The story: When it comes to a fresh, homemade burger, nothing beats Five Guys in my book.
The order and sides: My favorite on the menu is the cheeseburger (two patties); with bacon, mushroom, pickles, lettuce, tomato, mayo, mustard and ketchup. Complete with a side of seasoned fries.
The wisdom: This is the kind of burger meal that you want to eat while watching a good action or suspense movie ... The juices dripping down your hand as you hold it to take a bite while staring at the screen. It's messy, but that's why they make napkins.
My wife and I will usually get our own burgers (hers much smaller than mine, of course), but share a large order of seasoned fries that overflows from the container cup. It ain't pretty, but it is a thing of beauty.
— Executive Editor Rick Christie
Brass Ring Pub’s 'Cheeseburger,' North Palm Beach
200 U.S. Hwy 1, North Palm Beach; BrassRingPubFl.com
The story: Follow the smoky aroma of beef patties on the grill to this neighborhood favorite and you’ll be rewarded by half-pound burgers that are as simple as they are delicious. The secret ingredient? It’s not seasoning or sauce, but quality beef that’s cooked over lava rocks on a char-rock grill for tons of flavor.
The order: I like my burgers on the not-overly-fancy side. I usually order the Brass Ring cheeseburger ($11), cooked to a pink and juicy medium and topped with American cheese, tomato, pickles and a little mayo. You can customize that burger with bacon or mushrooms for 95 cents. But why upstage a tasty, smoky patty?
The sides: The crispy crinkle-cut fries ($1 with a burger, $2.25-$3.50 otherwise) are a must. Add a cold draft beer ($2-$3), and you get it served in a frosted mug.
The wisdom: The family-owned, family-friendly Brass Ring family of pubs has locations in Jupiter and Royal Palm Beach, but the North Palm Beach pub is the original, founded in February 1986 and steeped in local history.
— Food and dining writer Liz Balmaseda
Coming up: A less 'manly' steakhouse? Popular West Palm Beach chef plans to open one.
Duffy's Sports Grill 'Tsunami Turkey Burger,' various locations
More than a dozen Palm Beach County locations; duffysmvp.com
The story: I don't eat much beef, so when it comes to burgers, I tend to order turkey — and I've had my share of lackluster ones, let me tell you. This one was not. I was a blown away at how much I loved this burger, which is a definitely out the ordinary.
The order: For starters, it's turkey — 7 ounces, according to the menu. What makes it sing is what's on top, a tropical concoction of roasted pineapple, teriyaki seasoned cabbage and scallions. Then there's the Sriracha aioli. Now, I'm not saying you've got to have all that to create a storm of flavor on what could otherwise be a bland sandwich, but the Tsunami Turkey Burger lives up to its name.
The sides: I skip the fries in favor of rice and beans or a grilled vegetable.
— Palm Beach Daily News real estate Editor Darrell Hofheinz
Hungry for more restaurant news?
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Stormhouse Brewing 'Black and Blue Burger,' North Palm Beach
1201 US-1, North Palm Beach; stormhousebrewing.com
The story: While I never met a burger I didn't like — yes, I'll take any burger from Duffy’s, to Grease on Clematis, to Habit Burgers, to BurgerFi, to Five Guys — I just can't get Stormhouse Brewery’s Black and Blue burger off my mind.
The order: It's an 8-ounce Angus beef patty (I get it on the well-done side) and it drips with gorgonzola cheese, bacon, blackened seasoning and Cajun ranch dressing.
The sides: It comes with a boatload of tasty fries that are just greasy and salty enough to complement the burger.
The wisdom: The brewpub is at Crystal Cove Commons off U.S. 1 in North Palm Beach, and the place's ambiance adds to the meal, with its dark wood and metal furnishings paired with full glass walls that let in the light. It's the kind of setting that makes you want to dig into some solid food. OK, my keyboard is now damp from drooling. Not good.
— Managing Editor John Bisognano
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: National Cheeseburger Day: Best burgers Duffy's, Five Guys, West Palm
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