Go to Shula's for Great Burgers, Happy Hour

What is the first thing my husband wants to do after getting off of a 10-day cleanse/ fast? Eat a hamburger, of course. But not just any burger. A lot of thought and planning went into where we could get the best burger in Orlando. Teak Neighborhood Grill was on the top of our list, and we have also been wanting to try Beth's Burger Bar. Still, we have always had great burgers at Shula's 347 Grill in Lake Mary and, since it is closer to us, the restaurant won out.

As usual, my husband's Shula Burger, which is made with 100% Angus beef, was cooked perfectly. At $11, we think it's a pretty good value, too. It was such a decadent treat after several days of no meat! And we love the fries. Meanwhile, I took advantage of the Happy Hour appetizer specials - filling enough for dinner and a value at $3.47 each. The Boiled Shrimp app is tasty but I like the mussels app even more. The wine, garlic and tomato broth is yummy.

Cocktails - including some of Shula's signature martinis - are also a great value during Happy Hour (Monday - Friday, 4-7 p.m.) at $3.47 each. However, the regular cocktail, wine and beer prices at the restaurant are out-of-control. $14 for an Old-Fashioned in a small tumbler glass? Sheesh! Go during happy hour, if you want to enjoy a drink. We love all the desserts at Shula's 347 Grill, but we were sad to see the Apple Cobbler go. That was a perfect dessert.

Outstanding Burgers, Atmosphere at Jimmy Buffett's Margaritaville

Photo by Mike Blank, www.jumpingborders.com

By Guest Blogger Mike Blank, 
JumpingBorders.com 

We recently visited Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville for National Hamburger Month, and had such a wonderful experience that we will return many times. It was not only the delicious hamburgers, apps, and desserts that impressed us, but also the atmosphere and attitude of the servers that made for such a special night. 

This was not like any other restaurant visit. We sat on the newly expanded porch on a breezy Central Florida evening, listening to very talented musicians as we sampled Margaritaville's delicious margaritas. Chef Daryl brought us the "Drunken" Shrimp Skillet appetizer, which is sauteed with Tequila Key Lime butter and is served with a delicious baguette. It is unlike any shrimp appetizer I have tasted!

Photo by Mike Blank, www.jumpingborders.com

Of course, we had to try Margaritaville's renowned hamburgers. One of our dining companions loved the Bayou Burger, and everyone agreed that the Baja Burger is one of Margaritaville's best burgers, because of the addition of the fresh avocado and Pico de galo. A nice addition to the burgers was the choice of regular French Fries or Sweet Potato Fries, which were delicious.

Even though we were stuffed, we made room to taste some of the restaurant's many great, unique desserts. All are great, but we really loved the Carrot Cake dessert and the Chocolate Hurricane, which is vanilla ice cream with brownies, candy bars, shortbread cookies, bananas, and nuts. It is the perfect sundae!

The attention to detail and attitude of the servers also makes for an unforgettable dining experience. We definitely recommend this spot to family and friends. Don't forget: parking is free at Universal Orlando Citywalk after 7 pm!

Burgers of All Types & Old-Fashioned Shakes

Photo by Shad Bookout

I couldn't wait to try out the Burger 21 that just opened near UCF in Orlando, Fla. I had been seeing tantalizing pictures of its delicious burgers and shakes on Facebook for two weeks before I had to chance to go in. Plus, there is another Burger 21 by the Mall of Millenia, but I haven't tried it yet.

When I walked in the new restaurant on a busy Friday night, I noticed the fun, modern decor. The decor is such a contrast to the type of desserts offered: old-school milkshakes, sundaes and floats. In fact, that is one of my favorite parts of the restaurant: the bar area where you can watch your milkshake or sundae being made. This ice cream bar has modern twist, though: you can also order beer and wine.

I was also blown away by the 21 different burger choices on the menu. We are not just talking beef. There are seafood, veggie, chicken, and turkey burgers. How refreshing! I almost never see these options on burger restaurants' menus. Plus, there is a gluten-free menu: you can order several hamburgers with gluten-free buns, which is also unheard of.

Photo by Shad Bookout

We ordered The Bacon Cheesy and The Mediterranean, a grilled chicken burger with Panko bread crumbs, feta spread, carmelized onions and roasted red peppers. I was pleasantly surprised that the chicken burger was so moist and flavorful. And all the toppings worked together so well. The Bacon Cheesy is a beef burger with applewood-smoked bacon, red onions, and cheese.  This is a better burger than Five Guys, but is certainly not the best we have had. For the price ($7.49), I think it's great!

We also ordered the Black & Bleu burger form the gluten-free menu. I was surprised that a gluten-free bun could have such great texture and flavor. The French Fries and the Sweet Potato Fries were okay. They came out cold and they were normal shoe-string fries. 

Dessert is pretty much the star of the show. We tried the shake flavor of the month: Apple Crumble. While it is a little too sweet, it tastes exactly like apple cobbler or apple pie. What a treat! The prices are so reasonable here: $5-$7 for 4.5-ounce burgers and $6-$8 on average for 6-ounce burgers. 

To celebrate the opening of the UCF Burger 21, Flavorful Excursions is giving one of our lucky readers a $25 gift card. Simply tell us your favorite burger topping in the comments section below or on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ flavorfulexcursions) and you will be entered to win! Deadline: March 28 at midnight.

Where: 11551 University Blvd., Orlando