Cheeseburger Anyone

A Cheeseburger Tour of Gainesville

When I first moved to Gainesville, I had no idea where to go when I got a cheeseburger craving.  Since I like to indulge in said craving at least two to three times a month I set about finding the best cheeseburger in Gainesville.  I should also add that just like pizza there are all kinds of different burgers depending on what mood you are in.  Sometimes you want something really quick and sometimes you want your burger to be really thick.  Here’s my ‘Cheeseburger Tour of Gainesville’ to get you acquainted with where and what kind of burger scene you’ll find in the Swamp.

The Copper Monkey: Located just across the university Avenue from UF’s campus, this laid back restaurant offers great cheeseburgers, Swamp Head Beer on draft and some of my favorite French fries in town; seriously I could come here for lunch and just eat fries and be happy.  That being said their burger is fantastic, and I prefer mine with American cheese.  They also have a build your own burger night for $3 on Monday nights.

Sandwich Inn: Open for 50 years in Gainesville, this small drive-thru burger joint is always quick and tasty and offers a huge value for your burger cravings.  You’ll find lunch for less than $6 a person and it’s made to order, so it’s always fresh and hot. They also have delicious old-school milkshakes and ice cream.  This place definitely has a nostalgic feel, in the very best way possible.

Sweet Mel’s: Downtown Gainesville is home to several different restaurants with yummy burgers on the menu.  I tried Sweet Mel’s after a coworker recommended their burgers.  They offer several different choices for burgers like your traditional cheeseburger and a mushroom swiss that was also really good. The burgers are definitely on the ‘thicker’ side and the fries were quite meaty.  Bonus points for the Deep Fried Oreos that were on the dessert menu.  This certainly wasn’t the healthiest lunch but since we were able to each have our own fried Oreo, it was worth it!

Mac’s Drive Thru:  Mac’s has been a Gainesville favorite for a while, which is easy to see when you pull into the line at lunch and notice that everyone else on the East side of town is also in line with you waiting for their burger and fries.  The cheeseburger here is right on par with the Sandwich Inn although the line moves just a little slower.  Also, you’ve got to stop by on your lunch break since they aren’t open on weekends to get your burger fix.

 

The Swamp: Also located across the street from UF’s campus in the ‘Midtown’ area is The Swamp.  This restaurant is a favorite of folks before and after Gator games and especially when the weather is nice since their patio is a great spot to enjoy a meal outdoors.  This isn’t my favorite burger in town, but it was pretty good and if you’re a Gator fan you’ll love the atmosphere and decorations.  And you can’t beat enjoying a burger and a cold beer outside on a beautiful day.