The best cure for a hangover is a greasy cheeseburger. They are ubiquitous to restaurant menus. But sadly, few restaurants do them very well. Jimmy Buffet likes his with lettuce and tomato, Heinz 57 and french fried potatoes. We set out on a quest to find the best burgers in the keys. We were looking for Grade A beef, house-made buns, sesame seeds, shredded lettuce, Artisan sharp cheddar, caramelized onions, seasoned grills and more. And the winning restaurants were: Mr’s Macs in Key Largo, MEAT in Islamorada and Chad’s Deli in Tavernier. Visit one of these establishments and partake in a burger done the right way.
But if you’re inclined to make your own at home or at your vacation rental, these are our suggestions: Buy grade A prime 80/20 beef, forget the lean stuff, the flavor is in the fat. Bring the meat to room temperature and then season liberally with a mix of salt, pepper and garlic salt. Butter and toast the buns. Julienne iceberg lettuce and thinly slice Beefsteak tomatoes. Grill the burgers on medium heat low and slow without piercing them til you see blood and juices simmering on top. Flip once, then add a thick slice of sharp Cheddar, Havarti, Swiss or Mozzarella cheese. serve with “old school” Hellman’s mayo, Dijon mustard, Heinz 57 ketchup and dill pickles.
Serve some of these delicious side dishes with your cheeseburgers:
Potato Salad
Macaroni Salad
Potato Chips
Cole Slaw
Corn-On-The Cobb
Guacamole and Tortilla Chips
Fresh Watermelon
Find all the fixings at these area grocery stores:
Key Largo Publix
101437 Overseas Hwy, Key Largo, FL 33037
The Trading Post, Islamorada
Mile Marker 81.5, Islamorada, FL
Marathon Publix
5407 Overseas Hwy, Marathon, FL 33050
Publix Key West at SearsTown
3316 N Roosevelt Blvd, Key West, FL 33040
Publix Key West at Key Plaza Center
1112 Key Plaza, Key West, FL 33040
