C U I S I N E
Hamburgers At Their Best
YOUR SEARCH FOR
the best hamburger
ends when you
By Margaret Word Burnside and Aaron R. Fodiman
visit a BurgerMonger.
Founder Jake Hickton, a
St. Petersburg native, set
out to serve the world’s
finest all-beef hamburger.
He began by testing more
than 50 types of ground
beef and 60 types of buns, as
well as every other product
that he would use, from
potatoes to ice cream. Eventually, he found
a 100% Japanese Breed Beef from Texas
that was rated two or three grades above
USDA Prime. This led to BurgerMonger’s
use of “Akaushi” 100% Pure Japanese
Breed Beef for their hamburgers, Cusano’s
Challah Buns grilled with garlic butter
to serve them on, fresh-cut Burbank
Norkota Idaho Premium One Pound
Potatoes cooked in natural beef tallow
for their French fries, and Haagen Dazs
Ice Cream for their milkshakes and malts.
In addition to their superior tastes, the
beef is free of antibiotics, steroids and
hormones. The buns have no preservatives
or additives, and the French fry oil is
natural and healthier.
Keeping an emphasis on quality and
health, Jake filled out the menu with an
Akaushi Beef Hot Dog, Coleman natural
chicken breasts, real milk cheeses, vine
ripened tomatoes, red leaf lettuce and an
extensive selection of unique toppings, as
from the beginning. Lisa
and Jake flit from location
to location to ensure that all
of the special details that
make BurgerMonger so
fabulous are being followed
meticulously
There are so many things
that set BurgerMonger
above the rest that it is
difficult to talk about
any one. Even their beer
and wine selections are
The Double BurgerMonger, made with two six-ounce Akaushi beef patties
on a Challah Bun, can be enhanced with a wide variety of toppings.
amazing; and once you see the list of
gourmet toppings that they offer, you will
have to take some time to decide what you
want to order to satiate your taste buds.
If we want a hamburger, BurgerMonger
is where we go. We can’t say more about
them than that.
9
EDITOR’S NOTE: BurgerMongers are
open from 11 AM to 10 PM Sunday through
Thursday, and from 11 AM to 11 PM on
Friday and Saturday. They are located at
10412 North Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa,
(813) 968-6860; 1656 Bruce B. Downs
Blvd., Tampa, (813) 991-4242; 3838 West
Neptune St., Tampa, (813) 254-0290;
903 East Bloomingdale Ave., Brandon,
(813) 684-7982; 2454 North McMullen
Booth Rd., Clearwater, (727) 726-4001; coming
soon to 1325 4th St. North, St. Petersburg.
BurgerMonger
well as a Veggie Burger and a selection of
salads and lite entrées.
The first BurgerMonger opened in
Tampa’s Carrollwood in 2010. The next
was in Wesley Chapel; then Brandon; and,
most recently, Safety Harbor and South
Tampa. The sixth location is set to open
soon in St. Petersburg.
In addition to the great food, which has
gained them a slew of awards for best
burger, the service is warm, friendly and
caring, as they eschew the traditional quick
service approach in favor of a full-service
attitude.
As a result of all of the above, their Guest
Loyalty program has more than 25,000
active members. Once you dine there, you
will understand why the high-quality food,
unique setting and service style draws
customers back time after time. Another
key to the success of BurgerMonger is its
Director of Restaurant Operations Lisa
Deptula, who has been with the company
168 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2016