Restaurants
The Burger Blend That Built a Following Now Has a Boca Address
Charm City Burger Company Expands to Boca Raton While Keeping Its Legendary Deerfield DNA Fully Intact.
February 17th, 2026
Eighteen years in and still packing tables, Charm City Burger Company has officially expanded into Boca Raton, and it did so without turning its back on the Deerfield Beach loyalists who built the brand.
General Manager Scott Burman oversees both locations, and from the start, one thing was clear. Expansion could never mean dilution.
“The loyal fans of Deerfield were always so good to us,” he explains. “They didn’t want to seem like they were leaving town and leaving them with nothing. So they went back to square one. Just keep it there. Keep it the same.”
That commitment to authenticity is why the new Boca location feels less like a second act and more like a natural extension. The crowd already reflects that. Since opening in late January, guests from Delray Beach, Boynton Beach, and beyond have been filling seats, many discovering Charm City for the first time.
The Burger That Changed Everything
At the heart of Charm City is not hype. It is engineering.
Before opening, the owners worked in the meat industry. They knew cuts. They knew texture. They knew what most restaurants were getting wrong. What followed was years of experimentation in what Burman calls their burger lab. Short rib. Chuck. Sirloin. Brisket. Different ratios. Pressed. Tested. Tasted. Adjusted. Repeated.
“They worked for years trying to get the right amount of each,” Burman says. “They had expert opinions helping them. They came up with the perfect blend. They own the factory that’s making these burgers. It’s not made or sold anywhere else. You can only get that here.”
That proprietary blend became the foundation. Everything else supports it. The toasted bun. The layering technique that places toppings on the bottom for structural balance. The freshness of each ingredient.
“It’s hard to recall a taste you had 30 years ago,” Burman says. “But once you bite into the burger, you’ll know in one bite what we’re talking about.”
He speaks from experience. Thirteen years ago, he walked in as a customer and ordered the Southern Belle. He never stopped talking about it. Today, he runs the store.
The Southern Belle and the Big Sloppy
If there is one burger that represents Charm City’s competitive edge, it is the Southern Belle. During the early 2010s, the restaurant entered burger competitions and won. A wall full of accolades backs that up.
When guests ask what they should order, the answer comes quickly.
“The Southern Belle is our award winner.”
Still, not everyone comes in looking for balance. Some want spectacle. That is where the Big Sloppy enters. Stacked high with hash brown, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, sauce, and a fried egg, it is unapologetically over the top.
“Go for a jog before you eat it,” Burman laughs. “You won’t need dinner later.”
Even with the towering builds, the daily focus remains on quality over gimmick. The standard burgers outsell the monsters. The blend is the star.
More Than Just Beef
While burgers carry the spotlight, Charm City has quietly built depth across the menu.
The chicken sandwiches deserve more attention than they often get, featuring new hand breaded tenderloins that deliver crunch without losing moisture. The Gobbler, their house ground turkey burger, continues to earn loyal fans. For something unexpected, the ahi tuna sandwich layers seared tuna with Asian slaw, wasabi, soy, and lime.
Plant based diners are not left out. The new Double Smash Hippie veggie patty is already gaining traction.
And for those who lean toward heat or prefer things mild, the sauce lineup covers the spectrum. Some guests order their burgers plain. No sauce. No toppings. Just meat and bun.
“They just want to taste it.”
That confidence says everything.
The New Additions
Expansion did not mean standing still. Boca has already welcomed new items, including corn ribs and a charred broccoli Caesar that guests are embracing quickly.
Then there is dessert.
And dessert here is not an afterthought.
Engineered Endings
The hot brownie with ice cream is intentionally cooked so that the ice cream melts directly into the brownie upon contact. Stir it while it is still warm and it transforms into a rich brownie pudding, thick and indulgent, with chocolate folding into vanilla in real time.
The chocolate peanut butter half baked cookie follows the same philosophy. Warm center. Slight structure on the edges. Add ice cream and it melts into every crevice, creating a gooey and creamy contrast that feels deliberate rather than accidental.
“These are great clues to your dinner adventure,” one comment during our visit suggested with a grin.
Both desserts are baked in house. Brownies and cookies made right in the kitchen. No shortcuts. No frozen compromise.
Just like the burger blend, even the finale has been thought out.
If Charm City Had a Soundtrack
When asked what music genre best represents Charm City, Burman answers without hesitation.
Jazz.
“Smooth. Intense. Layered. All the instruments must play their part. It’s unpredictable. It’s spontaneous. It’s inspirational.”
Then he adds hip hop, acknowledging that the current generation might connect with that rhythm more easily.
It is a fitting analogy. The foundation is classic. The energy is current. Every component matters.
The Unwritten Rule
There is one unwritten rule before walking in.
Be honest with yourself after that first bite.
Burman has worked in countless restaurants and eaten thousands of burgers. Once he had Charm City’s blend, he knew.
“The quality of the food and the burger, it’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before. I’ve been in the business my whole life. I say it every day.”
For Boca Raton, this is not just another burger spot entering a crowded market. It is nearly two decades of refinement landing in a new zip code. For Deerfield Beach, it is reassurance that nothing has changed.
Same blend. Same structure. Same Southern Belle that started it all.
Charm City did not expand to chase trends. It expanded because the formula works.
And in one bite, you understand why.
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
-
Charm City Burger Co. ©South Florida Insider
Coral Gables just got a whole lot spookier, and this might be our favorite excuse to grab a cocktail on Miracle Mile.
October 14, 2026
Okay, Coral Gables, THIS is how you do Halloween!
JohnMartin’s has officially brought back its Halloween Bar, and suddenly, grabbing drinks at your favorite Irish pub feels like walking straight into a Halloween movie. We’re talking cobwebs everywhere, skeletons, spooky little details, and cocktails that look like they were mixed up in a witch’s cauldron. Honestly, what’s not to love?
Tucked along Miracle Mile, JohnMartin’s has always been a go-to for a good night out, but something about a full-blown Halloween makeover makes it even more fun. The whole place is decked out for spooky season, and it’s exactly the kind of spot where you stop in for one drink and end up staying much longer than planned.
There’s something so fun about a bar that fully commits to a theme, and JohnMartin’s understood the assignment.
Cobwebs stretch across the ceiling, skeletons make themselves at home, and Halloween decorations have taken over practically every corner. It’s spooky without losing that cozy, lively Irish pub atmosphere that makes JohnMartin’s such a fun place to hang out in the first place.
And the best part? It doesn’t feel like you need some elaborate Halloween plan to enjoy it. Just bring your friends, order something fun, and soak up the atmosphere.
Honestly, we’re suckers for a good themed bar, and this one is giving us every reason to love October in South Florida.
Now, let’s talk about the drinks because obviously, we need to talk about the drinks.
JohnMartin’s has rolled out nine Halloween-themed cocktails, and the names alone are enough to make us curious.
There’s the Frozen Pumpkin Spiked Latte, because fall flavors deserve a little extra fun, the Bruised Apple Shot, and the Witches Melon Cauldron, which might win for the most Halloween-sounding drink on the menu.
And the presentations? They’re part of the fun. Think playful glassware, spooky garnishes, and cocktails that practically beg for a photo before the first sip.
It’s all a little dramatic, a little ridiculous, and exactly what we want from a Halloween cocktail menu.
Can We Make Halloween Last All Month?
Here’s what we love most: this isn’t just a one-night Halloween party.
JohnMartin’s is keeping the spooky vibes going from October 1 through October 31, which means there’s plenty of time to squeeze in a Halloween girls’ night, a fun date, or an impromptu night out.
Plus, there’s something about Coral Gables at night that already feels special. Add a festively decorated Irish pub, a few witchy cocktails, and your favorite people, and suddenly you’ve got yourself a pretty perfect October evening.
We love a good excuse to go out, and this one is practically handing itself to us.
So if you’ve been looking for something fun to do in Miami this Halloween season, consider this your sign to make a stop at JohnMartin’s.
Because spooky season is short, the cocktails are cute, and staying home can wait.
Where: JohnMartin’s, 253 Miracle Mile, Coral Gables, FL
When: October 1–31, 2026
The Vibe: Spooky cocktails, Halloween decor, and an Irish pub that’s fully embracing its haunted era.
Our advice? Grab your friends, order something spooky, and take way too many pictures. It’s October. You’re allowed.
Sweetwaters brings coastal dining, creative cocktails and New River views to Fort Lauderdale’s newly reimagined Huizenga Park.
October 7, 2026
If your ideal South Florida evening involves cocktails, seafood, a table by the water and boats casually passing by while you decide whether you really need dessert, Sweetwaters Fort Lauderdale may have just figured you out.
SFL Insider got an early look at the brand-new waterfront restaurant during its VIP opening celebration, and honestly, this is exactly the kind of place that makes living in South Florida pretty fun.
Sweetwaters officially opens October 12 inside the newly reimagined Huizenga Park, right where Las Olas Boulevard meets the New River in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. And while the food definitely deserves attention, you have to start with this location.
Because it is really good.
The nearly 10,000-square-foot restaurant was designed to take full advantage of the waterfront, with a huge indoor dining room, open kitchen, raw bar and two outdoor terraces. One patio stretches toward the New River while the other faces Huizenga Park, so basically, pick your view.
For the opening celebration, guests moved around the restaurant with cocktails in hand while trying passed hors d’oeuvres, chef-curated stations and selections from the raw bar.
Which, for the record, is a pretty excellent way to introduce yourself to Fort Lauderdale.
Okay, But Let’s Talk About the Food
Executive Chef Nicco V. Salanitro and Culinary Director Matthieu Godard are behind a menu that leans into Sweetwaters’ South Florida setting with seafood, sushi, shareable dishes and some menu items that clearly aren’t interested in being boring.
You can start relatively civilized with Yellowfin Tuna Crudo, made with mango, tangerine, ponzu and pickled Fresno, or the Castaway Roll with shrimp tempura, sashimi, avocado and yuzu aioli.
Or you can immediately commit.
The Grand Seafood Tower arrives loaded with East and West Coast oysters, chilled shrimp, mussels, clams, tuna tartare, crab salad and half a Maine lobster.
Yes. Half a lobster.
There is also a Chef’s Sushi Tower stacked with signature rolls, spicy tuna crispy rice, nigiri, sashimi and tuna crudo.
And things only get more interesting from there.
The Whole Crispy Local Snapper comes with coconut-cilantro rice and aji verde. Lobster Spaghetti pairs an entire Maine lobster with spicy tomato vodka sauce. The Pink Brick features wagyu flat iron with black truffle butter and chimichurri and gets scorched tableside.
But our attention immediately went to two words:
Nuggets & Caviar.
They are exactly what they sound like. Free-range chicken nuggets topped with yuzu crème fraîche, Osetra caviar, gold flakes and lime zest.
It’s fancy. It’s ridiculous. We want it.
And apparently vegetables are allowed to have personalities here too, because one of the sides is literally called Spinach, But Sexy.
We appreciate the commitment.
@RomainMaurice
Save Room for a Cocktail. And Probably Dessert.
The cocktail menu is equally playful.
Tiffany combines tequila, bergamot liqueur, citrus and coconut and gets finished with limoncello sorbet and white pearls. Paid Vacation mixes passion fruit and tarragon-infused vodka with purple basil and Szechuan flower, while Cloud Nine brings together ginger-infused vodka, yuzu sake and orange-ginger tea with lychee caviar and citrus-aloe foam.
And because Sweetwaters apparently understands that sometimes we shouldn’t have to choose, there’s an Affogato Martini with vodka, espresso liqueur, espresso and a scoop of Madagascar vanilla bean gelato.
Dessert isn’t exactly subtle either.
Going Bananas is a giant shareable sundae with brûléed banana, chocolate, strawberry and vanilla bean gelato, salted caramel, candied pecans and cherries.
Then there’s Miss Trunchbull, an 11-layer chocolate cake.
If you know, you know.
@RomainMaurice
This Might Be Your New Las Olas Happy Hour Spot
Sweetwaters comes from Specialty Restaurants, the family-owned hospitality group behind Miami’s longtime waterfront favorite, Rusty Pelican. This is the company’s first Fort Lauderdale restaurant and its first Florida expansion beyond Key Biscayne.
But Sweetwaters doesn’t feel like it is trying to recreate Miami in Fort Lauderdale.
The restaurant feels made for this particular spot.
Huizenga Park, the Riverwalk and the New River are right outside, and the restaurant was designed so you can move between the dining room, terraces, park and waterfront instead of feeling closed off from everything happening around you.
Chef Salanitro described the idea as somewhere guests could walk through the park, stop for oysters and cocktails while watching the boats pass and then stay for dinner after sunset.
Yeah. We can work with that.
The VIP opening brought out plenty of familiar South Florida faces too, including fashion designer Rene Ruiz, former Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado, real estate developer Ramola Motwani, developer Luis Birdman and Specialty Restaurants President and CEO John Tallichet.
But once the party is over, Sweetwaters has to become somewhere locals actually want to come back to.
And with waterfront tables, a weekday happy hour, an inventive cocktail menu, seafood towers, lobster spaghetti and literal caviar-topped chicken nuggets?
We don’t think convincing people to come back is going to be the hard part.
@WorldRedEye
Sweetwaters Fort Lauderdale Opens October 12
Sweetwaters officially opens October 12, 2026, at 58 E. Las Olas Blvd. in Downtown Fort Lauderdale.
Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday from 4 to 10 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 11 p.m. Even better, happy hour runs Monday through Friday from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the bar. Sweetwaters_Pre-Opening Release… Sweetwaters_Pre-Opening Release…
So yes, we got to see Sweetwaters before everyone else.
Now it’s your turn.
Grab a table outside, order something from the raw bar, get a cocktail and stay long enough to watch the New River change as the sun goes down.
Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings Fires Up a New Chicken Menu, Brings Chicken Parm Tableside and Proves Its 900-Degree Ovens Have Plenty More to Say Than Pizza.
Camikara Is Turning Fresh Indian Sugarcane, Brutal Northern Heat and a Nearly Empty Barrel Into a Pure Cane Juice Rum Determined to Give India Its Own Place in the Global Rum Conversation.
Huey Magoo’s brings made-to-order chicken, crave-worthy sauces and a surprisingly strong grilled game to West Boca.
Forget sweater weather. Palace Miami Beach’s new Fall Harvest Menu is bringing pumpkin season to South Beach, and one dish was genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever eaten.
September 4, 2026
Miami has never needed changing leaves, chilly temperatures, or a reason to order another cocktail.
So when Palace invited us in for an early taste of its new Fall Harvest Menu, launching September 21st, I was curious. Pumpkin on Ocean Drive? Sure. Pumpkin in cocktails, arepas, gnocchi, tres leches, and flan?
Now you have my attention.
The idea is actually perfect for Miami. Palace wanted to capture that nostalgic feeling of fall for a city where September still feels very much like summer. Rather than throwing pumpkin spice into everything and calling it seasonal, the kitchen challenged itself to use actual pumpkin across cocktails, savory dishes, and desserts in ways that made sense for the Palace.
And after tasting the menu, I can tell you this: do not dismiss this as a pumpkin-spice gimmick.
Because I am still thinking about that gnocchi.
Let’s Talk About This Gnocchi
I need to start here because pretending otherwise would be dishonest.
The Brown Butter Pumpkin Gnocchi was not simply my favorite dish on the menu.
It was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life.
Yes, I realize how dramatic that sounds.
I stand by it.
Roasted pumpkin, Parmesan, crispy sage, and pancetta come together with brown butter in what can only be described as a ridiculously good bowl of fall comfort food.
It is rich. It is savory. It has that warm nuttiness from the brown butter, saltiness from the Parmesan and pancetta, and just enough pumpkin to make the whole thing unmistakably seasonal without turning dinner into dessert.
And the crispy sage? Do not underestimate the crispy sage.
This was one of those dishes where I took a bite and immediately had to make sure everyone else at the table understood what was happening.
If you order one thing from this menu, order the gnocchi.
Actually, Palace, I have a request: please don’t take this one away when fall ends.
Yes, We Had to Try the Pumpkin Espresso Martini
If there was ever a cocktail designed for Instagram in September, this is probably it.
The Pumpkin Espresso Martini combines fresh espresso, Licor 43, and house-made roasted pumpkin syrup.
Palace predicted this would be one of the stars of the new menu before it even launched, and I understand why.
The important distinction here is that this isn’t simply an espresso martini buried beneath pumpkin spice. The roasted pumpkin syrup makes it seasonal while the espresso and Licor 43 keep it firmly in cocktail territory.
It feels like fall.
It also feels like Miami.
Which is basically the entire point.
Then Palace Put Pumpkin in a Margarita
Because of course they did.
The Harvest Pumpkin Margarita takes reposado and roasted pumpkin, adds Ancho Reyes and finishes everything with a Tajín-cinnamon salt rim.
And I love that Palace didn’t make its two pumpkin cocktails variations of the same drink.
The espresso martini leans into cozy fall flavors. The margarita goes straight back to Miami with tequila, chile and Tajín.
This is pumpkin season with absolutely no intention of putting on a cable-knit sweater.
Burrata, Hot Honey and Pumpkin Walk Into an Arepa…
This might be one of the more unexpected combinations on the menu.
The Pumpkin & Burrata Arepa brings together hot honey, toasted pepitas and crispy sage with pumpkin and burrata.
And this is where I started appreciating what Palace was trying to do with the menu.
Pumpkin isn’t being treated like a flavor that automatically needs cinnamon, sugar and whipped cream. It’s an ingredient.
That was intentional. Palace’s team told us they specifically didn’t want pumpkin to feel forced. They started with dishes and flavors that already made sense for the restaurant and incorporated pumpkin where it could complement them rather than take them over.
That philosophy makes a lot more sense once you’re actually sitting there eating your way through the menu.
And then you remember you’re on Ocean Drive.
In September.
Eating pumpkin and burrata.
Miami is weird. I love it here.
Save Room. Seriously.
Just when you’ve eaten enough pumpkin to reasonably believe you’ve reached your limit, Palace brings out dessert.
And apparently, no, you have not reached your limit.
The Pumpkin Tres Leches Cake layers those fall flavors with mascarpone, dulce de leche and candied pecans.
Then there’s the Pumpkin Coconut Flan, finished with coconut caramel, toasted coconut and candied pepitas.
I particularly like the decision to bring coconut into the flan because this menu works best when it stops trying to imitate fall somewhere else and starts asking what fall should taste like here.
Pumpkin and coconut?
On South Beach?
That makes sense.
This Is What Fall Looks Like in Miami
There is something inherently funny about celebrating fall in South Florida.
Our leaves aren’t changing.
Nobody needs a fireplace.
And if you wear the cute fall outfit you saved on Pinterest in September, you’re probably going to regret it before you make it from the parking garage to the restaurant.
But we still want the season.
That’s exactly what Palace tapped into.
“Miami is full of people who grew up somewhere else,” the Palace team explained, noting that there’s a nostalgia surrounding fall even when South Florida’s weather refuses to participate. The Fall Harvest Menu is their way of bringing some of that feeling to Ocean Drive.
And honestly?
I’ll take brown butter pumpkin gnocchi over sweater weather.
Come for Palace. Stay for the Food.
Palace obviously doesn’t need an introduction when it comes to entertainment. The restaurant has built its identity around the larger-than-life drag experience that has become synonymous with the venue.
But there’s another message behind this menu that Palace clearly wants people to hear:
Pay attention to the food.
The team acknowledges that many guests initially know Palace for its drag and entertainment, but they want the cocktails and dishes to become just as memorable as the show.
After this tasting, I get it.
Because I expected a fun seasonal menu.
I did not expect to leave contemplating how quickly I could reasonably return for another bowl of pumpkin gnocchi.
And yet, here we are.
What You Absolutely Need to Order
If you’re heading to Palace for the Fall Harvest Menu, the Brown Butter Pumpkin Gnocchi is non-negotiable. I don’t give “one of the best things I’ve ever eaten” status lightly.
The Pumpkin Espresso Martini is the obvious cocktail order if you want the full fall experience, while the rest of the menu proves pumpkin deserves considerably more culinary respect than we’ve given it after years of turning it into coffee syrup.
The Fall Harvest Menu launches September 21 at Palace Miami Beach, bringing pumpkin cocktails, savory dishes, and desserts to Ocean Drive.
No sweaters required.
Just please save me some gnocchi.
Truluck’s Strengthens its South Florida Seafood Dynasty with its Three-Crab Flight, Wildly Popular Halibut, Expert Pairings, Tableside Desserts and Atlantic Glamour. (more…)
Applebee’s Piles on Molten Cheese, Crispy Cheeseburger Tacos and Candy-Colored Cocktails While Keeping Value and Community at the Heart of the Neighborhood.
Fangtasia at Regatta Grove Brought Vampire Vibes and Spooky Cocktails to Miami
South Beach Seafood Festival Brings The Boil
BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND: CIRQUE DU SOLEIL’S ECHO TO RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA
-
Restaurants4 weeks ago
Cocktails, Caviar and Waterfront Views: Sweetwaters Opens in Fort Lauderdale
-
Entertainment4 weeks ago
Who Killed Joan Crawford? Camp, Cocktails and Carnage
-
Restaurants4 weeks ago
Anthony’s Turns Up the Heat With Coal-Fired Chicken
-
Events3 weeks ago
The Wharf Fort Lauderdale Is Going Full Halloween, and We Want In!
-
Music4 weeks ago
One Dream, Two Musical Worlds
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
Come From Away Finds Humanity in Heartbreak
-
Restaurants3 weeks ago
JohnMartin’s Halloween Bar Is Back, and We’re Obsessed!
-
Entertainment3 weeks ago
Buena Vista Social Club Refuses to Retire
