Panama City lies in Northwest Florida along the shores of St. Andrew Bay off the Gulf Coast. A frequent target of hurricanes and tropical storms, it was badly damaged in 2018 by Hurricane Michael. However, that doesn’t stop the enterprising folks in Panama City from rebuilding and offering delicious burgers for locals and visitors alike to enjoy. Burgers are classic American sandwiches that can be customized to fit adventurous tastes and ethical choices. Panama City is home to a variety of fantastic burger joints. Here are five delicious options for you to try.
Jerry’s Burger Company
Image via Flickr under CC BY 2.0 by William Rasmussen
Jerry’s Burger Company proudly proclaims it does not serve fast food. This up-and-coming restaurant wants to serve the best premium smash burgers in town. One of its specialties is a unique three-cheese sauce for the cheese portion of the burgers, which packs a punch of gooey goodness. The premium burgers themselves are made fresh for each customer. You can choose from the preset burger menu or order a custom burger just the way you want it.
Jerry’s menu includes five types of all-you-can-eat fries — crinkle, steak, dipping, waffle, and sweet potato — and you can top them with any of the available seasonings. Not a fry lover? Try a side of jalapeño bombs or Wisconsin cheese curds. The boneless wings come in three sizes and multiple flavors, including buffalo, sweet teriyaki, and garlic parmesan. But the real reason you’re here is for the burgers, which are designed to be big, messy, and totally delicious. The Beer Bender is infused with a local brew and served with sauteed onions, pickles, and a honey-glazed bun.
Jerry’s is located at 1302 Harrison Avenue and open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and closed Sundays.
House Of Henry Irish Pub
House of Henry is an Irish pub serving good food and hosting live music. Here you can grab lunch inside the brick-walled building or stop by after work to enjoy the popular happy hour. The restaurant’s brew list has more than 30 selections, including ciders, craft ales, American favorites, European classics, and, of course, draft Guinness.
At House of Henry, you can choose from a menu of Irish-inspired items. Try the Irish Nachos, which are potato wedges loaded with toppings, the Lucky O’ onion rings, or a traditional Irish potato dish of Boxties, which are mashed potatoes with bacon and cheddar that are deep-fried and served with sour cream or chippy sauce. The many burger options include Henry’s Black and Blue Burger, a blackened patty with bacon, caramelized onions, and blue cheese crumbles melted on top, served on a brioche bun.
Find House of Henry at 461 Harrison Avenue, just minutes from the bay. It’s open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. the rest of the week.
Tally-Ho Drive In
The Tally-Ho Drive In is an old-fashioned burger and shake joint that has been offering classic American fare since 1949. Call ahead for a quick pickup through the drive-thru, or stop by the lot at 1449 Harrison Avenue for curb service. Tally-Ho also has plenty of seating on the outdoor patio if you want to stay awhile. All the meals use only fresh ingredients, and the food is made to order for each customer.
Tally-Ho’s menu has a variety of sides, shakes, sandwiches, and dinner combos. For a side order, try the fried okra or sour-cream-coated potato logs. The baskets of fried chicken, chicken tenders, shrimp, or pork come with a side of fries, or you can get them as dinners with fries, coleslaw, baked beans, fried okra rolls, or hush puppies. The Jumbo Burger gives you 7 ounces of fresh ground beef with all the condiments and additional cheese, or you can opt for the 4-ounce Regular Burger.
Tally-Ho Drive In is open from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and closed Sundays.
Bayou Joe’s Marina And Grill
This unique dining establishment is one you don’t want to miss. Here you can enjoy breakfast, lunch, or dinner with beautiful 180-degree views of the water. Get here at sunset for an experience like no other.
Bayou Joe’s offers “Old Florida” style food. You can get Bayou Tacos with grilled, fried, or blackened fish or shrimp or a fried shrimp po’boy. The delicious Trash Burger is the chef’s choice of ingredients that changes daily. Bayou Joe’s also serves a Kick’en Black Bean Burger for vegetarians and a Cajun Shrimp Burger that packs grilled shrimp and cheese on top of a 1/2-pound beef burger.
Bayou Joe’s is situated at 112A East 3rd Court on Massalina Bayou. It’s open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Friday through Sunday from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., and closed Tuesday.
The Place Downtown
The Place Downtown is a fun spot to stop and watch sports on the flat-screen, participate in a game of trivia, play the jukebox, or just have a drink and enjoy a good meal. On the menu, you’ll find a wide variety of cuisine, with tasty appetizers ranging from Tater Tots and onion rings to seared tuna and antipasto egg rolls.
You can also order a 1/2-pound steak burger or a Beyond burger for a meatless option. Then build your own burger with your choice of bread, cook, cheese, and toppings, plus a side of fries, tots, or the side of the day.
The Place Downtown is located in downtown Panama City at 429 Harrison Avenue, and it’s open Monday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. You can dine inside or out front on the cozy patio.
Have you had any burgers from the places on this list? Do you have a favorite spot we’ve missed? At Panama City Toyota, we’d love to know what you think is the best burger in town. Contact us, and tell us which one you like most.
