Fort Lauderdale burger spot Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill is named one of the most legendary burger joints of the South for its Angus beef.
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill photo
Fort Lauderdale is full of wonderful burger joints whipping out mouth-watering hamburgers, and now a beloved spot has just gotten some major national praise. Southern Living, the publication that practically defines Southern food culture, has named a Fort Lauderdale staple for old school burgers as one of the 20 best burger joints in the South — and it’s the only burger spot in the entire state of Florida to land on the list.
Let me repeat that: out of every beloved, decades-old, deeply nostalgic burger joint across the Sunshine State, only one made the cut, and it’s a place New Times has already been championing as one of the best burger spots in the Fort Lauderdale area. The restaurant? It’s none other than Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill, located along Cordova Road.
Bringing Decades of Hospitality Experience to Fort Lauderdale
If you’ve been to Gilbert’s, you already know. If you haven’t, you’re about to understand why locals are obsessed. According to Burger Beast, the diner-style joint was founded by husband-and-wife duo Bob and Lenore Gilbert. After Bob ran a catering business for nearly 40 years, the Gilberts moved to South Florida to open a steakhouse in Davie (which they sold in 2004), and later opened Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill in 2008. After Bob retired, the restaurant was passed on to their children, son Richard, and daughter Beth.
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Burger Beast writes, “Walk in and chances are Lenore greets you — warm, genuine, and halfway to remembering your name. Daughter Beth runs the floor; her husband, chef Corwin, works the grill; and son Richard keeps things moving behind the scenes. It’s a family operation through and through.”
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill’s use of buttery English muffins truly sets them apart from the rest
Since opening, the spot has been a favorite for old-school, meaty, and restaurant-style burgers (no smashburgers here). Gilbert’s is classic South Florida, characterized by warm service, unpretentious plates, and burgers that are both straightforward and unforgettable. An unassuming gem in the Harbor Shops Plaza, Gilbert’s is what happens when a seasoned restaurant family decides to do burgers their way.
“South Floridians swear by this family-owned restaurant where a commonly shared value is to ‘treat your family like family,’” writes Southern Living. “Although the diner-style spot serves a variety of dishes, including wings, salads, and fish, their burgers are what truly stand out. You’ve probably never had a burger on an English muffin, but a regular bun pales in comparison to the toasted and garlic butter-slathered English muffins that the ‘Havarti Burger’ is sandwiched between.”
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill makes 14 juicy burger variations, all made with fresh, certified Angus beef
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill photo
Certified Angus Beef That Is as Fresh and Juicy as It Gets
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill’s certified Angus beef is fresh, never frozen, and grilled to juicy perfection. New Times Broward-Palm Beach even once wrote, “Ask for a burger — voted among the best in South Florida by readers of the Sun-Sentinel — and what you get is a half-pound, all-Angus beef patty grilled to a healthy char and cooked to your liking inside. There are several varieties, like their Cajun spice-rubbed burger with cheddar cheese or one with crumbled blue cheese stuffed inside the patty. Each is served on a tray lined with faux newspaper and finished off with crisp, greaseless fries.”
Add in hearty portions, friendly service, and standout sides like those aforementioned fries, and it’s clear why this local favorite has stood the test of time. For a state not historically known for its burger heritage, being the only Florida representative on such a storied Southern list is no small feat.
Gilbert’s 17th Street Grill.1821 Cordova Rd., Fort Lauderdale; 954-768-8990; gilberts17thstgrill.com