A grandma, grandpa, mom, dad and two boys walk into the new, modern Shula Burger restaurant in Islamorada one Saturday evening. Ordering various burgers, fries, a salad and beverages, all leave content and with a full belly. Did Shula Burger do its job? You betcha!
Opened in mid-December, Shula Burger offers a variety of specialty burgers, sides such as sea salt fries, sweet potato fries and onion rings; salads, a fish sandwich, and milkshakes – in short, everything you’d want at a burger joint. It also offers beer, wine and cocktails, and a range of desserts including the ubiquitous key lime pie. How do they taste? Among our group which ranged in age from 8 to 74, we had no complaints. In fact, the eight-year-old was so mesmerized by the name Shula stamped into his bun, he had to save that two-inch by one-and-a-half inch of burger and bun – and bring it home for later! It was just too cool to eat.
We opted to skip appetizers figuring a deluxe burger would fill us up, and it did. Yet, Bahamian conch chowder, and starters such as fish dip and conch fritters surely have allure.
The signature burgers are made from a never-frozen blend of premium black angus beef, short rib and brisket. Our order included the “wine burger” with roasted peppers, goat cheese, balsamic greens and roasted tomatoes; the “French onion” with carmelized onions, double gruyere cheese, garlic mayo and garlic croutons; the “mushroom Swiss” with sautéed mushrooms and Swiss cheese – all $8.99 each -- and the classic Shula burger, a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato and pickle ($6.99). A fish lover in the family declared the flash-fried fish sandwich ($10.99) delicious. A diner can also request that the fish be grilled or blackened. Our salad lover declared the Caesar with grilled chicken ($8.99) flavorful and delicious, and it was big enough to share a few tastes with anyone at our table with room in their belly – which was only one of us.
One person had a big enough appetite to order a side of $2.99 sea salt fries, and there were a couple comments that the burger plates should include potato chips.
The chocolate and strawberry soft-serve shakes ($3.99 each) had the kids rating them thumbs up, while a future visit for me to taste a couple of the other flavors (vanilla, hazelnut, banana, coffee and superfruits) is a must.
Beverage prices ranged from $3-4 for beer, $7-8 for a glass of wine (and up) and more for mixed drinks – steep enough to have the Manhattan drinker ordering beer.
Return trips may have our party trying the ¼-pound beef hotdog on a pretzel roll with mustard and onion sauce ($6.99) or the pulled pork sandwich ($6.99). But really, when at a burger place, not trying a signature burger is tough to justify!
Located at mile marker 84 oceanside at the Postcard Inn at Holiday Isle, Shula Burger accepts reservations. Call 305-664-5300 or visit www.shulaburger.com.
Comments