What is a burger? Merriam Webster defines a burger as similar to a hamburger, which is defined as ground beef or a patty of ground beef used in a sandwich split typically by a round bun. Nowadays, you’ll find tofu burgers, turkey burgers, Impossible burgers, among other concoctions. But, when it comes down to the best burger in Florida, where should we go?
The folks over at Readers Digest did the work for us. They said that the best burgers aren't always where you think and sometimes you have to go off of the beaten path.
So, they went on a search for the best burgers in each state across the country. To do this, they enlisted the help of burger fanatics and their reviews. They also considered critics, competitions and accolades. All this to make certain that each of the burger joints on the list were no-brainers.
Burgers are a go to here in the US, whether you grab one from a food truck, at a drive thru or grill your own at a backyard BBQ at home. Hamburgers, in my opinion, are best with cheese, fried egg, bacon, mustard and ketchup. Yes, things get messy. So, where did Readers Digest say we can find the best burgers in Florida?
Best Burger In Florida: MEAT Eatery & Tap Room
Two locations in South Florida, one in Islamorada and one in Boca Raton, so not too far from us here in Southwest Florida. MEAT was featured on Guy Fieri's Food Network hit, "Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives."
M.E.A.T. Eatery And Taproom with the best burger in Florida, uses only the freshest, highest quality and expertly sourced ingredients in our recipes. From our house made condiments to our proprietary beef blends - you can count on a delicious meal that will tantalize your tastebuds!
Taking a quick glance at the MEAT menu, there are a couple names that stand out.
- #1 Burger - Inside-Out Juicy Lucy Burger - Pimento cheese and bacon stuffed 7 oz. burger topped with American cheese, lettuce and tomato.
- #2 Burger - The Nancy Pants with Cheese Burger - 5 oz. angus burger with American cheese, lettuce, tomato.
- #3 Burger - The Impossible Burger - 1/4 lb. veggie burger with American cheese, lettuce and tomato.
You can read about the best burger in every state from Readers Digest here.
2 Florida Restaurants Made Southern Living Magazine’s List Of Best In The South
When it comes to good eatin', it's not hard in the south to find something great and 2 Florida restaurants have made Southern Living Magazine's list of Best New Restaurants in the South for 2023.
We're so lucky here in Fort Myers, Naples and Cape Coral that there are so many great restaurants. It seems, especially after the hurricane, that there are new restaurants popping up constantly. Whether it's restaurants that were on the islands that relocated or closures with new spots replacing them. You could probably go to a new restaurant that's opened every week at this point. I love all the options. And that's just here in Southwest Florida. Around the state the list of new restaurants is endless.
While Florida is a big state, there's more to the south than just the Sunshine State. Picture eating po boy's in New Orleans, hot chicken in Nashville, biscuits and gravy in Mississippi or some Georgia peach pie..mmm now I'm hungry.
Southern Living Magazine put together a list of the best new restaurants in the south and 2 Florida restaurants made the top 5.
When you think of what makes a good restaurant, of course the food better be good. But it goes beyond that. It could just be that it has a great atmosphere or amazing waterfront views. Maybe the service is impeccable. We all have our favorites and if you're like me you're always on the hunt for new spots to enjoy. The two restaurants in Florida that made Southern Living Magazine's list are two places I have yet to try, so I'm excited. Zitz Sum in Coral Gables came in at #4 and Willa's in Tampa came in at #5. The others on the list would be great to remember if you're traveling. For the full list, click here. Below are the Top 5.
Southern Living Magazine's Top 5 Best New Restaurants in the South:
1. Pizza Grace- Birmingham, AL
The menu at Pizza Grace is simple. But to be at the top of this list, it must really be THAT good. Sign me up for the MAGIC CITY WHITE PIE made with ricotta, garlic, provolone, Magic City Mushrooms, local gold potatoes and herbs.
2. Conifer- Bentonville, AR
Conifer is a farm-to-table, gluten-free restaurant that uses regional ingredients in dishes as much as possible. Some menu items that caught my eye include al pastor cauliflower and fried squash with pimento cheese.
3. Bardea Steak- Wilmington, DE
Bardea Steak is known for offering rare cuts of meat all sourced from small farms. Diners can pick their steak by breed , cut and size. For non-beef eaters other things on the menu include tiger prawn cocktails, turducken croquettes and guinea hen.
4. Zitz Sum- Coral Gables, FL
Zitz Sum sounds very interesting as chef Pablo Zitzmann's love of Japanese and Italian flavors come together. The menu changes frequently, but popular items include the spicy Har Gow (shrimp dumplings with Calabrian chili oil, lime, and Thai basil) and the Wonton in Brodo (chicken-and-foie gras-filled dumplings swimming in a mushroom-Parmesan broth).
5. Willa's- Tampa, FL
Willa's is located in Tampa's North Hyde Park neighborhood offering contemporary comfort food. Two dishes I NEED to try are the fries topped with pork belly and Mornay sauce and the Seared Branzino.
