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Craving a juicy cheeseburger? Here are some of our local favorites.
Buco Kitchen and Bar
We found a mighty fine cheeseburger at this small, unassuming spot that's tucked into a Tequesta strip mall. The American Cheeseburger, the simplest of Buco Kitchen and Bar's five burger varieties,had a nice char on the outside and a pink, juicy interior. We had ours with American cheese. It was cooked to a perfect medium, with smoky notes in every bite. (Deal alert:Buco offers a “Burger Wednesday” special during which you get $5 off all burgers.)
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Buco:566 N. U.S. Hwy 1, at the Countyline Plaza, Tequesta, 561-203-2988,BucoBar.com
The Brass Ring
You can smell the aroma ofBrass Ring’s burgerscooking from a block away. This place has been grilling some of the best burgers in the county for 29 years. There’s no great secret to their deliciousness. Owner Bret Worcester, whose father and brother founded the pub in February 1986, says the patties are made with Bush Brothers’ quality meat and cooked, unseasoned, over lava rocks on a char-rock grill. “The drippings season the grill,” he says. Translation: more flavor for the next batch!
The Brass Ring Pub (three locations):200 U.S. Highway 1, North Palm Beach, 561-848-4748; 1150 W. Indiantown Rd., Jupiter, 561-406-5057; 10998 Okeechobee Blvd., Royal Palm Beach, 561-296-4563
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The Cooper
This Gardens hot spot serves a cheeseburger with considerable drama. An 8-ounce, butchers-blend patty is topped with aged Vermont cheddar, a proprietary sauce and the usual veg and served on a griddled challah bun. You get this delicious burger with hand-cut fries or slaw. You can top it with a fried egg,avocado or apple wood bacon, but it’s yummy on its own.
The Cooper: PGA Commons, 4610 PGA Blvd., Palm Beach Gardens; 561-622-0032
Lucky Shuck
You may not expect to find a cheeseburger at an oyster bar, but Lucky Shuck's Broadway Burger makes all the sense in the world. It's named after the restaurant's co-owner, NFL icon Joe Namath. And like Broadway Joe himself, this burger has plenty of pizzazz. So what's in the Broadway Burger? Fried green tomatoes, cheddar, grilled red onions, gem lettuce, Creole remoulade and brioche bun. For $2 extra, you can add bacon.
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Lucky Shuck: 1116 Love St., Jupiter, 561-532-3331
Buccan
That smoky scent you detect in Buccan’s delectable burgers is the effect of a red-oak flames on prime beef.Chef Clay Conley’s acclaimed restaurantputs its state-of-the-art, custom grill to good use on these burgers night after night. They’re most delicious when they are simply presented, topped with aged cheddar and served on a house-made brioche with cornichons and fries. So perfect.
Buccan: 350 S. County Rd., Palm Beach; 561-833-3450
BurgerFi
The locally based burger chain has many burgers to choose.One to try: The CEO composed of two wagyu and brisket patties topped with candied bacon-tomato jam, truffle aioli and aged Swiss. Save room for one of the burger joint’s super-thick, frozen “concretes,” shakes that require a spoon.
For a location, visit BurgerFi’s website.
Grease Burger Bar
You’ve got nearly 20 drool-worthy burgers to choose from at Clematis Street’s favorite burger joint. We are partial to the Black and Blue, a burger that’s boldly seasoned with blackening spiced and topped with crumbled blue cheese and pecan bacon.
Grease Burger Bar: 213 Clematis St., West Palm Beach 561-651-1075.
Duffy's Sports Grill
There’s a good variety of customizable burgers at Palm Beach County’s most popular sports grill chain, including a plant-based Impossible burger. We’re perfectly happy with Duffy’s Certified Angus Beef Cheeseburger, topped with melted cheddar and maybe some sautéed mushrooms.
For locations, visitduffysmvp.com.
Kitchen
Chef Matthew Byrne’s Kitchen Burger doesn’t mess around. Made of grass-fed chuck, brisket and foie gras, it’s topped with melted American cheese and charred onions. Just like the rest of the menu at this cozy American bistro, Byrne elevates a classic with this burger.
Kitchen: In West Palm Beach at 319 Belvedere Rd., 561-249-2281; in Palm Beach Gardens at 5320 Donald Ross Rd., at Donald Ross Village, 561-578-8780.
Dad's Favorite Burgers
This new, retro-style burger joint, located inside the Delray Beach Market food hall, servesclassic smash-style burgers on brioche buns. The classic cheeseburger here layers a quarter-pound angus beef patty with American cheese, lettuce, onion,pickles and sauce on a toasted challah bun. In diner fashion, there's also a patty melt on the menu. Pair your cheeseburger with twisty Sidewinder fries, a malt and maybe one of Dad's retro pies.
Dad’s Favorite Burgers: inside the Delray Beach Market, 33 SE 3rd Ave., Unit 6, Delray Beach
Dixie Bar and Grill
This neighborhood-favorite brewpub serves a burger that doubles down on the bar's main ingredient: the beer.The Dixie Signature Burger is a half-pound, meat-blend patty that makes good use of the brew. Beer goes into the melted cheese that tops the patty. It also goes into the batter of the fried onion straws that crown the burger.
Dixie Grill and Brewery: 5101 S. Dixie Hwy, West Palm Beach; 561-586-3189
City Cellar
ThisRosemary Square mainstay serves a menu of updated American classics, including its Cellar Burger.It’s topped with smoked bacon, Brie, lettuce, tomato, onionand a drippy egg and served on a bakery bun.
City Cellar: 700 S. Rosemary Ave., West Palm Beach; 561-366-0071
The Butcher and The Bar
There’s a good reason the burgers atthis butcher shop/sandwich eateryare delicious -- the beef is Florida-grown and freshly ground at the shop, which specializes in whole-animal butchery. Add some house-made bacon for extra decadence.
The Butcher and the Bar: 510 E. Ocean Ave., Boynton Beach, 561-903-7630
Meat Eatery
Chef George Patti’s “Inside-Out Juicy Lucy” is a burger with a pimento cheese soul. The burger’s smoky char encloses a melty center of rich, peppery cheese. It’s messy as all heck, but unforgettable. Add a side of the burger joint’s duck fat fries if you dare indulge in more decadence.
Meat Eatery: 2831N. Federal Hwy, Boca Raton 561-419-2600
Shake Shack
This national chain serves one of our favorite burgers anywhere: the ShackBurger. And there’s a reason they’re so perfect: They start with a proprietary blend of ground beef toform thin patties, season them with salt and pepper, then “smash” them on a hot griddle. The result is a supremely flavorful burger with a lightly salty crust. Topped with melted American cheese, lettuce, tomato and homemade mayo, it’s tucked into a Martin’s potato roll. Not only is it the best chain burger, it’s one of the best burgers in Palm Beach County.
Shack Shack: In Boca Raton at 1400 Glades Rd., Boca Raton,561-923-0847; in Palm Beach Gardens at The Gardens Mall food court, 3101 PGA Blvd., 561-788-700
