I’ve been sick the past two weeks. Nothing serious…probably. Well, serious enough that I canceled an interview and missed a podcast episode. Maybe a cold, maybe one of those weird post pandemic flu adjacent mysteries that hits like a brick…

Amanda and I wandered into Loosey’s Downtown on a Saturday evening with purpose in our hearts and beef on the brain. Despite having lived in Gainesville for a while, I’d only been to Loosey’s twice…and not since Obama’s first term. But it was time to see if this longtime bar could hold its own in the noble burger arena. It has a burger rep and I’m here to see if it’s earned it.

I’ve once again dragged my eight-year-old son, Winthrop, into the heat with the promise of meat. This time, we’re checking out Dick Mondell’s, a drive thru/walk up burger joint over on 4th Ave. I parked across the street at the Food Park, and away we went. Please be prepared for unintentional double entendres throughout this post… I didn’t try to do it, but I also didn’t not try to do it.

Join us on a flavorful quest to find the best burger in Gainesville Florida, starting with a visit to Goldie’s at Depot Park. This review explores everything from burger moisture and Goldie Sauce to nostalgic backyard burger memories and kid-approved taste tests. If you love local eats and low-key burger joints, this is the place to start.