By RICHARD DAVID CHAMBERLAIN
BurgerFi
2477 E Sunrise Blvd
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304
954-835-5514
BurgerFi is so proud of its logo that it hot-brands the thing on top of every one of its buns. It’s a clever concept, and one that ensures you’ll remember that this is no ordinary fast-food burger chain.
The place is the brainchild of John Rosatti, the owner of the huge Plaza Auto Mall as well as several luxury yachts, including the 162-foot Remember When. Legend has it that setting foot on the yacht is akin to visiting Buckingham Palace. He also owns his own Gulfstream jet, so money is not the issue here. Health, on the other hand, is. Rosatti recently lost 50 pounds and began BurgerFi as a fast-food fine dining experience for those of us who need to watch our n i c k e l s , and our calories.
The end result is a rather fresh and lively experience in fresh-cooked cuisine, heavy on Angus Beef. The standard BurgerFi Burger at $5.47 is a double-pattied affair with lettuce, tomato and secret sauce on the aforementioned branded bun. Flavorful, filling, and fun particularly when you add any of the free extras (mayonnaise, relish, white onions, lettuce, pickles, tomatoes, grilled onions, ketchup, mustard, jalapeños, A-1 Sauce, and barbeque sauce). For an extra $1, you can select from Blue Cheese, American Cheese, Swiss Cheese, White Cheddar Cheese, a Fried Egg, Cherry Peppers, Salt & Vinegar Potato Chips, Grilled Mushrooms, a giant Onion Ring, Chili, Peter Luger Steak Sauce, or Heinz Organic Ketchup. Now that’s what we call a burger.
For $6.77, the non-meat-eaters among us can get the VegeFi Burger, which is a doggone great imitation of substantial goodness. It’s a crisp quinoa burger (which tastes a lot better than it sounds) with white cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, and secret sauce on a wholewheat bun. We had it served with a side of Fresh Cut Fries ($2.77), which are cooked any way you like them. We selected well done, and got extra crispy delicious potatoes that somehow disappeared off the plate without chewing or swallowing—they were that good.
We were less thrilled with the hot dog selection, since the sampled Chicken Apple Dog ($4.27) didn’t have the familiar pop when your teeth pierced the casing, and came with a sauce that tasted like Cheez Whiz to us. Even so, it was a filing serving, accompanied by some superb Onion Rings ($3.77).
For dessert, BurgerFi serves a sinful Frozen Custard in cups and cones ($3.97, $4.97, $5.97—one, two or three scoops), made with cream from nearby farms. Get it with BurgerFi Mix-in toppings for $5.57 under the Concrete menu. They’ve got a Key Lime Pie, Beach Blast (chocolate custard, peanut butter, chocolate chips and brownie chunks), and Fort Lauderdale Surfer (caramel, mango and coconut)—all $5.57, and tasty, too.
BurgerFi serves an array of Craft Beers, including our favorite Magic Hat #9 and Orange Blossom Pilsner, among others. They also serve up by-the-glass Mondavi Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Grigio, as well as a new taste to us—the Rex Goliath Merlot. It lingered with the taste of plums, cherries and wild red berries that was an excellent accessory to the BurgerFi staples.
By asking for any item Green Style, they’ll skip the branded bun and wrap it in lettuce. And if you really can’t make up your mind, ask for a 1/2 Stack Burger, which isn’t on the menu, but will get you an Angus Beef patty topped with American cheese, plus a quinoa patty with white cheddar cheese. Enjoy, and tell them Agenda sent you.