A Denver icon with something for everyone is bringing its "better burger" to Pinellas County.
Smashburger franchisee Craig Tengler will launch the 9-year-old restaurant brand's first Pinellas location in Clearwater. The 90-seat restaurant at 5300 E. Bay Drive, Tengler's second on the west coast of Florida (the first being Sarasota), will officially open its doors at 10 a.m. Nov. 22.
Chicken sandwiches, fresh salads, premium hand-spun shakes and burgers made with certified Angus beef are staples at the fast-casual Smashburger, which operates 340 restaurants around the U.S. The burgers are smashed (get the name now?) on a 400-degree flat grill to sear in their juices, nestled on toasted buns and finished with an array of toppings.
At the 2,000-square-foot, indoor-outdoor Clearwater restaurant, the menu will be a bit different. Regional flavors and tastes exclusive to Southwest Florida will be showcased, including the Medianoche Smashburger (smoked ham, aged Swiss, pickles, red onion and mustard on an egg bun). On the drinks side, expect everything from craft beer to root beer floats in frosted mugs.
Smashburger Clearwater will operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
This article appears in Nov 10-17, 2016.