Archive for Burgers

You Down With OTC Restaurant In Brickell, Yeah You Know Me

You down with OTC? (Yeah you know me)
You down with OTC? (Yeah you know me)
You down with OTC? (Yeah you know me)
Who’s down with OTC? (Every last homie)

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I ate at OTC earlier this year and was blown away by it. I decided against writing about it because the pictures I snapped were a little too grainy and I didn’t think they did the food any justice. It took me a little bit to return but I’m back. I chose to skip the Mexican Coke this time around and had a Brooklyn Lager on tap instead.

Brooklyn Lager

Brooklyn Lager

Much like myself, OTC is about the comfort food. The Menu isn’t very large and is divided into several categories like Mac n’ Cheese, Grilled Cheese, Sandwiches and my favorite Salads. Everything is meant for sharing and is served on cutting boards and mini cast iron skillets. You must resist the urge to pick one up to move it or face the consequences. I almost did when I was shuffling around the dishes on my table.

The Chicken Fingers are breaded in Panko Breadcrumbs and fried crispy. They were excellent with the house made ketchup which had a very earthy taste, not my usual cup of tea but I loved it. The La Frieda Beef Slider is topped with a Quail Egg, Bacon and their Cheese sauce. In case you’re not familiar with what La Frieda is a reference to, you may want to read up on them if you’re a fan of beef. The simple answer is they’re a very well known meat wholesaler from New York/New Jersey area who create custom blends of beef for many high profile customers (including Shake Shack). They are just starting to break into the South Florida market and OTC is one of the few places you can find them. Now that you know that, it shouldn’t surprise you how phenomenal the Beef Slider is. They came in a set of 3. Two of the sliders had baby gherkins speared through the top while the other had a breaded & deep fried Bacon garnishing it.

Chicken Fingers

Chicken Fingers

La Frieda Slider

La Frieda Slider

Now onto my favorites dishes at OTC, the Braised Short Rib and the Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese. If you’re going to only order two dishes then I’d suggest these guys. This giant hunk of tender Short Rib could be one of the eight wonders of the world. One bite and you’ll rethink sharing it with anyone else, at least I did. On my first visit to OTC I ate the Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese and liked it so much that I ordered a second one a few bites into it. Nothing has changed, I love this guy. The Tomato Confit with the fresh Mozz on this sandwich has me mesmerized. If this Grilled Cheese was a dictator and asked me to help it take over the world, I would. On the healthier tip I also enjoyed the Roasted Mushrooms. They make a great side dish for the Braised Short Rib.

Braised Short Rib & Aparagus

Braised Short Rib & Grilled Aparagus

Short Rib

Short Rib

Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese

Chicken Parmesan Grilled Cheese w/Cast Iron of Roasted Mushrooms

Hey, what do you know, they have plates here. I’m not sure that this jar can contain the amazingness of this Key Lime Pie. It’s just the right amount of tart.

Key Lime Pie

Key Lime Pie Jar

It’s important to check out them out via Facebook to keep tabs on what specials they have going on. And Fatgirl Hedonist says the brunch is a must but I’ll let her tell you about that:

Fatgirl Hedonist’s VisitOTC in Brickell, Worth The Parking Nightmare

 

Yeah you know me:

OTC Restaurant
Facebook: OTC – Restaurants
Twitter: @OTCRestaurant
Instagram: OTC_Restaurants
1250 South Miami Ave Miami, Florida 33130
305-374-4612

OTC on Urbanspoon

Umami Burger In South Beach? Miami, Are You Ready For This?

Umami Burger - Miami Beach

Way way back at the 2011 Burger Bash I first tried Umami Burger. It was around this time I believe that they had announced their intentions to open a spot in South Beach. Late last year Short Order mentioned that Umami Burger had secured the old 8 oz. Burger spot on Alton. While the official opening isn’t until Monday May 20th at 11am I was able to sneak a *taste of what Umami Burger is all about with the Chowfather and my old high school friend Tommy. It’s important to note that Umami Burger (named after the “fifth taste”) not only grinds their own meat but produces everything from their condiments & cheeses to the bread in house.

Once seated I was greeted by this brown paper lunch bag type placemat with the Umami Logo. Next thing I know there’s a trio of sauces dropped off at the table. After our server takes our drink orders we take the divide and conquer menu kind of attack. The appetizers we choose are Truffle Fries, Smushed Potatoes and Fried Pickles. I never got to try the Fried Pickles or Truffle Fries. I did steal some of un-truffled Fries for use with two of the sauces. I’m not exactly sure of the name of it (El Diablo?) but be careful, it’s got some heat that will creep up on you. The Smushed Potatoes were served on a thin bed of garlic aioli. These fellas were excellent and I’m still having nice daydreams of them leaping fences in my potato garden.

Umami Burger Placemat

Umami Burger Logo Placemat

Trio of Sauces

Trio of Sauces

Smushed Potatoes

Smushed Potatoes

Truffle Fries

Truffle Fries

I was able to sample 4 Umami Burgers (only 3 are pictured here). The Burgers were ordered Medium-Rare and were crumbly delicious. My actual Burger was the Truffle Burger (house-made truffle cheese, truffle glaze). Chowfather ordered the Umami Burger (shiitake mushroom, caramelized onions, roasted tomato, parmesan crisp, umami ketchup, no picture unfortunately) and Tommy had the Manly Burger (beer-cheddar cheese, smoked salt-onion strings, bacon lardon). After I had bites from each of theirs and polished mine off I had only one thing on my mind: Thank you sir may I have another!  If I had to absolutely choose my favorite between those 3, gun pressed to head I would have to give the nod to the Umami Burger. I love you Parmesan crisp!

Manly Burger

Manly Burger

Truffle Royale

Truffle Royale

So for dessert we opted for the Cubano Burger (mojo mustard, house cheese, pickles, prosciutto, smoked ham and a pork/pork belly patty), what did you think we were gonna have? The flavors in the Cubano Burger really came together nicely. My  sole objection to this “Burger” would be the use of Prosciutto only because it’s not in a “real” Cuban Sandwich. Still, it was very good and is easily better than a bunch of the “Best” Cuban Sandwiches in Miami I’ve tried.

Cubano Burger

Cubano Burger

So there you have it, after 2 long years Umami Burger is finally in Miami. Was it worth it? Well, whoever said “the best things in life are worth waiting for” must have been talking about Umami Burger.

Who’s Your:

Umami – South Beach
Facebook: Umami Burger
Twitter: @UmamiBurger
Instagram: @UmamiBurger
1080 Alton Rd Miami Beach, FL 33139

Umami Burger on Urbanspoon

*I was invited by my old high school friend (Thanks Tommy!) to try out Umami Burger during a pre-opening tasting.

The Limited Edition Carbonara Burger At Eating House

Eating House NHM May Poster

When I was a kid I collected G.I. Joe. Sometimes there was a limited edition figure that you could only get by collecting the little UPCs from the backs of the cardboard they came on. I had to have it. I wanted to be one of the few “lucky” boys who had this extra special Sgt. Slaughter figure. But guess what happened? I took too long to send them in and by then the deal had expired. It taught me a valuable lesson: I hate the Hasbro Toy Company. Just kidding. What I’m trying to get at is they are only 24 of these Carbonara Burgers at Eating House every Wednesday in May for National Hamburger Month. Stop saying you’re gonna go, just go and do it to it. Don’t be the one in your circle of friends who didn’t have one. And the best part is there are no forms to mail in.

P.S.: This Burger is really f’in good.

Eating House Carbonara Burger

Only 24 of these Carbonara Burgers are made each Wednesday in May

NHM Details:

National Hamburger Month at Eating House
Date: Every Wednesday in May
Time: 6PM til 24 Burgers Are Sold
Address: 804 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables, FL.
Phone #: 305-448-6524

Get Infused At GIMME A BURGER In Deerfield Beach, Florida

The Northeast corner of Broward is heating up, burger-wise. Specifically, the northeast corner of Deerfield Beach, which, as anyone familiar with mouth watering comfort food will instantly recognize, is the home turf of multi-award winning Charm City Burger Company. Until recently, they (and their trophies) were the sole occupants of this patch of Broward, the undisputed masters of their domain.

But no longer. Burger Belle hears tell that Five Guys Burgers is moving in just across the way. And there’s already a new kid in town, one that’s accumulated some impressive awards, and it goes by the name of GIMME A BURGER. Just 150 paces east (we measured), GIMME A BURGER has staked their claim on the Broward Burger Biz with a unique perspective and some secret ingredients. Well, they were secret, until Burger Belle dropped in!

Burger Belle pops in to taste their award winning infusion burgers.

Burger Belle pops in to taste their award winning infusion burgers.

I first heard about GIMME A BURGER when they were awarded 2nd Place by the Boca Burger Battle judges last summer. Then last month they won the Best Entree trophy at Bacon Fest. Soon, they’ll be in another shootout, as the newest contender accepted into the upcoming Riverwalk Burger Battle™. Respectable accomplishments for an established restaurant, let alone one just out of the gate. So I popped in Friday afternoon and sat down with GM Craig Marcy to get his take on what makes GIMME A BURGER special.

Bacon Fest Trophy

First Place Trophy for Best Entree at Bacon Fest 2013

With years of management experience, ranging from fine dining restaurants to bar and grilles, and chef training on top of that, Marcy was emphatic about the need for two things: quality of ingredients, and creativity in flavors. Prime Certified Angus Beef, crispy green lettuce, juicy, ripe tomatoes, fresh-daily challah buns. All necessities to satisfy his demand for quality. When it comes to creativity, Marcy has a secret weapon. The owners of GIMME A BURGER, Yasmin and Serhad Oktay, are Turkish, with family still in the old country. That means when it comes to exotic spice blends, they have the hook up.

Register

Working together, they’ve incorporated, or as they refer to it, infused, their special spices into their burger recipes for an end result you won’t find anywhere else. Asked for his recommendation, Marcy suggested ordering their two award winning burgers, the Bacon, Coffee, Brown Sugar Infusion Burger and the WOW Infusion Burger.

Burger Belle discovered their secret… or should we say secrets:
❖Infused Spice Blends ❖A Smokin’ Hot Griddle ❖Prime Certified Angus Beef®

Bacon, Coffee, Brown Sugar Infusion Burger

Bacon, Coffee, Brown Sugar Infusion Burger

First up was the Bacon, Coffee, Brown Sugar Infusion Burger, the Bacon Fest champ. To be honest, this had me at the Bacon. Add coffee and brown sugar and a “burger nirvana” moment occurred. I was served this piping hot burger on a fresh buttered bun and all the juiciness exploded upon the first bite. A slight crunch from the caramelized brown sugar, and the smokiness of the bacon combined with the added richness provided by the coffee yielded a wonderful depth of flavor. I did not need to add anything! The secret: all the flavors are infused right into the Angus Beef, seared on a 400 degree griddle and served with melted cheese (choose your favorite from American, Cheddar, Provolone, Swiss, Gorgonzola or Pepper Jack), lettuce and tomato.

WOW Infusion Burger

WOW Infusion Burger

Next up was the WOW Infusion Burger featuring Prime Certified Angus Beef infused with Soujouk, a dried, cured Turkish beef sausage mixed with one of their proprietary imported Turkish spice blends. It is the combination of all three which really give the WOW burger its unique, exotic flavor. Add crispy Bacon, Pepper Jack Cheese, a fried egg and a drizzle of their Howlin’ Wolf sauce on top, all served on a very fresh grilled challah bun … WOW is the perfect namesake for this creation. Be warned. If you fall in love with the one-of-a-kind WOW burger, there’s only one place to get it. So make your peace with frequent runs to Gimme A Burger!

The Sides

The Sides

The first thing I noticed about the three side dishes was how fresh they looked and tasted. No greasiness, just crisp flavors. The French Fries had the skin on and were cooked to a golden color. The Sweet Potato Waffle Fries were hot, light and properly salted. The Beer Battered Onion Rings had the perfect amount of batter and were served piping hot.

French Fries |  Sweet Potato Waffle Fries | Beer Battered Onion Rings

Sweet Potato Waffle Fries | French Fries | Beer Battered Onion Rings

Lucky for us burger lovers, GIMME A BURGER is not your average burger joint. The new kid in town has brought a passion for preparing fresh, healthy ingredients in a super clean and trendy store. Meals are prepared to order, not pre-cooked. Their well rounded menu has a variety of unique burgers, from traditional to innovative, including two vegetarian options: The Veganator, a homemade white bean burger with sriracha and The Falafel Burger made with chickpeas and spices. And, if for some reason you’re not looking for a burger (???), chicken and hot dogs as well.

French Onion Infusion Burger

French Onion Infusion Burger

So next time you are in the mood for a fresh, unique burger with tasty sides… give GIMME A BURGER a try. And should you not be in their neck of the woods, you may be in luck. With their plans to expand, GIMME A BURGER may soon be in yours!

GIMME A BURGER
Facebook: Gimme A Burger
Twitter: @GimmeABurger
1200 East Hillsboro Blvd, Deerfield Beach
954-708-2553

As for Burger Belle, I can’t wait to taste what they will be preparing for the upcoming Riverwalk Burger Battle™ on May 31st.

About Burger Belle: Let me tell you about my style. I am on the quest for Burger (and other comfort food) Nirvana. I spend a few weeks researching and getting to know about the establishment I plan to review. I make several visits, some known and some not. I do make an effort to meet the owners to understand their vision, so I can write a comprehensive review about my experience. I do not rate, instead I offer up an inside look into what makes the best comfort food in South Florida. At times, I may be comped all or part of a meal, but this does not in any way influence the outcome of my review. Got it? Good, now we can get back to having fun and spreading the good word about all the Burger Nirvanas yet to be discovered! Stay on the path, pilgrims, and remember, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey!

Gimme A Burger on Urbanspoon

Culver’s ButterBurgers Coming To Naples, Port Charlotte, Ft. Myers & Sarasota, Florida in 2013

Culver's ButterBurger w/Fries & Drink

Culver’s ButterBurger w/Fries & Drink

I’ve got a friend who loves Culver’s ButterBurgers, he swears by them. I personally thought they would never come to Florida so I was pleasantly surprised when I came across a picture of the groundbreaking for their upcoming location. Culver’s will open its 1st Florida location in Naples at 5775 Airport-Pulling Road N. It is expected to open in August. Port Charlotte (groundbreaking in May), Ft. Myers and Sarasota who round out the rest of the Florida locations will follow shortly afterwards this year. Florida will be the 21st state to have a Culver’s.

Groundbreaking for the Naples Culver's (picture courtesy of Culver's)

Groundbreaking for the Naples Culver’s (picture courtesy of Culver’s)

Culver’s is known for their BurgerButters and Frozen Custards. You may just want to take a gander at their menu as there is much more on it including Fried Chicken, Mashed Potatoes & Gravy and Wisconsin Cheese Curds.

This video produced by Culver’s will bring you up to speed on the ButterBurger:


Research ButterBurgers:

Culver’s 
Facebook: Culver’s
Twitter: @Culvers
Instagram: Culver’s 

Butcher & the Burger In The Town Center Of Boca Raton, Florida Food Court

There is no doubt in my mind that you will not find a better Burger in a mall food court than Butcher & the Burger at the Town Center of Boca Raton. It’s also probably the most expensive meal you will ever have in a mall food court too. My Aged Prime Beef Blend Burger (w/Cheese and Benton Bacon) with Large Fries and a fountain drink set me back $18.97 (with tax). I’m not complaining by the way, just informing you. I’ve got no problem paying for something if its worth it and this is. It’s just a little different of an atmosphere than I would have thought Butcher and the Burger would have made their South Florida debut in.

There are options when it comes to choosing the protein for your buns: Aged Prime Beef, Local Grass-Fed Beef, Bison, Turkey, Chicken, Salmon, Vegan(Lentil & Brown Rice). After you’ve decided that, you need to choose what spice blend you want on your patty: Chicago Style Steak House, Grandma’s Onion Soup, Currry-Coconut, Fiery Ghost Pepper, Simple-Kosher Salt and Cracked Black Pepper, Greek, Cajun, and Umami (Scallions, Ginger, Garlic & Sweet Soy). They use Kennebec Potatoes for their Fries which are available in Small or Large sizes, no Mediums here. Some Salads made the menu and a Soup of the Day. Shakes and Beignets make up their desserts.

Premium Benton Bacon Cheese Burger

Aged Prime Beef Benton Bacon Cheese Burger

I asked for the Chicago Style Steak House seasoning on my Aged Prime Beef Burger (great with a little heat on the end). The smokiness of the grill it was cooked on came through from the very first bite. I hadn’t mentioned how beautiful and fluffy the split top Burger bun was. I don’t even think I’ve ever said this but the amount of Benton’s Bacon on my Burger seemed a little excessive or maybe I’m used to everyone skimping out.

Bacon Closeup

Benton’s Bacon Closeup

Their fries made from Kennebec Potatoes were excellent. Vegan Fries are another option.

Kennebec Fries

Kennebec Fries

The atmosphere? Well, I was in a mall in Boca so it was great for people watching while I enjoyed my Burger & Fries. I hope the folks of Boca Raton embrace having such a high quality Burger joint in their mall. If they don’t, they can always open up in my hood.

P.S.: The table next to me was having the Beignets and they looked real good.

 

Eat Burgers At The Mall:

Butcher & the Burger
Facebook: Butcher & the Burger
Twitter: @ButcherBurger
Town Center of Boca Raton (6000 Glades Rd Boca Raton, FL 33431)
561-416-5554

Butcher & the Burger on Urbanspoon

My Lunch at PB Steak – South Beach, Florida

It was Monday and I hadn’t really made up my mind as to where I would have my Birthday lunch on Friday. While talking with Gio (from Chat Chow TV), he not only suggested PB Steak for lunch but offered to treat me. So the wheels were in motion for a great Birthday lunch. Before I get started on the food, the funny thing about Gio is that I always feel like he is trying to out eat me. He seems to be keeping tabs on whatever is happening on my plate.

The first thing out of the kitchen were the Steak Tartare Sliders. I’m not one to fancy Steak Tartare but these little fellas were excellent. Those thin little Frites would go perfect on a Frita. There was a little bit of heat emanating from the patty which was just right.

Steak Tartare Sliders

Steak Tartare Sliders

Sweetbreads are also not on my “usuals” list but when something is done right we can throw that list right out the window. The Sweetbreads were served Buffalo Chicken style on a mini pool of Blue Cheese with a teepee of Pickled Celery & Carrot slivers. Another great dish, definitely worth checking out especially if you’re looking for a twist on the whole Buffalo Tenders/Strips thing.

Buffalo Sweetbreads

Buffalo Sweetbreads

My track record with getting a bad French Onion Soup is second to none. PB Steak’s version are Dumplings served in a cast iron Escargot style plate under a layer of Gruyere (my favorite) Cheese with some Croutons crowning the dish. “This ain’t like no French Onion Soup I ever had,” I was thinking to myself as I was battling Gio and my wife Marcela for the Short Rib Dumpling pods below the Cheese surface. My birthday privileges allowed me  to have the last one and I wasn’t complaining. Hands down…..Best French Onion Soup ever. It’s about time I got lucky.

French Onion

French Onion Soup Dumplings

It seems that Chef Jose Mendin thought the same thing, those Frites would be perfect on a Frita. Today’s lunch special happens to be a Frita. PB Steak’s Frita is a little different than the standard kind. The patty is a Mini Burger but hiding out under it is some finely diced Chorizo. The sum of its parts are what makes it have the Frita flavor profile. It’s topped with the Frites as I mentioned earlier as well as a Cheese Béchamel sauce. This reinterpretation of the Frita Cubana is muy bueno, me likey.

Frita Sliders

Frita Sliders

Since we were here during lunch we opted for Burgers (duh) instead of Steaks. My wife opted for a Salad which means she will not be mentioned for the remainder of this post as punishment. Sir Gio order the Black & Blue and I had to (yes, had to) get the namesake PB Burger. It’s important to note that even with all these toppings neither Burger’s taste was compromised. Yes, the Black & Blue was good but I’ve had similar Burgers in the past. The PB Burger is a different animal. The slab of housemade Bacon combines with the Gruyere Cheese (still my favorite) and Bordelaise drizzle to make a supremely decadent Burger of epic proportions. I was enjoying my Burger thoroughly, taking my time eating it meanwhile I’ve got Gio heckling me cause he polished off his. I think he was showing off to Ashley Danella who heads up the bar.

Black & Blue

Black & Blue

PB Burger

PB Burger

I really couldn’t eat most of my Fries (which were a little bit on the spicy side). It was just one of those things, I needed to leave some space for dessert. I wasn’t originally planning to have dessert but when Gio excused himself from the table for a second I was positive he had tipped the kitchen off that it was my birthday. And……Ding!

I’m a sucker for only a handful of desserts and Cinnamon Rolls and Apple Pie are up there. The Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding came with a lit candle, I don’t think that’s standard issue. As good as that Cinnamon Roll Bread Pudding is,  it can’t hold a candle (I know, there was no need) to the Apple Pie. The Apple Pie is ridiculous. It’s got a Dulce de Leche Mousse which is what sold it for me. We weren’t able to finish it because we were so stuffed but if I had thought I could get away with it I would have hidden that Apple Pie canister in my wife’s purse for later. I’m ok that it didn’t happen cause on my return trip that Le Royale w/Cheese (Foie Gras Mousse, Truffle, Short Rib) will be mine.

Cinnamon Roll

Cinnamon Roll

Apple Pie

Apple Pie

 

Watch PB Steak Chef Jose Mendin on ChatChow:

Also check out The Chowfather‘s visit to PB Steak.

Fill Your Pubbelly:

PB Steak
Facebook: PB Steak
Twitter: @PBSteak
1787 Purdy Avenue Miami Beach, Florida 33139
305-695-9550

PB Steak on Urbanspoon