Brewburger’s in Venice, Simply Tasty Burgers and More

April 19, 2017 | Sande Caplin | Dining

Along the I-75 corridor between Sarasota and North Port is the Jacaranda exit into Venice. A great stop for travelers with an oddly appealing range of restaurants for an exit location. Here, one can find the standard McDonald’s and a new Wawa and Culver’s, alongside restaurants featuring Mexican and Chinese food.

Newer hotels, a bustling industrial center just east of the interstate, and a quick jaunt up the road to a quaint downtown, and beaches with sharks’ teeth make this a well-traveled roadway inland. And in the midst of it all is a burger joint with the tastiest burgers, coldest beer, thickest milkshakes, and coldest beer (worth repeating as they do in their ads) around. For visitors, Brewburger’s is a happy surprise find, but for locals, it is a go-to restaurant for good, simple eats that are comforting to the tummy and the wallet.

What is better than a warm juicy burger on a nice roll that’s hearty, to hold a half pound of prime ground beef, fresh toppings, and maybe a slice of cheese? Well, o.k., there are better things in life, I guess, especially if you’re a vegetarian. Certainly, there are finer foods, and culinary experts might scoff at pinning down the finer points of a burger but for many of us, a burger, fries, and a shake are the main players in the ultimate comfort food meal. So, if you’re into that kind of thing, along with to-die-for wings, homemade chips, ruebens as big as a football and yes, ice-cold beer, please let your appetites come along for a delicious journey as we discuss the ins and outs of Brewburger’s.

For starters, you get the impression there is a well-tuned process behind the scrumptious smells wafting off the grill and burners. Hurried waitresses greet you with a friendly smile and hello as you eye a table with people readying to leave. Though often packed inside, there is sufficient seating outside and well-behaved canines are also welcomed. The ambiance is more like a highway diner, with seating around an open kitchen where all the magic is performed in full sight of a hungry audience. You can see three or four people working the grills and fryers at once and though a tight squeeze, they all seem to have their routines choreographed. Mounds of fresh rolls and buns waiting to be topped, spread, toasted and eaten alongside fresh tomatoes and lettuce serve as the decorative aspects of the scene and it’s a beautiful combination of smells and sights as Brewburger’s serves another crowd.

It is easy to taste why their burger is consistently voted “Best Burger in Venice.” Hand-packed one-third or one-half pound fresh ground chuck sizzling on the grill, jacked up with jalapenos or onions, All-American with ketchup and mustard, or fun-fangled with an Italian flair, or drenched in buffalo sauce, you can truly have it your way at Brewburger’s. And the sandwich fun does not end there because, as mentioned, their delicious reubens are colossal sized, as are their big dogs and onion rings. Where do they get onions that size? Whether dry-rubbed, naked, or dipped in sauces ranging from traditional buffalo and teriyaki to chipotle citrus and everything in between, the wings are a crowd-pleaser on game day and all throughout the year. Their salads are fresh and include homemade ceaser salad and a house salad with added extras that make it special including sweet-dried cranberries and onions and chopped egg.

If you have it in you, begin it all with an order of homemade Saratoga chips or fried pickles. And for dessert, a special occasion, or just because it’s Wednesday, have a hand-dipped shake! Even the oldest of customers become a kid again when they see their very own milkshake being created. Put a cherry on it and call me happy! Peanut butter pie, key lime pie and funnel cakes are other fun and funky treats to sweeten your week. Did we mention they have ice-cold beer? Well, they do, so grab one of those too while you’re there. Simple, delicious, pet-friendly and conveniently located right off of exit 195 leading into Venice. Ready, set, head to Brewburger’s! For more information on both of their Venice locations, along with a full menu, please visit www.brewburgers.com.