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.
for every oneBut 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.
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.
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.
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
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
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 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.
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
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!
