Lucky Dawgs 2
When I first spotted Lucky Dawgs 2 on the side of Collier Boulevard, in that bright yellow and blue building, I assumed it would be a throw-away roadside hot dog stand (and wondered why this Lucky Dawgs is No. 2; I still haven’t figured that out). True, there’s nothing all that ground-breaking about the place. But there’s authenticity in its kitchen, the kind that has me reminiscing about Chicago’s street food — convenient, tasty and so, so cheap. Lucky Dawgs’ burger is charbroiled and pressed thin on the flat-top until the edges turn crisp and blackened. Pair it with a hand-spun milkshake and some of Lucky Dawgs’ glorious cheese fries and you’ve got a spot that’s worth finding, savoring and coming back to, again and again.
(12435 Collier Blvd. No. 101, Naples; 239-300-0367; luckydawgs2.com)
Chili cheese fries, a cheeseburger, Chicago dog and peanut butter milkshake from Lucky Dawgs 2 in Golden Gate. (Photo: The News-Press staff)
Jimmy P’s Charred
The beauty of Jimmy P’s is in its passion for meat. Born from a butcher shop that made its Naples debut in 2002, Jimmy P’s has grown to include a full-service steakhouse and restaurant, as well as a second restaurant that opened in Bonita Springs earlier this year. When a butcher makes a burger, you know it’ll be good. But Jimmy P’s are great. They start with a Wagyu patty charred to juicy perfection. My favorite iteration involves Jimmy P’s house-cured bacon and crumbles of tangy blue cheese on a toasted and softly buttery bun. That’s passion. And man it tastes good.
(locations in Naples and Bonita Springs; jimmypscharred.com)
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The day’s craft burger at Charred North in Bonita Springs was a Wagyu patty with blue cheese, thick-cut bacon and a balsamic drizzle. (Photo: Special to the Naples Daily News)
True Food Kitchen
I don’t believe beef makes a burger. True Food’s inside-out quinoa burger is a prime example. Crafted from a pair of hearty, quinoa-based patties layered with hummus, avocado, feta and tzatziki, this un-burger is ostensibly all about the healthy. But in reality: It’s just all about good.
(Waterside Shops, 5375 U.S. 41 N., No. 15, Naples; 239-431-4580; truefoodkitchen.com)
The inside-out quinoa burger at True Food Kitchen. (Photo: True Food Kitchen)
BurgerFi
Get the CEO burger. Just — trust me on this one. Soft, buttery buns encase a pair of Wagyu and brisket-blend patties layered with melted Swiss, candied bacon-tomato jam and truffle-scented aioli. You can also order it with a single patty but, really, why? Or, you could go the Conflicted burger, with one veggie patty and one beef patty. Or, you could just make your own. With patty choices that include chicken, beef, veggie and the plant-based Beyond Burger, there’s a burger to please anyone. And don’t leave without ordering urban-style fries. Ask for an extra side of garlic aioli. Thank me later.
(multiple locations from Naples to south Fort Myers; burgerfi.com)
The CEO, rear, and a classic BurgerFi cheeseburger from the recently reopened store in San Carlos Park. (Photo: Special to The News-Press)
Brooks Burgers
In 2018, Brooks Burgers claimed the number two spot on Trip Advisor’s list of the 10 best restaurants for burgers in the U.S. And that spot is well-earned. The burgers are expertly cooked, and the recipes unique. From the farm burger, dressed with pulled pork, cheddar cheese and a fried egg, to the sweet and savory doughnut burger with American cheese and bacon all lovingly crammed between two glazed doughnuts. Pair a burger with some crisp fried pickles or Brooks Chips (piled with more pulled pork and more cheese), and you’ve got a Burger Day smorgasbord on your hands.
(three locations in Naples, with a fourth coming soon; brooksburgers.com)
All credit for this delicious list goes to Naples News. https://www.naplesnews.com/story/life/2019/05/22/5-best-burgers-naples-because-national-burger-day-jlb-picks/3695062002/
