The Best Sarasota Restaurants - For Burgers

I love a great burger!! Luckily, we have plenty of options for fantastic hamburgers down here in Sarasota. While we are far from sampling anywhere close to all of the great burger joints down here, we’ve tried enough for me to feel confident sharing my top ten best Sarasota restaurants for burgers – so far! Let’s talk burgers!!

Burgers are my first choice when I sit down at a casual restaurant for a good meal. They tend to be my “canary in a coal mine” to determine whether a restaurant is really good or not – if you can’t make a great burger, then you probably aren’t worth returning to for another meal.

I also bin restaurants that serve burgers into three general categories: fast food establishments (mostly chains), casual bars and eateries, and upscale restaurants. The fast food category includes low end offerings from places like McDonalds, Burger King and the like, along with higher quality offerings from chains like Shake Shack, Five Guys, Culvers, and Burger Fi to name a few. Casual bars and eateries are my favorite places to grab a great burger – most of them are locally owned and cater to the locals as well. Finally, you have the upscale eating establishments that feature a burger on their menu, along with NY strip steaks and classy seafood dishes.  My list of the top ten best Sarasota restaurants for burgers includes restaurants in all three categories.

So, what makes a burger great? First, it has to be substantial, at least a third of a pound of beef and preferably a half pound. Second, the beef needs to be high quality, fresh, and fatty so the burger turns out juicy and moist. Third, the bun needs to be fresh (preferably made in house) and sized appropriately for the burger – there’s nothing worse than having a bun that disintegrates before you are halfway done eating the burger. And finally, the burger toppings need to be plentiful and fresh as well. I am particularly drawn to restaurants that offer a wide range of specialty burgers with both traditional and interesting, unique toppings.

Let’s start the countdown, from number 10 to number one!

10.  3 Keys Brewing and Gastrobrew

3 Keys boldly claims they have the best hamburgers in the Tampa Bay area (even though they are located in Bradenton). Their burgers are handcrafted 1/2 lb. burgers made with two 1/4 lb. patties of locally sourced, free-range beef, and served on a brioche bun. I ordered the Island Hopper, which included double smash patties, America cheese, candied bacon, shredded lettuce, onion and house made 1000 island dressing. Truth be told, the burger looked a bit small when it arrived (they definitely went a bit light on the bacon and cheese), but it was fresh and delicious and perfectly cooked to order as well! They have both extensive indoor and outdoor (covered patio) seating – this place is huge! The vibe is extremely casual with a dark bar feel to it. They also have a nice selection of brews and ciders to pair with your burger. So best burger in the Tampa Bay area? No, but pretty damn good!

9.  Burger Fi

Burger Fi is the only burger chain restaurant on the list, but it’s definitely more on the high-end side of things. With 16 different gourmet-style burgers to choose from, this counter-order burger joint delivers large, juicy burgers (they use natural angus beef) that blow away other chain restaurant burger offerings. The onion rings and fries are great as well. The buns could be a bit more substantial and I don’t really care for the “Burger Fi” branding on the bun (I already knew I was eating there and all it really does is smoosh the bun which doesn’t help anything). This is a great option if you are in a hurry and really hungry for a great burger.

8.  Central Café

Central is a casual café in east Bradenton that is housed in an old historic former hotel. They have a somewhat eclectic menu that includes small plates, traditional dinner entrees (steak, chicken, pork chops, etc.), tacos, pizza, and yes – burgers! They use angus sirloin steak and brioche buns for their burgers. The offerings are limited to five different options, so the burgers are traditional but also very tasty. Cooked to a perfect medium well (with just a hint of pink throughout), this was one of the juiciest burgers I’ve ever had. There’s nothing particularly unique about these burgers – just simple (in the best way possible!), with fresh ingredients and fantastic flavor! The French fries are wonderful too!

7.  Whiskey Joe’s Bar and Grill – Manatee River

Whiskey Joe’s is a nice casual waterside restaurant in Ellenton. It’s actually in a bit of a weird location, just off of I-75 but also on the banks of the Manatee River. They are definitely going for an island vibe, with great tiki-style drinks and tiki hut décor. They have a great waterside covered patio and ample dining space indoors as well. The menu is expansive with lots of fresh seafood offerings, a raw bar, and delicious appetizers. Their burgers are huge, with two smashed patties and generous toppings. The beef and bun are fresh – this is one of the messiest burgers I’ve had in the area (that’s a positive thing!). You can’t go wrong with the Smokin’ Bacon Burger that includes a delicious secret sauce – absolutely superb! They have great cocktails as well!

6.  Yard House

Yard House is a casual modern “public house” that specializes in classic American fare, along with a huge bar with over100 draft beers on tap. Laurie and I have been frequenting Yard House for years as we had one close to our home in Alexandria, VA and now one in UTC right across from the mall. Everything on the menu is great, but the burgers stand out. They are made from ½ pound of USDA Prime beef and come stuffed with toppings of your choice and served on a delicious toasted poppy seed bun. Everything is seasoned well and always arrive perfectly cooked to order. They don’t take reservations so go early if you don’t want to wait. They also have a waiting list which makes snagging a table a bit easier if you don’t want to be an early bird and eat dinner at 5:00 pm!

OK, we are halfway there! Next week I’ll finish the list of my top five restaurants for great burgers in Sarasota. Until then, give one of the above options and try and let me know what you think!