Checking our foodie calendar, we noticed that May is officially National Burger Month.
And it culminates with National Hamburger Day on May 28.
Naturally, we started thinking about our Southwest Florida favorites.
From pressed to smash to grilled and from fast-food plain to loaded gourmet, we love them all.
And remember them fondly.
It’s been a couple of years since we’ve devoured the BBQ burger at The Shipyard on Captiva (it’s still on the menu!), but we still picture it clearly — topped with pork, fried onions and pineapple slaw and looking as lovely as an island sunset. Same goes for the glorious BIG burger (oh, that brisket and short rib combo) at LYNQ in south Fort Myers, the smash burger at Fresh Catch Inland (owner Franco Russo knows burgers), and pretty much all the burger options at Cristof’s on McGregor.
Heck, we even think about burgers that aren’t even available, like the one Giuseppe Manco (who made a burger for Rachael Ray last year!) is adding to his menu at San Matteo by Unico in Fort Myers, and the ones Mr. B’s Burgers will bring when it opens in Dairy Queen’s iconic old spot on Sanibel (we can’t wait!).
We smile when we think of a great burger in a great setting, like the Dollar Bill Bar at Cabbage Key, or the newly opened Independent Pub in Cape Coral, paired with a perfectly poured pint.
And when we think of that pint, we recall the best burger deal around — the $8 burger & beer (& fries) special at KJ’s Steakhouse in Fort Myers, available from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day.
Whether it’s with an old favorite like Big Nick’s double smash burger or a new one like Resurgence Brewing’s bacon jam burger, we’re ready to celebrate National Burger Month.
Here are five burger places we’ll certainly be stopping by …
Blossom & Brie
We’ve been singing the praises of this open-air farm-to-table gem in North Fort Myers since it opened in May 2024. And for good reason, too. The USA TODAY Network Florida team of food writers just named it one of the best brunches in the state. And on that brunch menu, you’ll find a couple of burgers. The original smash burger — two grass-fed & finished beef patties with American cheese, lettuce, tomato, sliced onion, Blossom sauce and housemade pickles on a brioche bun — is one of co-owner Stacey Poole’s favorite menu items. We love the oh-so-messy, how-am-I-going-to-eat-this-burger called The Cure. It has the same topping as the smash burger, only without the pickles and with smoked bacon, an over-medium egg and guacamole added. Just be sure to ask for extra napkins. 8250 Nalle Grade Road, North Fort Myers; (239) 385-0415; blossomandbrie.com or on Facebook
Florida Boy Burger Co.
Louis Cioffi and Roger Lolly take their burgers very seriously. And they do such a good job that their old Florida-flavored restaurant was named one of the best burger joints in the state in 2025 by the Florida food writers at the USA Today Network. Walk into their Fort Myers or Cape Coral location, and you’ll find 15 or so creatively crafted gourmet burgers to choose from. Keep it simple with the OG Florida Boy burger (with cheese, lettuce and tomato on a toasted bun) or heat things up with the Black Rambo burger (with alligator sausage, blackened crabmeat, spicy pimento, pickled red onions and arugula tossed in Florida Boy citrus vinaigrette). Look for a jalapeno popper burger coming soon. As we said, those Florida boys are serious about their burgers. 1402 Del Prado Blvd., Cape Coral; (239) 471-7128; or 4480 Fowler St., Suite 110, Fort Myers; (239) 245-7145; burgers.inc or follow on Facebook
Matt’s Red Hots
This former Dairy Queen-turned-fast (but-oh-so-wonderful) food joint in San Carlos is already home to some of America’s favorite fries (as named by USA Today Network’s food team in 2024). So it’s only fitting that its no-frills burgers are just as good. Our mouths water when we hear the patties from our single, double or triple hamburger, cheeseburger or bacon & cheese burger sizzling on the flat-top. We know the edges are charring oh-so-perfectly and soon it’ll be done cooking, stacked on a potato roll, and wrapped and ready to go. When our name is called to pick up our order, we can’t get to the counter fast enough. We unwrap it and eat it just as quickly. Along with those award-winning fries, of course. 18911 S. Tamiami Trail, Fort Myers; 239-791-8036; mattsredhots.com
Nevermind
There’s a reason the pressed burgers at this longtime South Cape staple are so good, and his name is Hugo Topete Alcaraz. He worked with locally legendary chef and restaurateur Shannon Yates for 25 years before Yates died in 2021. Hugo tells me the two collaborated on this best-selling, inside-out-bun sporting, simply awesome pressed burger, served with magical 10-ingredient coffee sauce. It tastes just like it did when Yates opened Nevermind in 2012. Fourteen years later, Hugo is still churning them out. Helpful hint: They’re $17 on the lunch menu, but if you ask for the Nevermind Board (which isn’t on the menu), you get two pressed burgers, volcano rolls (another longtime favorite) and fries for $35. Personally, I can get three meals out of it. What a great way to celebrate burger month. 927 Cape Coral Parkway E, Cape Coral; (239) 257-1007; nevermindawesomebar.com or on Facebook
Street Eatz
It seems like only yesterday when I was congratulating Reid Freeman for having the best burgers in Lee County. His laid-back neighborhood bar and restaurant in Bokeelia won that title in the 2024 News-Press best burger bracket. And it’s well deserved. After Hurricane Ian destroyed his family’s Smokin’ Oyster Brewery on Fort Myers Beach in September 2022, Reid bought a food truck before opening Street Eatz in April 2023.
His quest to make a perfect smash burger began in the truck and was perfected in the restaurant. It’s now the best-selling item on the menu (and available with fries or tots and a beer, soda or sweet tea from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday to Friday for $12.50). But as good as they are, keep an eye out for his special burgers of the week. Think pad Thai, jalapeno popper and not-your-ma’s loaded burgers. They’re all award-worthy. 5508 Ave. A, Bokeelia; (239) 312-4697; seabokeelia.com or on Facebook
Robyn George is a food and dining reporter for The News-Press. Connect at rhgeorge@fortmyer.gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Five burger-loving Southwest Florida restaurants worth celebrating
Reporting by Robyn George, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
