Gainesville Burger Club

by Sean Garrity, CEO, GBC

Gainesville Burger Club has become a household name, and it’s pretty tough for our members to maintain anonymity in such a small town these days. As a result, we’re commonly approached in public and asked, “Who has the best burger in Gainesville?” The price of fame, I suppose. 

But the question isn’t always an easy one to answer. It’s hard to pit the fast food-style burgers of Mac’s and Sandwich Inn against, say, a pub-style burger like those served at Loosey’s or The Top. They’re two completely disparate burger designs. Both fall under the burger genus, but are separate species, taxonomically speaking. 

There is also a certain calculus to our rating system that takes into account a range of considerations in its rubric. We weigh burger : bun ratio, topping relevancy, side items, meat quality, and cheese consistency, among other factors. This is fuckin complicated stuff, man. 

So let’s set some of the hard science aside for a moment and take an anecdotal glimpse into how our membership feels about some of our town’s best burger offerings. We’ll also get some insight into regional favorites and world-class burger cuisine from around the globe. Well, maybe that part will be limited to the United States, as most of us are under-traveled, uncultured swine.  

Gainesville’s Best Burgers According to GBC

Our members mostly agreed that the burgers that made the favorites list below belong there for myriad reasons. However, one item of import to note is that we are not fuckin’ Yelp here. And we’re definitely not anything like that one guy who “Ate Gainesville,” disparaging nearly every establishment in town and insulting kitchen workers from Williston Road to Turkey Creek in the process. It’s not our aim to badmouth any restaurant in a public forum. 

Instead, we’re here to sing praises of the places we think are the bee’s knees. And our members weren’t shy to share their faves. 

“My favorite burger spot in Gainesville is the Top,” said GBC Resident Artist Edie Shaub. “The burger is consistently perfect but it’s also combined with a hip atmosphere and usually a great cocktail too. I feel cool when I’m there, and that adds intrinsic value.” 

The Top is cool, to be sure, and GBC members are lit af, fam. If you recall, The Top also recently won the inaugural Gainesville Burger Club Mark Morchel Lifetime Acheesement Award – a well-deserved honor. 

Chief Wellness Officer Jake Crown is another big fan of The Top. 

“My order: the Big Top Burger, add bacon,” Jake said. “Secret sauce adds flavor without taking over. Crispy fries on the side, ice-cold 72 Pale Ale draft. It’s consistent and solid.”

GBC Member-at-Large David Pinner went in a bit different direction. “Right now, I think the title is tied between DJ’s Cast Iron and Goldie’s,” he said.

And I agree with David on DJ’s. That burger comes pretty close to perfection with its flawlessly smashed-and-griddle-crisped patties. In fact, the craftsmen behind the flattop smash them so expertly the result is a razor-thin salty meat lace that exemplifies how the Maillard reaction works. 

Mac’s is also a very popular choice among GBC members. It’s a Gainesville institution that’s been pumping out fast food-style masterpieces for decades, so our love of the place makes sense. 

A lot of us also agree that one of the best burgers we’ve ever eaten in Gainesville came from GBC Resident Griddleman Brian Grill’s backyard. When his membership was in its infancy, Brian invited the entire GBC Executive Committee over to sample his perfectly executed Oklahoma-style smash burgers. So much pressure on such a new member to perform. But he was definitely up to the task. So salty. So crispy. Onions so sweet. Buns so squishy. Oh, man. 

“I agree with adding The Grill’s backyard to the list,” said Liz Rogers, GBC Member Emeritus. “Those burgs were legit restaurant quality.” 

All that said, here’s our list of Gainesville greats. They’re in alphabetical order because we want you to visit them all, not just the one at the top of the list! 

• Big Mill’s 
• Crybaby’s 
• Dick Mondell’s 
• DJ’s Cast Iron
• Goldie’s
• Loosey’s 
• Mac’s 
• New Deal Cafe
• Public & General 
• Relish
• Sandwich Inn
• The Grill’s Backyard 
• The Top

Revered Regional Burgers 

There are some damn good burgers surrounding the Gainesville city limits that are definitely worthy of note. So we asked our members what some of their favorite burgers were within a few-hundred-mile circumference. 

“Tough one, but I think Bev’s in High Springs takes the cake,” David said. 

Great minds think alike, and I have to agree with him on this one, too. For me, Bev’s is Americana. It’s the burger stand we all see in our dreams. The offerings there are simple and come as close as possible to the Platonic ideal of burger. Soft, squishy buns, American cheese, LTOP, mustard, mayo, ketchup. They serve up shakes, funnel cake and a host of other offerings to make your mouth water. The High Springs location (there’s one in Alachua, and now Newberry, too) is perfect for grabbing a quick and delicious bite after floating the Itchetucknee or swimming in the area’s many springs.

Social justice advocate and GBC Member-at-Large Leigh Scott loves Bev’s, too. 

“Although, I swear to God it’s been closed the last ten times I’ve tried,” he said. “I think I go out to the springs on days it’s not open.” 

And he’s probably right. Sunday is a perfect springs day, and, alas, it’s the only day Bev’s is closed. 

I’d also be remiss not to mention Angel’s Dining Car here. In the same vein as Bev’s, Angel’s is the ideal stop on the drive back to Gainesville from the beach. Located right next to the St. Johns river in Palatka, Angel’s claims to be Florida’s oldest diner. And the old Airstream that houses the dining room and counter really back up that statement. The burgers harken back to a simpler time. They’re delicious and platters are served with fries and a few onion rings. The special sauce is a tangy mustard-relish concoction that complements the salty, rich patties. I love that place. 

Edie takes us way over to Floribama for her regional favorite. She’s originally from Pensacola, and has a few burger spots in her hometown that she will never forget. Among these is Jerry’s Drive-In. 

“Back in the day, Jerry’s was the epitome of a locals only hang out,” Edie said. “There were always old men drinking at the bar and the walls covered with team pennants, nostalgia, and dirty jokes. It’s one of the many great dives in Pensacola.” 

According to Edie, the burger is a classic griddle burger with a good crisp. 

“Nothing fancy, but it was the best!” she said. “Jerry’s is still open but with new ownership. The place remains essentially with the same old character but it has been spiffed up a bit and in that something was lost. The burger is still good but they should have never cleaned the cooktop.”

She also said that Blue Dot and Tops were other Pensacola locales worth mentioning. Maybe we should coordinate a GBC road trip!  

I was unable to obtain a quote from Brian Grill about his regional favorites before this post went live. But that guy had some really good things to say about a Jacksonville joint called Carolina Jax. And I’d trust Brian with my life if it depended on a good burger recommendation. The dude knows his burgs. Just take a gander at the Carolina Jax Instagram feed, and you’ll see some glorious creations coming out of that place. 

As a Florida native, I’ve been eating burgers around the state for almost a half century. So I’ve seen some greats come and go. Some of the best that still persist for me are Hollywood’s Le Tub, Ft. Lauderdale’s Jack’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers, and El Cap in St. Pete. 

Here are some of our members’ favorite spots across Florida (in alpha order): 

• Angel’s 
• Bev’s Better Burger
• Blue Dot and Tops
• Carolina Jax
• El Cap
• Flamingo Diner
• Jack’s Old Fashioned Cheeseburgers
• Jerry’s Drive-In
• Le Tub

World-Class Burger Cuisine 

Most of our members find their favorite burgers right here in good ol’ Gainesville, Florida. But some of us have found some gems in points far and wide. For me, two stand out as representing some of the best the world has to offer. 

About 10 years ago, I stumbled upon a joint in New Orleans called Company Burger. Their namesake burger consists of two thin patties, bread-and-butter pickles, red onions and American cheese. Pretty damn simple, but each component is done perfectly. The bark on the patties is crunchy and salty. The onions are sliced razor thin. And, while I’m more of a dill guy, the B&B pickles add an acidic sweet and sour element that really compliments the other ingredients and brings everything together. Company Burger also boasts a mayonnaise bar, so there’s that, too.

But probably one of the best burgers I’ve ever eaten came from a surprising little hole-in-the-wall place in Seattle last month. FamilyFriend serves up some of the best Guamanian food around. Menu items include the likes of adobo chicken, Langka Kadun Pika rice bowls, kelaguen tostadas, and bowls of to-die-for corn soup. But the highlight on the menu is their Kewpie Burger. 

While other menu items are served-up all fancy, with presentations reminiscent of fine dining restaurants, their smash burger comes on a metal tray wrapped in wax paper. It’s gooey. It’s tangy. It’s salty. It’s fuckin perfectly delectable. Please go there and try it. 

Our next couple of world-class faves hail from the Midwest. 

“Gonna have to dig deep, but I think there was a Juicy Lucy in Madison, Wisconsin, at an Irish Pub that has never been topped,” said David. “But that was many years ago and I can’t remember the name of the pub!”

But we do know the name of another establishment in the Great Lakes region serving up a famous Juicy Lucy. According to Brian, Matt’s Bar in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is hard to top. It’s Brian’s favorite burger of all time, and that’s really saying a lot. 

Jake went with a chain, but it’s a good one.

“My favorite burger anywhere is Five Guys,” he said. “It’s simple and solid with no BS attitude. None of that ‘whiskey-barrel-aged blah, blah, blah’ or unnecessary ingredients. Best fries on earth, too.” 

This last choice from Edie is going to raise some eyebrows. I know I was a bit shocked at this selection. But, bear with us here. I think it makes good sense.

“My favorite burger worldwide is consistently McDonald’s,” Edie said. “Not because McDonald’s is so great, but because it’s so familiar and consistent.”

Holy shit! McDonald’s? That was my first reaction, too. I mean, their fries are the gold standard for me. But the burgers? However, Edie’s a world traveler, and her choice here is based on nostalgia and comfort. 

“Enjoying local cuisine is one of my favorite things about traveling, so I don’t seek out burgers,” she said. “By the time I’m having a burger while traveling abroad, it’s because I’ve been gone for a while and I just need something familiar. This has been true for me in London, Paris and Tokyo. I was having the best food of my life in Japan, but after 10 days, McDonald’s was a nice break. A palette cleanser of sorts.”

And after all, isn’t comfort what a burger is all about? Eat the burgers that make you feel good and loved. Nestle up to a smash burger platter and think about home, family, friends, and revel in living the good burger life. 

GBC’s Favorites Around the World: 

• Company Burger, New Orleans
• Family Friend, Seattle 
• Little’s Food Store, Atlanta
• Matt’s Bar, Minneapolis 
• McDonald’s, Locations Worldwide
• Unnamed Pub, Madison