The Burger Wars of Jacksonville
“Casual” or “fast-casual” food chains seem to be springing up all over the country. Particularly, burger joints seem to be making an increasing rise. These casual burger joints are ale to draw the “Fast-food” crowd, while obviously distinguishing themselves from fast-food. Why?
Many of these casual eateries are able to offer things like burgers at a reasonable price, often easily swaying customers to pay more for things like extra toppings or sides. These places are able to provide fast service, coupled with the option of a sit down meal. They are able to offer similar, greasy foods, but with a special “twist” that breaks away from the “standard, corporate feel” of chains. Moreover, their ingredients are often fresh, never frozen, and sometimes, locally sourced.
Here is a look at some of these burger joints within the area.
BurgerFi
BurgerFi began as a company in 2011, in downtown Delray Beach, FL. BurgerFi was a vision of John Rosatti, who was tired of worn out, lacking offerings in the burger market. Since them, BurgerFi has become one of the fastest-growing all-natural burger joints in the country and has spread to over 150 locations—including Jacksonville.
The company itself is partly known for its “green” factors—using all-natural, hormone free beef, using recycled goods, and building each location according to locally sustainable, earth-friendly practices.
They are also, obviously, known for their menu. Some of BurgerFi’s notable dishes include their “Breakfast All Day Burger” which includes bacon, eggs, maple syrup, and hash browns. They also have the “Twenty-Eight” which is a 2-day dried brisket burger with Swiss, blue cheese, and all the fixins’. They also have vegetarian options, a wide-array of hot dog options, hand-cut fries, custards, and of course, their ever-famous “BurgerFi Sauce.”
BurgerFi Jacksonville has two locations—Brooklyn (coming soon) and Town Center.
Blind Rabbit
The Blind Rabbit is a burger and whiskey bar that opened up in Jacksonville in 2013. The Blind Rabitt was launched by brothers Jeff and John Stanford. In 2012, the brothers made an entrance into the food world with their food truck, the Salty Fig. The brothers turned the Salty Fig into a brick and mortar establishment in King Street and then launched the Blind Rabbit shortly after.
The restaurant is known not only for its impressive selection of over 100 whiskies, but also, their burgers. The Blind Rabbit’s beef is a combination of ground chuck, brisket, and short rib. Their burger menu features items such as the “Southern Burger,” which is a burger with fried green tomatoes, creole pimento cheese, and peach habanero sauce; and “The Holick,” which has a fired egg, braised pork belly, and garlic-lemon aioli. Their menu also includes things like sandwiches, shrimp and grits, Gouda cheese grits, and poutine.
The Blind Rabbit has two locations-Riverside and Jax Beach.
Graffiti Junktion
Graffiti Junktion was established back in 2008 as an American Burger Bar. Graffiti Junktion marries a casual atmosphere with a full bar and rocking food.
This joint prides itself on fresh, never frozen food. They offer burgers such as the “Sin City,” which is stuffed with jalapenos, Brie cheese, and pepper jack. Another specialty burger they offer is the “Big Apple,” which includes apple butter, Brie, and bacon. They also have a selection of turkey and veggie burger, sandwiches, quesadillas and wraps.
Graffiti Junktion will be opening soon in Jax Beach.
M Shack
This burger joint is a collective effort by brothers Matthew and David Medure. The Medure brothers opened their first location in Atlantic Beach, and since then have opened three more locations in the Jacksonville area.
MShack works to combine the old-fashion burger feel with fresh, unique ingredients. MShack’s beef is all natural, hormone-free beef that is ground daily. Their menu includes burgers such as “The Medurable” which has Foie Gras and caramelized onions. They also have the “Insanity Burger” that is a typical burger with all the fixins’…it just happens to be sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches! MShack also has sandwiches, hot dogs, sides like sweet potato tots and ruffle parmesan fries, as well as a selection of milkshakes.
MShack can be found in Atlantic Beach, Riverside, Town Center, and San Marco.
Five Guys
Five Guys started as a local family business in the Washington DC area. Jerry and Janie Murrell guided their four sons into the burger business with their first carry-out burger joint in Arlington, Virginia. Another brother would be born and thus the name “Five Guys” was coined.
Since opening up over 20 years ago, the company has grown to over 1,000 locations, with over 1,500 in development.
Five Guys is known for it’s fresh ground beef, its lack of freezers in its facilities, and their use of strictly peanut oil. Their oil includes standard burgers, dogs, and fries, with an extensive list of toppings. Five Guys claims that there are over 250,000 ways to order a burger at any of their locations.
Five Guys can be found in various locations throughout Jacksonville.
Smashburger
This joint was started up back in 2007 by founder Rick Schaden. Smashburger started as an attempt to better America’s burgers. Since it opened, the restaurant has extended to 32 states and 5 different countries, with 300 corporate and franchise restaurants total.
Smashburger is known for its made-to-order burgers that are never frozen but “smashed and seared.” Their menu includes things like the “Spinach and Goat Cheese” Burger and the “Truffle Mushroom Swiss” Burger. They also serve most of their burgers as chicken sandwiches, as well as fries, salads, and hand-spun shakes.
Smashburger is located in Neptune Beach.
Epik Burger
Epik Burger was opened in 2013 by owners Korey and Lovice Konopasek. The Konopaseks came to Jacksonville after their marriage, and they opened Epik Burger with the intention to demonstrate a passion for food that was both creative and affordable.
Epik Burger offers both beef and bison burgers. They use the high quality and fresh ingredients, and pride themselves on offering many gluten-free options. Their menu includes basically a “build your own burger” feature, with different bun options and unique toppings like brie and :red wine bacon jam.” Their menu also includes things like the “Red Dragon” burger, which includes mustard cheddar and a brown ale; and the “Fruit and Cheese” burger, which has sharp cheddar and poached apples. They also offer chicken sandwiches, ahi tuna burgers, a wide array of sides, and hand-spun shakes.
Epik Burger is located off Atlantic.
Article by Kristen Pickrell
Here is a look at some of these burger joints within the area.
BurgerFi
BurgerFi began as a company in 2011, in downtown Delray Beach, FL. BurgerFi was a vision of John Rosatti, who was tired of worn out, lacking offerings in the burger market. Since them, BurgerFi has become one of the fastest-growing all-natural burger joints in the country and has spread to over 150 locations—including Jacksonville.
The company itself is partly known for its “green” factors—using all-natural, hormone free beef, using recycled goods, and building each location according to locally sustainable, earth-friendly practices.
They are also, obviously, known for their menu. Some of BurgerFi’s notable dishes include their “Breakfast All Day Burger” which includes bacon, eggs, maple syrup, and hash browns. They also have the “Twenty-Eight” which is a 2-day dried brisket burger with Swiss, blue cheese, and all the fixins’. They also have vegetarian options, a wide-array of hot dog options, hand-cut fries, custards, and of course, their ever-famous “BurgerFi Sauce.”
BurgerFi Jacksonville has two locations—Brooklyn (coming soon) and Town Center.
Blind Rabbit
The Blind Rabbit is a burger and whiskey bar that opened up in Jacksonville in 2013. The Blind Rabitt was launched by brothers Jeff and John Stanford. In 2012, the brothers made an entrance into the food world with their food truck, the Salty Fig. The brothers turned the Salty Fig into a brick and mortar establishment in King Street and then launched the Blind Rabbit shortly after.
The restaurant is known not only for its impressive selection of over 100 whiskies, but also, their burgers. The Blind Rabbit’s beef is a combination of ground chuck, brisket, and short rib. Their burger menu features items such as the “Southern Burger,” which is a burger with fried green tomatoes, creole pimento cheese, and peach habanero sauce; and “The Holick,” which has a fired egg, braised pork belly, and garlic-lemon aioli. Their menu also includes things like sandwiches, shrimp and grits, Gouda cheese grits, and poutine.
The Blind Rabbit has two locations-Riverside and Jax Beach.
Graffiti Junktion
Graffiti Junktion was established back in 2008 as an American Burger Bar. Graffiti Junktion marries a casual atmosphere with a full bar and rocking food.
This joint prides itself on fresh, never frozen food. They offer burgers such as the “Sin City,” which is stuffed with jalapenos, Brie cheese, and pepper jack. Another specialty burger they offer is the “Big Apple,” which includes apple butter, Brie, and bacon. They also have a selection of turkey and veggie burger, sandwiches, quesadillas and wraps.
Graffiti Junktion will be opening soon in Jax Beach.
M Shack
This burger joint is a collective effort by brothers Matthew and David Medure. The Medure brothers opened their first location in Atlantic Beach, and since then have opened three more locations in the Jacksonville area.
MShack works to combine the old-fashion burger feel with fresh, unique ingredients. MShack’s beef is all natural, hormone-free beef that is ground daily. Their menu includes burgers such as “The Medurable” which has Foie Gras and caramelized onions. They also have the “Insanity Burger” that is a typical burger with all the fixins’…it just happens to be sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches! MShack also has sandwiches, hot dogs, sides like sweet potato tots and ruffle parmesan fries, as well as a selection of milkshakes.
MShack can be found in Atlantic Beach, Riverside, Town Center, and San Marco.
Five Guys
Five Guys started as a local family business in the Washington DC area. Jerry and Janie Murrell guided their four sons into the burger business with their first carry-out burger joint in Arlington, Virginia. Another brother would be born and thus the name “Five Guys” was coined.
Since opening up over 20 years ago, the company has grown to over 1,000 locations, with over 1,500 in development.
Five Guys is known for it’s fresh ground beef, its lack of freezers in its facilities, and their use of strictly peanut oil. Their oil includes standard burgers, dogs, and fries, with an extensive list of toppings. Five Guys claims that there are over 250,000 ways to order a burger at any of their locations.
Five Guys can be found in various locations throughout Jacksonville.
Smashburger
This joint was started up back in 2007 by founder Rick Schaden. Smashburger started as an attempt to better America’s burgers. Since it opened, the restaurant has extended to 32 states and 5 different countries, with 300 corporate and franchise restaurants total.
Smashburger is known for its made-to-order burgers that are never frozen but “smashed and seared.” Their menu includes things like the “Spinach and Goat Cheese” Burger and the “Truffle Mushroom Swiss” Burger. They also serve most of their burgers as chicken sandwiches, as well as fries, salads, and hand-spun shakes.
Smashburger is located in Neptune Beach.
Epik Burger
Epik Burger was opened in 2013 by owners Korey and Lovice Konopasek. The Konopaseks came to Jacksonville after their marriage, and they opened Epik Burger with the intention to demonstrate a passion for food that was both creative and affordable.
Epik Burger offers both beef and bison burgers. They use the high quality and fresh ingredients, and pride themselves on offering many gluten-free options. Their menu includes basically a “build your own burger” feature, with different bun options and unique toppings like brie and :red wine bacon jam.” Their menu also includes things like the “Red Dragon” burger, which includes mustard cheddar and a brown ale; and the “Fruit and Cheese” burger, which has sharp cheddar and poached apples. They also offer chicken sandwiches, ahi tuna burgers, a wide array of sides, and hand-spun shakes.
Epik Burger is located off Atlantic.
Article by Kristen Pickrell