Where South Florida Is Celebrating National Cheeseburger Day
Friday, Sept. 18 is shaping up to be a very good day for burger lovers.
Forgot National Cheeseburger Day was coming up? Don't sweat it because South Florida restaurants have you covered. Whether you're a cheeseburger purist, craving a luxe masterpiece topped with foie gras or ready to double down, literally, on BOGO burgers, there's no shortage of ways to celebrate the cheesiest foodie holiday of the year.
Expect waterfront classics, glamorous supper club showstoppers, French Riviera-inspired sliders and over-the-top-surf-and-turf stacks. Come ravenous, because these South Florida spots might just be serving your new favorite burger.
Photo Credits: Casa Sensei
FOR THE CHEESEBURGER PURSIST
For the burger purist, sometimes classic really is best. At Shooters Waterfront, the Signature Burger does just that with certified angus beef, aged cheddar, a signature sauce, and the classic toppings, all tucked into a soft grand forno brioche bun. Served alongside panoramic views of the Intracoastal Waterway, it’s the kind of no-frills cheeseburger that lets the ingredients' quality speak for themselves. The lively dockside atmosphere at one of Fort Lauderdale’s longtime waterfront staples makes a classic burger feel right at home.
Located in the heart of Coconut Grove at CocoWalk, Grand Public Kitchen + Bar is a neighborhood restaurant designed for everything from casual lunches and happy hour to dinner and weekend brunch. Its menu puts a fresh, globally influenced spin on familiar favorites, including the Grand Burger, made with a blend of prime chuck and brisket, aged cheddar, lime pickle and Bibb lettuce on a sesame brioche bun, served with fries. Rich and comforting with a bright, tangy kick from the lime pickle, it’s Grand Public’s elevated take on a classic cheeseburger.
Photo Credits: Grand Public Kitchen + Bar
The Goodtime Café’s over-the-top Frita Burger features two beef patties layered with melted Cooper cheese, crispy potato sticks, garlic aioli and sweet and savory guava ketchup, all piled onto a soft bun and served with Old Bay fries. And if two patties still aren’t enough, add an extra one for $6. Located on the third floor of The Goodtime Hotel, the signature restaurant pairs its laid-back Miami vibe with an indoor dining room, a full bar and a covered outdoor patio with direct access to The Pool at The Goodtime. Keep the good times going with daily Happy Hour from 4-6 p.m. and Reverse Happy Hour from 9-11 p.m., featuring $6 beers and house wine, plus cocktails and select spirits starting at $8.
At Donna Mare Italian Chophouse at Cadillac Hotel & Beach Club in Miami Beach, the classic cheeseburger gets the full chophouse treatment. The Chophouse Burger starts with an 8-ounce patty made from the restaurant’s house-special blend, layered with aged white cheddar, thick-cut applewood-smoked Nueske’s bacon and Tuscan onion marmalade. Truffle aioli adds an extra touch of indulgence before it’s all tucked into a sesame brioche bun.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE BURGER JOINTS
At Ezio's the team behind New York’s Michelin Bib Gourmand-recognized Roberta’s brings its signature approach to Italian cooking to an American classic. The North Beach restaurant known for its dry-aged beef program serves the Ezio’s Cheeseburger with melted Comté, onion and béarnaise, accompanied by French-fried potatoes. The combination of nutty cheese and rich sauce gives the familiar cheeseburger just enough steakhouse flair.
Photo Credit: Ezio's
A cheeseburger might not be the first dish that comes to mind at Delilah Miami, one of the Magic City’s most glamorous modern-day supper clubs, but that’s exactly what makes The Burger stand out. Amid live jazz, white-glove service and a waterfront setting on Brickell Key, Delilah is about as far from a traditional burger joint as it gets. Yet its take keeps things refreshingly classic: a juicy patty topped with American cheese, Delilah’s special sauce and all the fixings, tucked into a pillowy potato bun.
At Uchi Miami, Wynwood’s hot spot for modern Japanese cuisine, guests can indulge in both a burger and crudo during its Lunch Prix-Fixe, featuring a choice of a signature starter, like the fan-favorite Hama Chili; a choice of an entrée, such as the lunch-only Burger (with cheese, of course); and a seasonal sorbet to finish. It’s both comforting and elevated, ideal to pair with a $5 cocktail or wine this National Cheeseburger Day.
Photo Credits: Uchi Miami
At R House Wynwood, even the burgers take inspiration from the restaurant’s iconic drag queens, with playful names and plenty of personality. But for National Cheeseburger Day, Chef Rocco Carulli is proving there’s nothing wrong with being a little basic. The cheekily named Basic B**** Burger is all about a cheeseburger done right: juicy, cheesy, messy and seriously satisfying. Guests can score the burger BOGO from Wednesday through Friday, before R House closes out the celebration on Friday with The Big Cheese, an over-the-top, one-day-only creation made especially for the holiday.
Photo Credits: R House Wynwood
FOR THE “MAKE IT LUXE” CROWD
At waterfront Casa Sensei in Downtown Fort Lauderdale, burger lovers have not one but two Wagyu options. The Casa Wagyu Burger features an 8-ounce ground Wagyu beef patty topped with peppercorn bacon, guacamole and Gouda, served with slaw and truffle fries. For those who really want to go all out, the Casa Sensei Luxe Burger tops an 8-ounce Wagyu steak burger with sautéed foie gras, house apple chutney, aged provolone and arugula, with duck fat steak fries and black truffle salt on the side.
At Novotel Miami Brickell, National Cheeseburger Day comes with three ways to get your burger fix. At UVA Restaurant & Bar, the Wagyu Umami Burger layers melted blue cheese, mushrooms, black garlic mayo and bourbon onion on a brioche bun for a rich, savory spin on the classic. Upstairs at Vista Rooftop Bar & Lounge, guests can go big with the Vista Smashed Burger, featuring wagyu beef, American cheese, aji amarillo aioli and bourbon onions on brioche, or keep things snackable during happy hour with Three Sliders, made with beef patties, cheddar, bourbon onion, pickles and black garlic sauce on mini brioche buns.
Photo Credits: Novotel Miami Brickell
Even cheeseburgers get a serious upgrade at The Wagyu House at Atlantic Village in Hallandale Beach. Burger lovers can choose from several premium options, including The Wagyu Bar Burger, made with an 8-ounce domestic wagyu beef patty, pickled mayo, lettuce and caramelized onions on brioche; the Wagyu Cheeseburger, featuring a 6-ounce Australian wagyu BMS8+ patty with cheese, lettuce, tomato and caramelized onions; or go all out with the Authentic Kobe Burger, made with 5 ounces of authentic Japanese Kobe beef, arugula and aioli. For those craving a more classic take, La Estancia Argentina offers a Hamburger topped with mozzarella cheese, tomato, lettuce and onions, bringing the flavors of its Argentine grill to a familiar favorite.
Bringing the spirit of the French Riviera to Miami Beach, Vilebrequin La Plage is a rooftop restaurant and poolside destination at UNFRAMED, Autograph Collection in Miami Beach inspired by the relaxed glamour of Saint-Tropez and the Côte d’Azur. Its Petits Burgers offer a French take on the classic slider, featuring Gruyère for a distinctly French touch. Casual yet elevated, they’re an easy bite to enjoy over drinks or outside on the rooftop terrace.
Photo Credits: Vilebrequin La Plage
FOR THE SURF-AND-TURF-LOVERS
At oceanfront Oceans 234 in Deerfield Beach, even the cheeseburger gets a taste of the coast. The restaurant’s Oscar Smash puts a distinctly Florida spin on the classic, stacking two smashed patties with jumbo lump crab, asparagus, Gruyère, caramelized onion and pickle, all finished with a rich lobster cream. It’s part smash burger, part seafood indulgence and exactly the kind of burger you’d expect from a restaurant just steps from the Atlantic.
