Of course I had to try it.

Today was the first chance I had to get over to Pane Rustica to try their burger. Creative Loafing’s Brian Ries recently crowned the Pane Rustica burger as the best in Tampa, with The Kitchen’s burger as a close runner-up.

Served on focaccia rather than the traditional bun, this was only the second perfectly cooked burger I’ve been served in my search for Tampa’s best burger. The first was at Grillsmith’s, which, until recently, held the number one position. Am I slotting the Pane Rustica burger as number one? No.

I recently had what I think is the best burger in Tampa, but I want to give the Kitchen a try, and maybe one or two more before I post my selection.

The Pane Rustica is definitely among the elite hamburger sandwiches available in the area, but the focaccia didn’t really work for me, and it didn’t have the necessary amount of ooze for me to put it at the top of my list.

What it did have was that, like the Square One burger, it was loosely packed, and not so monstrously huge that I couldn’t finish it, or feel over-stuffed after eating it. Also like Square One, this is a pricey burger. I’m embarrassed to write that I forgot how much it cost. Pretty crummy for a food blogger, I know. But, I think it ran about 10 bucks. For the two of us, with two sandwiches and two teas, lunch cost about $25. I think I remember now why I don’t eat at PR more often. I’ve also never been disappointed in anything I’ve ordered there, so I suppose that’s worth something.

3225 S Macdill Ave
(813) 902-8828

Here’s a link to their site. Caution, flash-based and check your volume at work.

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