Shireen's Favorite Things

Friday night at the hottest new place on Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale for some Burgers + Booze.

I showed up at “B Square Burgers + Booze” late on a Friday night; per usual, Miami traffic had gotten the best of me, but as I made my way down Las Olas Boulevard in Fort Lauderdale, the warmly lit “ready for the holidays” avenue eased my nerves and my stress started to dissipate.

My first glimpse of the place was from the car window. Really, I couldn’t miss it because of the sea of people surrounding the restaurant. The bustling bar easily overflowed onto the front patio and wrapped its way around the west side of the building.

As I made my way through the crowd, everyone seemed to be in good spirits; it was the beginning of the weekend, after all. BSQ’d (for short) isn’t just a gourmet burger bar, it also prides itself on serving contemporary American Cuisine, which means eating healthy or sophisticated is just as easy as devouring the decadent.

The decor is a mix of “industrial chic meets modern sensibility” and its laid-back vibe is paired with positive energy. I especially liked some of their catchy sayings written on one of their mirrored walls: “B-Original,” “B-Positive,” “B-Humble” and “B-Inspired” (just to name a few.)

After sitting down in a big, comfy booth, I started Spotlight with the Vegas Martini and Cucumber Gimlet. Holy poor, Batman! Both drinks were strong and tasty. The Vegas (made with Ciroc Peach Vodka, Beet & Ginger infused simple syrup and fresh lemon juice,) reminded me of the kind of cocktail Cookie Lyon would drink from the hit FOX-TV show, “Empire.”

(Camera fades into a shot of music mogul, Cookie Lyon, wearing a Roberto Cavalli suit, sitting at her gold-adorned, Donald Trump-like desk, elegantly sipping on her “Vegas Martini” while signing a multi-million dollar recording deal. The rich, red color of the drink matches her burgundy lips, which happened to be slathered in the latest YSL must-have lip color. After a gentle sip, she smiles coyly and slowly licks the drink’s sugary rim, knowing she’s about to make music history. Fade to black.)

The Cucumber Gimlet, on the other hand, is more like, say, something a jaded entertainment reporter would drink. While she loves her job, she constantly has to “work it like the rent is due” to keep up with the burning demands of her career. At the end of a long day, she doesn’t take the easy way out (a glass of Chardonnay,) she opts for a “Cucumber Gimlet” (made with Nolet’s Gin, simple syrup, fresh lime juice and cucumber.) Because even though it’s strong enough for a man, it’s made for a woman, too.

After a bit of daydreaming — okay a lot — two appetizers arrived: Szechuan-Style Shrimp & Calamari and Tommy’s Turkey Meatballs. Both plates were food-generous and I’m pretty sure the secret is in the sauce. The marinara on the meatballs was excellent and the Szechuan sauce was good enough to drink.

For my main course, I decided to go for a burger (when in Rome.) You can either fill out a nifty, make-it your-own-way burger sheet, or go for one of the many amazing suggestions on the menu. Since I’m a ranch girl from New Mexico, I went with the “Tex-Mex” (made with roasted poblano peppers, bacon, pepper jack cheese and green chili sauce.)

Instead of being traditional, I went with a side of sweet potato fries. They definitely nailed the green chili taste and the fries were ridiculously good. I can’t wait to go back and try more burgers! The menu features a creative variety: Nacho Mama, Ahi Tuna, McDuck, I Don’t Eat Meat and Short Rib, to name a few.

For dessert, it was double the pleasure with “Johnnie’s Apple Tart” served with vanilla gelato and my absolute favorite thing of the night, the “Strawberry Shortcake Matcha Boozy Shake.” The ingredients are a restaurant secret, but it tasted like I was actually drinking a strawberry shortcake spiked with vodka! For the record, I couldn’t really taste the alcohol, but the bartender assured me it was in there. If you’re not a drinker, you can get a virgin shake, too.

From the lively atmosphere, creative cocktails and mouth-watering burgers, B Square Burgers + Booze is one of my new favorite hang-out’s. I’ll meet you there, say, Friday night? Cheers!

1021 E. Las Olas Blvd, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301

Monday – Sunday 11:30am – 12am. Happy Hour is Monday – Friday 4pm – 7pm. Weekend Bruch is 10am – 3pm.

www.bsquareburger.com
IG: @bsquareburgers
Twitter: @BSquareBurgers
FB: B Square Burgers + Booze