Charm City Burger Co. offers a mouth-watering array of burgers, fries and more. Photo provided
By Jan Norris
Boca Raton finally gets charmed — by an award-winning burger spot.
Charm City Burger Co. owners Michael Saperstein and Evan David opened the first outpost of their popular Deerfield Beach burger spot in downtown Boca Raton.
It was announced as “coming soon” more than two years ago, but finally came to fruition in January — at 201 NW First Ave., the former Baja Cantina space.
“The building was in rough condition,” Saperstein said. “It took us a while to build out. After we were granted a new lease in Deerfield, there wasn’t the urgency to move, so we took our time to do it right.”
They’ve expanded space-wise and with a larger menu at the new restaurant, Saperstein said.
“It’s bigger, a little bit more modern. A lot of same bright colors, same woods, diamond plate decor.”
It’s a from-scratch kitchen, with most items cooked once the diner orders at the counter.
“With a bigger kitchen, we can do more dishes and serve a few different items,” he said.
Those include gluten-free, hand-breaded chicken tenders served in a variety of sauces; an updated “double-smash” veggie burger, seared in yellow mustard, served with dairy-free American cheese, grilled onions and pickles; a “super deluxe” grilled cheese with a four-cheese blend, candied bacon, roasted garlic confit, and a spicy tomato-bacon jam.
Saperstein said the fries and the new Southern fried sweet onion “bloomer” are offered cooked in beef tallow, which he says is healthier than frying in processed seed oils. Vegetarians can ask for all fried foods to be cooked in sunflower oil instead.
New snacks include grilled corn ribs with a barbecue spice and served with an Alabama white barbecue sauce that’s vegan and gluten-free.
Flash-fried potato chips are cooked to order, dusted with spices or flavors of the diner’s choice. Gluten-free brownie pudding and a “half-baked” chocolate chip-peanut butter cookie, both served with ice cream, are new desserts.
Burgers remain the signature item, described on the restaurant webpage as “five-star chef-designed burgers at a quick service price.”
Saperstein said the price will hold at $12 for the basic burger, dressed with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle and Charm sauce. American cheese (optional) is free, too. Diners get a choice of buns: artisan-baked sesame, whole wheat oat, or sliced brioche. The last is a $1 upcharge. “Prices are all over the place. But we aren’t raising our burgers — nope,” Saperstein said
The meat is a proprietary blend, a one-third-pound patty ground daily at Sunshine Provisions, a USDA facility in Hallandale. Saperstein and David own that company.
No new alcohol drinks will be offered, Saperstein said.
“We’re toying with the idea of working with a brewery to make a special beer just for us. But we are keeping it the exact same — beer only. We’re family oriented.”
As for other expansion plans, “We’re just now open here, but it’s a possibility now with the new model.”
He said he’s more worried about the new downtown development that is proposed to go up all around his building. “We’re a little worried about that — delays in road openings, when they’d be finished, and so on.”
But he already has new clients and hopes for many more. “Some people were afraid to come here to this area,” Saperstein said, calling it a “dive.” But he hopes the new restaurant and cleanup attracts burger lovers and families.
Charm City Burger Co., 201 NW First Ave., Boca Raton. 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Boca Bacchanal
The big wine event of the season, Boca Bacchanal, returns for its 23rd season in April, with a kickoff event at Saks Fifth Avenue in Town Center at 6 p.m. Feb. 26.
Wine samples and gourmet bites will be on the menu.
The event is also the big reveal for the vintner dinners, where chefs and wineries are paired to a host home. Tickets to these dinners, which sell out quickly, go on sale then.
The dinners are April 9 and 10 at various homes in the area.
The Grand Tasting, featuring champagnes, other wines and beers, as well as gourmet food samples from area chefs, is at the Addison in Boca Raton, scheduled for April 12.
The event is hosted by and benefits the Boca Raton Historical Society/The Schmidt Boca Raton History Museum.
Tickets for the kickoff event are $75 at bocahistory.org/boca-bacchanal, the same place you can buy Bacchanal tickets once they are released.
Valentine’s Day benefit
For an interactive dinner to celebrate Valentine’s Day, take part in “Love in the Kitchen” at the Feeding South Florida food bank in Boynton Beach.
Chefs Chrissy Benoit and Susan Taves will host a cooking class and wine tasting with desserts, raffles and live entertainment from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 7, a week before the holiday. Cost is $150 for individuals, $275 per couple at secure.qgiv.com/event/fy26_loveinthekitchen, with money going to support hunger relief.
Jan Norris is a food writer who can be reached at nativefla@gmail.com.
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