By CAMERON O’CONNOR
Photo:Courtesy, Cameron O’Connor
Traditionally, New York culture is slow to come to South Beach because, frankly, many want to be the anti Big Apple. However, this trend is being defied in the Foodie World as more and more New York hot shot Chefs are opening their own South Florida locations.
Ah, and then there is the hamburger – another food trend that has inexplicitly taken off. No longer is the burger condoned to fast food floozies, this is a gourmet succulent meal that goes for thousands of dollars at some of the world’s best restaurants.
When you combine these two trends you get South Beach’s newest patty joint, Shake Shack.
Located at the base of the architectural explosion that is 1111 Lincoln Road (really just a fancy parking garage with shops, restaurants and a bank on the ground floor), Shake Shack is taking SoBe by storm by revolutionizing the causal dining environment that is the largest tourist trap in South Florida.
For a mere $4.25 you can try the original Shake Burger, which includes American cheese, lettuce, tomato and the special secret Shake sauce. Make it a double for $7.25. This burger may be the best piece of patty this side of In N Out. The juices roll out oh so delectably, and whatever is in that Shake sauce is as addictive as nicotine.
For those interested in the less-meaty route, try the ‘Shroom Burger ($6.75), which includes: crisp-fried portabella mushroom filled with melted muenster and cheddar cheeses and topped with lettuce, tomato and the aforementioned special Shake sauce.
Can’t decide between the two? Why not try the Shake Stack ($8.75), which combines the meat patty with the portabella mushroom in one ridiculously tall feast. Save room for a side of cheese fries ($3.75). These golden-fried (with zero trans-fat) Yukon potatoes are just the side dish to make you feel full and fat.
If hot dogs are more up your ally, Shake Shack offers four varieties, including a chicken hot dog that will have you clucking for more. The most creative is definitely the Second City Bird Dog, which includes chicken sausage with mustard, relish, onions, cucumbers, pickles, lettuce, tomatoes, sport pepper and celery salt ($5.75).
Need something to wash it all down? Order specialized ShakeMeister Ale from Brooklyn Brewery ($5.25 for 16 ounces), a Shake Chord from California ($6) or a Shake Shiraz from Eastern Australia ($6.50).
In NYC, the original Shake Shack is exactly what the name says, a shotty house-like structure in the middle of Madison Square Park. The lines stretch all the way through the park, especially on nice and warm summer afternoons, because the only thing that tops this place’s burgers is the frozen custard creations. My favorite is the Shark Attack, frozen chocolate custard blended at high speed with peanut butter, chocolate truffle cookie dough, chocolate sprinkles and chocolate pearls. Cost of the frozen creations ranges from $4.50-6.75.
Not impressed by this review? Well then you should know that Shake Shack’s burger has won awards at both the Food Network New York City Wine & Food Festival and the Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival.
Shake Shack is part of the Danny Meyer Union Square Hospitality Group, the same company that owns famous eateries Tabla and Eleven Madison Park in New York. Meyer will be hosting the Danny Meyer Shake Shack Burger and Wine pairing seminar at the 2011 Food Network South Beach Wine & Food Festival on Feb. 26. Meyer has taken the concept of modern day roadside stand and transformed it into the place see and be seen.
For more information, visit www.sobefest.com.
