Looking forward to my departure of the transit strike riddled winter of the north east, the holiday trip down to Florida this year had a nice bonus feature... picked as the #1 burger in the nation by the GQ guy... Hollywood Florida's Let Tub.
I began my inquiry of this place by reading what the web had to offer. I mean, who is this GQ guy, and does he know what he's talking about. The reviews were coming in as a mixed bag, love it or hate it kinda of stuff... made me think about peoples reactions to one of my favorite nYc places, Corner Bistro. "Best Burger Ever, Great Scenery, Very Unique" said one Miami City Searcher. "Avoid Le Tub At all Costs" said another. This kind of extreme best/worst stuff seemed to be all over the place, from AOL to Zagat... what was going on?
Well, it didn't matter what the www was saying, I was blessed with a great Chanukah present this year - vacationing with some BC fans 15 miles south of Hollywood Fl... I was going whether the world loved or hated Le Tub.
The four of us decided to make Let Tub an early dinner, not wanting to risk burger bloat too early in the day, and not wanting to sit outside after dark (it was a bit chilly for Fl.). Located off the Intercostal, the idea of drinking a brew and eating a burger while watching the sunset next to the water sound fantaburrific. We arrived at our destination around 4:45 and got lucky finding a parking spot, and equally lucky a table outside that was just being vacated... the crowds at Le Tub have been non-stop since Mr. GQ did his thing, and today being a holiday (day after x-mas) didn't help the cause any.
Once you enter Le Tub's space, you're greeted by tubs and toilets strewn about serving as signs and planters. The entrance from the parking lot puts you on the wooden deck which is similarly decorated and also has a mixed bag of clientele... from the boozing bike gang to the baby wrangling family. Our picnic style table was a great place to take it all in.
Placing our order was just like some of the online reviews... "the burgers are going to be at least an hour." our waitress informed us. Understandable, as she explained the demand, and also the fact that the chef has been working the small grill all day "20 on 20 off". This didn't bother us, we placed our burger orders, drinks, and some steamed shrimp and a smoked fish salad to hold us over. The starters were great, "the best steamed shrimp" MamaBurger chimed in. And in combination with the margarita and sunset, the wait wasn't a factor at all... heck, I've waited just as long for a burger in nYc and I didn't have this view to keep me company.
By the time our 8-oz Sirloin burgers arrived, the sun had begun its' descent into the horizon. The chill in the air caused us to move to the fishnet/eclectic interior of Le Tub, we were able to grab a booth next to the bar. Not a moment too soon, as the evening crowds and night air had the bar area more crowded than the outdoor deck when we first arrived.
Onto the burgers. Right off the bat, you notice it's dark color, a flame kissed product of a hot grill. The burger is served with a plastic knife sticking straight into the patty... perhaps this is how they determine which burger is medium rare? The bun is poppy seed, lettuce is green leaf, raw white onion, and sliced american cheese (barely melted). Our burgers were all cooked to desired doneness.
Like the initial dark appearance, the first taste is flame grilled. All the smoke that comes off and fills the tiny cooking area is also a big factor. The quality of the meat was good stuff, loose ground, and for an 8-oz burger surprisingly not too filling. Could have been a bit more juicy, but by no means a dry burger. This dude had all the qualities of backyard BBQ burger. For me, flame grilled and simple seasoning are always a big plus, but I was almost overwhelmed by the char and saltiness of this sirloin burger... almost being I still enjoyed it very much, but can't say it was perfect. I will however happily give it an A grade although an A- and return when back in Florida.
