Restaurant Review: The Burg Bar and Grill Has Delicious Options for Meat Lovers and the Vegetarian Crowd

Restaurants that end in “bar and grill” are typically wings-and-fries places that cater to the beer-on-tap crowd.

These places are not really destinations for health-conscious foodies.

Sometimes it’s quite all right to give into that little dietary devil on your shoulder and let loose.  But, what if you had a choice, an equally delicious choice, between heart-attack-on-a-plate meals and ones tha keep you light on the toes? 

Downtown St. Petersburg’s got it now with the Burg Bar and Grill.

The Burg Bar menu is split between classic bar staples (burgers, wings, fries) and Greek mainstays (gyros, souvlaki, spinach pie), with a healthy twist.

The menu is not as schizophrenic as one might imagine. The burgers and Greek-influenced vegetarian options are equally good. There are delicious options whichever way you go.

On the grill side, the hand-cut fries were cooked to perfection, skin still on, golden and flaky; they’re what any thick-cut cut fry love should adore in a basket of fries. 

The Burg Bar takes it a step further and adds a sprinkle of feta cheese to each batch giving them a extra dimension of creamy saltiness that’s surprisingly addicting.

The burgers are big slabs of ground, Angus beef cooked to perfection; slightly crispy on the outside with a suitable amount of juiciness in the middle. 

The coup-de-grace of the burger selection is The Burg Bar’s double grilled cheese bacon burger; a big burger patty nestled between two grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches acting as the buns.

It’s heavy, it’s gluttonous, and it’s completely wrong, but man it’s tasty. 

The buns, or sandwiches, could’ve used a few more minutes on the grill, but, other than that, this thing is pure heaven in the worst way possible - a melange of soul-comforting flavors – beef, bacon, cheese – blending to create something no self-respecting human being should eat more than once every few months.

As unhealthy (but delicious!) as the Burg Bar and Grill can be, it was pleasantly surprising to see an adequate selection of health-minded and vegetarian options on the menu. 

Gyro and souvlaki platters can be made “all veggie” with a generous portion of mixed, grilled vegetables in place of the meat and are equally delicious.  The homemade tzatziki is absurdly delicious and great for dipping.  Boca burgers are also available as a substitute for any of the all-meat burgers.

The “bar” part of the Burg’s “bar and grill” is also quite impressive.  A line of about 12 taps line the countertop with a good part devoted to delicious, American craft beers like Dogfish Head 60 minute IPA and Magic Hat #9.  The wine selection looked quite hefty and even more bottled beers were available as well.

Overall, the Burg Bar and Grill is a suitable addition to downtown’s slew of other bar and grill-minded eateries.   It’s obvious the restauant takes pride in the food beyond the point of just treating it as after-drink munchies. Consideration for the health-conscious and vegetarian is admirable. 

Here’s to a delicious future, guys.

The Burg Bar and Grill is located at 1752 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg.  For more information visit www.theburgbar.com.