It’s a new year so you will be seeing all sorts of “Best of” articles, memes and columns. Some even did theirs in the middle of last year. How you decide who the best anything was for the year before the year is over seems a little sketchy, but that’s none of my business.
This article is part of a series showcasing the best in Jacksonville, Florida. We did ours differently than most. Our best is not just a popularity contest as many others are.
We accepted votes, via our facebook page, to get a list of the top twenty as selected by the citizens of Jax. We then sent Deputy Examiners into the field to independently rate each burger, beer, cocktail, happy hour, etc…
We took those totals and came up with a list of the five best in each category as well as 5 honorable mentions. There were a few categories that didn’t have twenty and in that case we used the top half for our in field examinations. Our best of are not listed in any particular order, they represent the best Jax has to offer in their respective categories. We have left the best part for you; try each one and decide for yourself which is The Best in Jax!
Best Burgers in Jax.
Bay Street Bar & Grill
Hand pattied, 100% Black Angus burgers, cooked to order, served on a toasted Kaiser roll. with fresh spring greens, sliced onion, and market fresh tomato. The Chef/owner shops at the farmer’s market and as great as the burger is by itself make sure you get it with the tomato. The tomato really adds to the burger! You just don’t get that flavor from the big box restaurants who buy from factory farms.
Bay Street is new to our list and our city. They opened last Fall in the old Northstar location in downtown Jacksonville. Their burger is the best you will find downtown and one of the best to be found anywhere.
Pinegrove Market and Deli
Burgers are made from dry aged beef. The same high quality beef you can find in their butcher shop. The owners work side by side with their employees to bring you a great hamburger. Neither the deli, or the burgers are fancy but both are full of flavor and will leave you with a smile on your face.
The Blind Rabbit – A Burger & Whiskey Bar
A great selection of whiskeys, craft beer and gourmet burgers. The Southern Burger, in particular is a must have. It is topped with arugula, a fried green tomato, okra and pimento cheese. We sampled several of their burgers but the Southern was specifically named by more than half our voters and our Deputy Examiners concurred, it’s awesome!
Epik Burger
Your place for epic possibilities with a hamburger. Epik Burger offers more than thirty four styles different burgers; anything and everything from a Deep South Burger, topped with collard greens and cooked in bacon fat to a Maguro Bocho Burger with sushi-inspired toppings; wasabi mayonnaise, pickled ginger, soy sauce and or sesame seeds.
Black Sheep Restaurant
The burgers at Black Sheep are made with grass feed beef they purchase from a local farm. The restaurant is better known for it’s fine dinning but lunch service is more laid back and no harder on the wallet than any other upscale lunch spot. Big plus if you score a spot on the rooftop patio.
Honorable Mention
M Shack Burgers
Poe’s Tavern
Derby on Park
Hamburger Mary’s