Teak Neighborhood Grill serves up the best burger in Orlando

Burgers & Football: A winning match up at Teak

Football games – College Bowl games or NFL – are best enjoyed with a crowd. Actually, all sports are best with a crowd, don’t you think? Nothing brings people together better than sharing ice-cold drinks and messy good food while yelling (cheering) at the TV screen. In Orlando, one of the best places for this kind of fun is Teak Neighborhood Grill. Here you have 30 HDTVs and a 142” Projection Screen to cheer at while getting your fill of over 70 craft beers, great cocktails and the messiest and best burger in Orlando.

As you get ready to watch the biggest football games of the season, I wanted to share some pictures to make you hungry for sharing good food and fun times with friends. You may call it Drooling Inspiration.

25 Signature burgers plus a secret Underground menu make Teak the place to find the best burger in Orlando

Teak Neighborhood Grill is an American Gastropub whose specialty is hand-crafted burgers which is probably why they were voted best burger in Orlando by several publications. On a regular basis, they add new burger creations to the menu, currently at 25, plus they also have an “Underground” Secret Burger Club menu with 17 popular favorites from seasons past. To order you must have the passcode provided for fans on Facebook. That’s 42 different burgers to choose from!

I’ve sampled some of the most popular burgers on the menu and they were all fantastic options I would order again. I must warn you: Don’t be surprised by the crazy ingredients. In some cases, it may seem like overkill, but they really do work well together. Each bite has so much going for it that you may not always be able to pinpoint exactly what you’re eating, you just know it tastes good. Unless you’re doing a “guess the secret ingredient” competition, don’t worry about it. Grab a bunch of napkins and enjoy.

Speaking of competitions, Teak hosts “The Twin Teak Tower Challenge” for those brave souls looking to experience a Man vs Food duel against a massive 2 pounds of Angus Beef, 9 slices each of American, Swiss, Provolone cheese, 24 slices of smoked bacon, 2 fresh fried mozzarella rounds, 4 beer battered onion rings, tomatoes, lettuce, Danny’s beanless chili, cheddar cheese sauce and jalapenos. This, my friends, is no joke. It is $40 or you get it for free if you consume these massive twin burgers in less than 45 minutes.

As you can guess, very few have survived the challenge!

For the rest of us that just want a “normal” sized half pound Angus Beef burger, here are my favorites (so far):

The Bolder Betty ($11) combines provolone cheese, a killer smoked bacon mayo, tomato, avocado slaw, crispy tortilla chips for a nice crunch, on a brioche bun. Loved the guava BBQ touch of sweetness with the smoky bacon.

The Drunken Monk ($12) pairs up Angry Orchard onion jam made in-house, with roasted cherry tomatoes, smoked bacon, herb mayo, provolone cheese, Teak chips (again for a great crunchy texture combination) and melted white cheddar cheese on a pretzel bun.

Western Burger ($11), on the Underground Menu, is a combination of BBQ Sauce, Tomato, amazing thick Onion Rings, jalapenos, mozzarella, white cheddar cheese sauce and crispy tortilla strips on a brioche bun. It is worthy of being called a “Western”.

Idaho Burger ($11), using Teak homemade potato chips for height, is the tallest and most impressive burger I have ever seen. Add American cheese, bacon, ranch, tomato and avocado slaw on a pretzel bun for a perfect American burger with a twist. Potato lovers, this burger is for you!

Burgers are served with a choice from several side dishes including garlic bistro fries, Teak’s potato chips, crowd favorite sweet potato tots and beer battered onion rings.

When our burgers arrived at the table, this was the reaction!

On my list to try next is the Cronie Burger ($12) made with a French cinnamon sugar doughnut croissant combination, maple-pepper bacon, smoked Gouda and an egg. Any cronut fans out there? I hear it is amazing!

Other notable burgers:

^ PB&J Burger is one of the few original burgers still on the current menu due to its popularity. Made with almond and peanut butter, orange marmalade, crispy potato strings and provolone cheese, it sounds crazy enough to be fantastic.

^ On the secret menu, Not Yo Nacho Burger combines two of the most popular sports foods – nachos and burgers – for a winning combination of cheddar cheese, tomatoes, jalapenos, red onion, salsa, sour cream, chili and tortilla chips.

^ Spicy Veronica Burger is the choice for spicy food lovers, combining ghost pepper cheese, pickled jalapenos, Sriracha mayo, crispy potato strings, tomato and spring mix on a brioche bun. I was told it was spicy but not “burn your mouth” spicy. Whatever that means, I’m sure it will set your taste buds on fire.

^ Along Came Danny Burger is the choice for Latin food lovers, including provolone cheese, pulled pork, fried plantain “tostone style”, tomato, cilantro mayo and a mango cilantro drizzle. I don’t know Danny but he can come along anytime!

Combine 42 different burgers made with the freshest ingredients in creative combinations, great side dishes, and friendly service and now you know the reason why Teak Neighborhood Grill has been voted the best burger in Orlando.

Teak’s menu features more than burgers. Popular starters like OMG Chips and the sports bar required Chicken Wings, various salads, flatbreads like the BBQ Chicken Flat which was quite tasty, 11 different sandwiches, entrees and killer desserts. The Ultimate Cronie sent me to Epicurista heaven!

Teak’s relaxed atmosphere lives up to the name of “neighborhood grill”. The staff is attentive and, without pretense, expertly guides you through the extensive menu, recommending the right burger or brew for you. The selection of over 70 craft beers and cocktails changes frequently so check out the staff’s recommendations on the board.

The large, pet friendly, outdoor covered patio is perfect to enjoy the game or just chill on those beautiful Florida days. They also host all day happy hour on Mondays, trivia nights, CBS Sports Radio broadcasts, and live music on a regular basis. Follow their Facebook page for information.

The best football of the season is coming up and Teak will be the best place in Orlando to enjoy it. On New Year’s Day, #2 ranked Oregon Ducks face off for the first time against #3 ranked Florida State Seminoles at the Rose Bowl Game. This Oregon Duck fan will be rooting for the guys in the flashy green uniforms, although I do have a lot of FSU friends so it will be an exciting game to watch either way. Then #1 Alabama will play #4 Ohio State in the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The winners will meet in the 2015 College Football Playoff National Championship on January 12, 2015. We can’t forget about the “Big Game” on Sunday February 1, 2015. Teak was on the GO Epicurista Top 9 Restaurants for Foodies to watch Super Bowl in Orlando so stay tuned for their popular Big Game party details.

Teak Neighborhood Grill serves lunch and dinner daily, 11am-2am. Sunday Brunch featuring a Bloody Mary Bar is served 11am-3pm. Happy hour is available all day on Mondays, and daily from 4p-7pm. Located at 6400 Times Square Avenue, Orlando, FL 32835. 407-313-5111

Are you hungry for a burger now? Which crazy combination sounds good to you? Please share in the comments below and GO to Teak Neighborhood Grill for the best burger in Orlando!

Cheers!

GO Epicurista

Disclosure: Portions of this meal were compliments of Teak Neighborhood Grill for media purposes. No other form of compensation was received. As always all opinions are my own and I only share with you great food experiences worth celebrating.