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Brgr Stop in Coconut Creek

By: Stevette Ballog

When yet another burger joint opens up, a patron must ask: “Should I bother jockeying for a seat?” In the case of the one-month-old Brgr Stop in Coconut Creek, the answer is, “You betcha.”

What makes this place so good? Let’s attack the menu. Divided into shakes, appetizers, soups & salads on one side, and all sorts of fun between a bun on the other, chef and owner Michael Buchinski (of Bella Roma located in the same shopping center) toys with our taste buds by providing multiple opportunities for memorable bites of his take on many of our grade-school favorites.

This hamburger haven may not be a big restaurant per se—but Buchinski’s urban chic “Stop” stands tall amongst its competitors. Some of Brgr Stop’s offerings may make a few of you cock an eyebrow, but I urge you to open your mind and sink your teeth into one of their creative concoctions. The menu reads, “Craft Beer Sold Here,” so brew-hounds and beer geeks like myself can booze away a sunny day with their weekly changing tap selections.

Embracing my favorite season, I started with J. Wakefield’s Gourdita Pumpkin Ale (9 percent alcohol). This perfect fall brew’s sweet/roasted pumpkin flavor cut right through the earthy decadence of the White Truffle Makin Cheese Balls and creamy roasted garlic asiago tomato jam sauce. Just typing that made me want another round. Next, I dug into the Dirty Little Piggy. This horrifyingly delicious eight-inch Kobe beef hotdog is bacon-wrapped and fried, then topped with Black Angus chili and cheddar cheese. Dirty piggy, indeed.

I then ordered Funky Buddha’s Last Snow Coconut Coffee Porter (9 percent alcohol). I followed it with a Captain Crunch Chicken Sammie – a fried Captain Crunch chicken sandwich topped with house-made sweet sriracha, lettuce, tomato, and red onion, the Le Magnifique, a.k.a “The French Onion Brgr” – a gruyere cheeseburger topped with caramelized onions and dijonaise on a brioche bun, and my favorite, the Peanut Butter Jelly Time burger. Brace yourselves; served superbly juicy, this burger is slathered with umami flavor – the 5th taste after sour, sweet, salty, and bitter, courtesy of tomato jam, candied bacon, cheddar cheese, and creamy peanut butter. This hunk of a sandwich is downright sensuous; it reeks of exceptional hangover preemption, and it’s the kind of burger you want to be alone with. I think you get the picture.

Lastly, as if I hadn’t indulged enough, it was time to “Shake it up” with a Lucky Charms Cereal Milkshake and some Fried Peanut Butter Balls. I’ll admit, I could only take a sip and a smidgen of a bite, but boy, was I glad I did. The milkshake instantly made me miss my oldest brother and nephews, who I’ve appropriately nicknamed my “Cereal Killers.” Michael and I laughed as we discussed their shared “talent” of having the ability to easily consume roughly an entire box of cereal in one day or less – or one sitting. Cereal lovers would be in heaven after one sip. Now, about those peanut butter balls…deep fried and nestled in a puddle of Nutella and served with fruit loop milk shots. Need I say more? I ended this calorie-rich journey with a Funky Buddha Sweet Potato Casserole Strong Ale (7.9 percent alcohol) and a promise to revisit.

Burgers are ingrained in American history, and with a plethora of varieties in town; you’ve got to do something special to drive hungry patrons in. Michael Buchinski’s diehard passion, combined with many years of experience, has driven him to do just that. I may have left feeling too big for my jeans, but this girl’s insatiable palate is ready for seconds.

Brgr Stop is where the vibe, crowd, craft beer, and wildly whimsical space explain, just as much as the menu, why it’s packed every night. This beloved foodie find is sure to be one of South Florida’s worst-kept secreSouthh, and if you’re on a diet, go there anyway. You’ll thank me later…just don’t tell your doctor.

I hope I’ve tempted you to meander and check it out yourself. Be sure to let them know Fork Notes and Coral Springs Talk sent you and comment below to let me know what you think.