Burgers Are Better Here: Four Places to Find the Beef in West Palm Beach, Florida

The hamburger has long been touted as all-American fare, with its origins traceable to Hamburg, Germany, and immigrants from that region likely brought it to the United States. There is a great deal of debate over who served the first commercial hamburger in the U.S., with New Haven, CT's Louis' Lunch getting official credit (1895), but others, including New York City's Delmonico's (1826) and Fletcher Davis of Athens, TX (late 1880's), also staking a claim.

Regardless of who was first, the hamburger is a culinary staple and icon. Americans consume 14 billion burgers per year, and in the West Palm Beach area, there are a few standouts that help contribute to those numbers:

At 213 Clematis Street, West Palm Beach, Grease Burger Bar is the word. Dark wood, brick walls, long bar and 95 selections of beer on a blackboard that wraps around the restaurant. Burger selections are classic (with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle slices) and creative, such as the "PB Illustrated A-List" (mozzarella, red onions, red and yellow tomatoes, radicchio and pesto) and the Turkey Burger Reuben. Among the available sides, the house-made BBQ potato chips get the most raves.

Burger prices are $8-$12 at lunch and dinner.

The two CG Burgers, at 4575 Military Trail in Jupiter and 2000 PGA Boulevard in Palm Beach Gardens, are always either crowded or packed. Given the Giardini's reputation, courtesy of their other food endeavors, it's no wonder. The restaurants also offer coal-fired pizzas, but it's the burgers that have gained the most notice. CG's offers a choice of white or whole wheat buns, and burgers choices are ethnic (the Cuban, with ham, pickles, Swiss cheese and mustard), regional (the Philly, with sauteed peppers, onions and cheese) and beyond ordinary beef (lamb, turkey, bison and American Kobe beef).

And most additional toppings are available at no extra charge. Burgers are priced from $3.50-$10.

Enjoy West Palm Beach's revitalized Northwood neighborhood, and stop at 401 Northwood Road to relish what's on the menu at Relish. It could take awhile, because the menu claims that between the burgers and toppings, there are over 1,000 combinations. From artichoke hearts to teriyaki pineapple, there are 20 different toppings for burgers ranging from classic beef to lobster, fish wild boar and chorizo. If you have room when you are done, check out the milkshake menu, with bananas Foster, red velvet and salted caramel among your choices.

Burger prices (including one relish) range in price from $6-$16.

The dark horse of this group is White Crescent Burgers, because of its less-than-fashionable location at 5023 Okeechobee Boulevard in West Palm Beach. Home of the famous "Moonie," their version of the slider, White Crescent offers burgers in chicken, beef and vegetarian varieties, and all their toppings are free. What sets these apart is the fact that the buns are toasted, which keeps the wet toppings from soaking through the bread.

Regular burgers are priced from $4-$6 and Moonies are priced under $1.50 for a single, or from $6-$12 when packaged with fries and a drink.