Who's serving up the best burgers in Gainesville? Here are 8 favorites
Editor's note: This story originally was published in 2023. It has been revised and updated.
From sit-down restaurants and food trucks to drive-thrus and decades-old landmarks, Gainesville and the rest of Alachua County are home to some of the most delicious burger joints.
But to try them all would a massive − and unhealthy − undertaking.
In honor of National Burger Month — yes, it exists — here are eight local favorites from places that either specialize in burgers or offer a variety of options:
Mac’s Drive-Thru
129 NW 10th Ave., Gainesville; 352-378-9842, macs-drive-thru.com
A Gainesville staple since 1987, Mac’s serves up a relatively simple menu with made-to-order burgers and other handhelds, including a hot ham and cheese, chicken and fish. The fast food-style burger, however, is the star. It’s not uncommon to see the line at Mac’s extending out onto the street, disrupting traffic in both directions. Place your order in one of two lines through their signature orange speakers. The burgers are small, so I suggest a double cheeseburger topped Mac’s Way, which comes with lettuce, tomato, onion and mayo.
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Loosey’s Downtown
120 SW First Ave., Gainesville; 352-672-6465; looseys.com
Loosey’s classic beef burger is made with beef from Florida cattle ranchers and served on a toasted challah bun. A house-made veggie burger and the Impossible burger also are available. The burgers are served all the way, with lettuce, tomato, sweet onion, pickle, a homemade burger sauce and your choice of cheese. For an extra burst of flavor, top your burger with grilled onions, roasted mushrooms, charred jalapeños, bacon or a fried egg. No burger at Loosey’s would be complete without a side of truffle cheese fries.
The Top Restaurant
30 N. Main St., Gainesville; 352-337-1188; thetophub.com
The Top, which opened in 2000, offers a variety of delicious burger options made with your choice of a half-pound Black Angus patty, a third-pound local grass-fed patty, a house-made black bean patty or a Beyond Meat patty. Try the Love & Rockets, which comes topped with arugula, roasted garlic, roasted red peppers, bacon and goat cheese; or the Mastodon, which comes with barbecue sauce, bacon, fried onions, aged white cheddar, lettuce, tomato and pickles. Extras include jalapeños, sautéed mushrooms and guacamole. The restaurant was recently awarded the Mark Morchel Lifetime "Acheesement" Award by the Gainesville Burger Club.
Dick Mondell’s Burgers & Fries
412 SW Fourth Ave., Gainesville; dickmondells.com
Originally started as a school project in late 2018, Dick Mondell’s is a 1960s-style walk-up spot and drive-thru that sells hot-off-the-grill beef, plant-based and veggie burgers. People can't seem to help but smile when ordering "The Original Big Dick" — a double patty — or a "Dick Jr." The names are meant to poke fun at other fast-food burgers at McDonald’s (The Big Mac) and Burger King (The Whopper Jr.) The drive-thru line here also can extend into the street, but, as they say, good things come to those who wait.
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That Bar and Table
2725 SW 91st St., Gainesville; 352-331-6620; thatbarandtable.com
You’ll find no signature burgers at this popular spot in the Haile Market Square. Instead, you’ll build your own burger by first selecting from a half-pound all-beef patty, a quarter-pound Impossible burger or a house-made veggie patty. Then choose from traditional toppings such as lettuce and tomato, or get creative with bleu cheese crumbles, bacon, avocado and caramelized onions. Finish it off with a variety of sauces, including a garlic aioli, chipotle mayo, honey mustard or sweet barbecue.
Relish Big Tasty Burgers
1702 W. University Ave., Gainesville, 352-692-4400; 201 SE Second St. #106, 352-554-5443; 3822 W. Newberry Road, Suite D, 352-872-5880; 3841 SW Archer Road, 352-872-5785; relishusa.com
With four locations around town, Gainesville residents won’t have to venture far to get their hands on a juicy Relish burger. Stack the quarter-pound Angus beef patties as high as you’d like, or choose from a turkey or veggie burger. Beyond the traditional toppings, Relish has plenty of unique offerings, including pineapple, pico de gallo, peanut butter and strawberry jam. Allow the cheese — your choice of American or Swiss — extra time to melt before unwrapping your order.
Bev's Better Burgers
15010 N. Main St., Alachua, 386-462-2670; 639 NE Santa Fe Blvd., High Springs, 386-454-3131; 18732 NW US Highway 441, High Springs, 386-454-9493, bevsburgercafe.com
Bev's has been serving up burgers from its drive-thru locations in Alachua and High Springs since 1984. The handmade 5-ounce patties are cooked to order and can be ordered as singles or doubles. Specialty burgers include the Chili Cheeseburger, a Mushroom Burger, an Onion Ring Burger and a Bacon, Egg Cheeseburger. These delicious and juicy burgers also can be had at Bev's Burger Cafe, a more traditional restaurant that opened in 2004. Another location is coming soon to Newberry near Oak View Middle School.
DJ’s Cast Iron Burgers
1542 W. University Avenue; 352-258-7280; toasttab.com/djscastironburgers
This popular food truck can typically be found in the vacant lot across from UF's Library West, although its best to check Facebook before making the drive over. The burger patties are extremely thin (DJ'S recommends ordering a double) and, as its name suggests, are cooked on cast iron planks, which makes for a great outer crust and a juicy inside. Among DJ's most popular items is the Oklahoma Onion Burger, which includes a double patty, charred onions, DJ's sauce and bread and butter pickles. Don't let the truck's location stop you from visiting. Customers can park for free for up to 45 minutes.
This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: The best burgers in Gainesville Florida for 2023
