After more than a decade of devouring some of the country’s best burgers, local food blogger Sef Gonzalez aka Burger Beast, is putting his knowledge and tastebuds to good use with his own burger outpost called My-T-Fine Burgers Restaurant, slated to debut this August in Westchester.
The star of the menu will be the namesake burger, the My-T-Fine Burger, a double smash cheeseburger topped with onions, pickles, and a guava siracha ketchup. Gonzalez tells Eater Miami that he’s been testing the burger and refining it for more than a year, doing pop-ups around town and at his own museum in order to perfect the recipe. Also on the opening menu guests can expect french fries and onion rings topped with a “secret” seasoning, along with a deep fried apple pie turnover — his nod to the McDonald’s classic — and a “Westechester Famous” flan milkshake.
The new restaurant will be housed inside the Mojo Donuts (8870 Bird Road, Suite #13) space, alongside the popular doughnut outpost — but having its own distinct side, ordering area, decor and seating.
As for why he’s deciding to open a restaurant now, after making a name for himself in the South Florida food world for the past 11 years?
“From day one everyone assumed Burger Beast was a restaurant,” Gonzalez said. “And I got tired of people asking me ‘when are you finally going to do it?’”
He does add that he no longer will review burger spots on his blog — keeping the focus now on classic comfort food outposts and their history — and will no longer host his annual Hamburger House Party event in order to avoid conflict of interest, but his other popular event Croquetapalooza will stick around.
Once the restaurant is up and running expect the menu to expand with items like the Miami classic frita, a “Beast-Loaf” sandwich, and a take on the sloppy joe called the “Loose-Beast.” The restaurant is slated to debut in mid-August, but those wanting an early taste can head to the Burger Beast Museum every Sunday in July from noon to 5 p.m. for a preview.