A Burger A Week – Meliora
This is NOT your typical burger stop! 🍔
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It’s A Burger For The Teacher Day here at A Burger A Week! 🍔🏫
The first couple of weeks of the 2023-24 Sarasota school year are now in the books. So, it seems like the perfect time for a bit of teacher appreciation. And what better way to say, “Great Job!” than treating a teacher to a delicious burger?
Teaching can be challenging. Herding cats can also be challenging. But there isn’t much call for cat herders in SW Florida. There is, on the other hand, a need for teachers. 😸
Anna Denton teaches IB English at Riverview High School (yes, she’s also a part-time cat herder!). The IB program at Riverview is well-established and well-regarded. The teachers and program leadership are a primary reason for its success over the years. They all work pretty hard over there to keep that reputation going. She deserves a burger!
When I was young, I never considered that teaching was one of those occupations requiring you to get up before the sun to do your job. I absolutely remember standing at that Chicago bus stop in the dark of a chilly winter morning, waiting seemingly forever for the bus. Back then, it just didn’t occur to me that the teachers had to be up too! Guess I had other things on my mind. 🤷
Our teacher appreciation outing is taking us to a Sarasota restaurant that is certainly known more for its creative and expertly prepared cuisine than for its burgers. As a matter of fact, you won’t even find a burger on the menu here. It’s on the ⭐ SECRET MENU ⭐. (Did I say that quietly enough? 😁)
Not only is this burger on a menu that technically doesn’t exist, but it’s only available in part of the restaurant, and they make just ten patties daily! It’s a very unique situation, to say the least.
Here’s the only place where you can order and enjoy this delicious under-the-radar burger.
A lot of you may know where this is. If not, this will clear things up.
That is correct. Meliora is our unlikely burger stop this week! 🍔
Back in 2022, when they first flung open their doors to an excited Sarasota dining community, we wrote a First Look piece about them. You can read that HERE if you have any interest in stepping back in time for a minute or two.
📝 There are rules when it comes to this burger. As we mentioned above, you can ONLY order it at the bar. They make only ten patties per day. When they’re sold, they’re sold. And lastly, it comes “as is”. Substitutions are not permitted. That means you’ll need to personally pick off any toppings that you just can’t deal with OR eat it and enjoy it the way it was intended! Anna is strictly a “no cheese, please” girl when it comes to her burgers. But she loved the white American that came on this burger! 😀
Let’s talk about our Meliora burger experience…
RESTAURANT: MELIORA (1920 Hillview St. (941- 444-7692)
DATE OF VISIT: AUGUST 16, 2023
STOP #: 39 OF 52
BURGER TASTED: THE SECRET SMASH (My name, not theirs 😀)
📒 OUR TASTING NOTES
🍔 This burger is NOT listed on the menu!: In-house beef blend patty, yogurt and garlic sauce, hot and sweet pepper relish, pickled green tomato, white American cheese, and house-made potato brioche bun. ($18.00)
• If you want to know any details about this burger, you’ll have to ask your friendly Meliora bartender. There are no details anywhere. Our bartender, Alex, gave us the info on how this all goes down.
• It’s a 5oz special blend burger patty. It’s smash burger style (my preferred burger type). The edges of this burger were perfectly brown and crispy!
• You get a nice hit of peppery flavor in that first bite! Anna thought the pickled green tomato and the yogurt and garlic sauce combined for some terrific taste!
• Fantastic buttery brioche bun. The bun was nicely toasted all the way to the slightly browned edges. It’s an excellent burger carrier.
• Anna thought it was one of the “best sandwiches she’s ever tasted!” That’s BIG right there! 😀
• The bar is a great place to make a new friend or two. Anna and I did just that. Thanks, Steve and Silvia, for the interesting bar talk! 🗣️
• This is usually the place in these articles where I love to rave on about the fries. Not today. Sadly, fries are not an option with the secret menu burger (maybe they can work on some secret fries!). 🍟🚫
🥬 We did have this yummy Cabbage Salad as a side. Not fries, but still a nice option.
Let’s check out how all of this looked when we ordered it…
It was after regular working hours, so yes, we had adult beverages to complement our burgers!
BURGER TAKEAWAYS: At $18, this is certainly not a bargain burger. But it is a great splurge burger • Get there early if you want a seat and any chance for a burger (** no reservations at the bar **) • It’s Meliora, so you know you’re going to be well taken care of • Order a dessert. It makes a super delicious burger chaser! 🍨
👀 SNEAK PEEK: We’re off to St. Armands for another upscale burger. This place has been part of the Sarasota dining landscape since 1973 (50 years!). Burger IS NOT the first thing that pops into your head when you think of this spot.
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🗓️ SARASOTA FOOD EVENTS 🗓️
Here are some upcoming local food events that we think you might find interesting. All you need to do is make that reservation. We’ve provided you with a link to more info.
⭐⭐ If you have an event, we’d like to help you spread the word. Let us know! (EMAIL IT)
📖 BUY A COPY OF OUR 2023 SARASOTA DINING BOOK! – ORDER HERE 📖
🍷 LIBBY’S NEIGHBORHOOD WINE CLUB – DETAILS
⭐ EAT LOCAL WEEK!! 🍊🍈– INFORMATION
WEEKLY POP-UP KITCHEN EVENTS – 99 Bottles Taproom & Bottle Shop
Yes, things are looking a little thin on the event front. It is summer. Hopefully, the calendar will fill up soon! 🤞
AUG 24 – South France Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris
AUG 29 – Wine Pairing Dinner – Amore Restaurant
AUG 30 – Wines Around the World, Italy – GROVE Restaurant
AUG 31 – A Journey of Flavors Wine Dinner – Tzeva
SEPT 8 – Caymus & Truffle Wine Dinner – Café Gabbiano
SEPT 22 – St. Supéry Wine Dinner – Pier 22
SEPT- 23 – Sarasota Opera Food & Wine Festival 2023 – INFORMATION
SEPT 28 – Loire Valley Wine Tasting – Mademoiselle Paris (UTC)
OCT 12 TO 14 – EAT LOCAL WEEK! – Transition Sarasota
OCT 15 – Morton’s 23rd Annual Chili Cook Off – INFORMATION
OCT 17 – 2024 Forks & Corks Grand Tasting Ticket ON SALE DATE!
NOV 2 – Celebrity Chef Dinner – Pop’s Sunset Grill
🧑🌾 FARMER’S MARKET INFO 🌾
EVERY SUNDAY – Siesta Key Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – Farmer’s Market at Lakewood Ranch – DETAILS
EVERY SUNDAY – The Meadows Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY WEDNESDAY – The Phillippi Farmhouse Market (Oct-Apr) – DETAILS
THIRD THURSDAY NIGHT – RADD Night Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Sarasota Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Downtown Bradenton Public Market – DETAILS
EVERY SATURDAY – Venice Farmer’s Market – DETAILS
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