It
seems like every other week there is a "Best Hamburger" contest in
South Florida such as the one about a month ago when The Alibi
restaurant and bar in Wilton Manors was the winner among some upscale
places. Last week the Sun-Sentinel newspaper published the results of
their readers picking the best burger in Broward County and Gilbert's (for short) won.  I have eaten in many restaurants
in that area including the Outback, Chuck's Steakhouse, Carlos and
Pepe's, the Quarterdeck, Bimini Boatyard, Duffy's to name  a few in an
area over-saturated with restaurants. Adding insult to injury Gilbert's
is in a shopping center that has at least 6+ restaurants of all kinds
with a famous fast food hamburger place across the way from them.

Were
the news readers right in their choice? Yes, except for a little
nitpicking on my part. Gilbert's is that sort of 'new' concept in dining
places which is between fast food and table service. One of the first
things you notice--and we walked in near the tail end of lunch time with
most of the tables still taken--is how clean the place is.  Next was
the very friendly greeting of Mrs. Gilbert behind the counter and her
son behind the register. You place your order, pay, get your drink, seat
yourself and the food is brought to you.

Let's talk about the burgers first and then I will get to the nit picking. :O)  Allen had the '8 ounce Certified
Angus Beef Burger ($8)' and I had the Cheeseburger ($8.50) We both had a
soda to drink ($1.80 each) so with tax the check came to $21.63 The
burgers were cooked to the temperatures we asked and we both had the cole slaw from a choice of homemade French fries, sweet potato fries or homemade cole slaw. The slaw was a little too 'wet' but tasty. The burgers are served with lettuce, Tomato and a pickle.

All
in all an excellent hamburger, and before I get to the nitpicking, I
have to commend the two 'bus'(?) people who worked the dining room like
pros, keeping the tables cleaned, refilling drinks, even asking an old
couple what they ordered to drink and getting it for them. One of the
guys asked if we needed mayo, mustard or ketchup and when I asked for a
slice of onion they brought it right away. I don't know if they get
minimum wage or what but hopefully the Gilbert's realize they are worth
more than that, Sadly no one left them any sort of tip though except for
not taking the order they did everything, and well, a server would do
and that brings me to the nitpicking.

Do
they save money by not having servers and using plastic cups for
drinks, serving food in plastic baskets but using 'real' silver? Why not
ask if the customer would like an onion with their burger? Would having
a server suggesting a piece of homemade cheesecake or Key Lime pie pay
for their salary? I wasn't even aware they had desserts, nor would I
order them with my burger, but you are standing at a register with the
cashier waiting for your order (no, he wasn't rushing us)and you aren't
really reading the menu. I would have tried the cheesecake if a server had suggested it.

I was sort of shocked when I got home
and looked the menu over and saw prices like $24.95 for a steak, $28.95
for a rib eye or $23.95 for a rack of baby back ribs. I just don't
picture myself paying those prices without being waited on by servers. I
am not saying anything about the main courses because if they are as
good as the burger they are probably worth the price but I want sit down
service at those prices and at the Quarterdeck, the Outback and/or at
Chuck's Steakhouse I can get that.

Oh
yes, a minor thing was the 'chilly' bun the burger was served on. It
wasn't that bad that I had to return it but when I mentioned it to Mrs.
Gilbert she said that I could get the bun toasted and then that they had
gone through so many burger buns as if that was the reason for it being
chilly. I was disappointed in that reaction as I wasn't complaining---I
had eaten the whole burger and bun--just pointing out something that is
easily corrected.

The bottom line? The
burger was excellent, as was the service in the dining room, by the bus
guys, but I am not sure if I will go back as I really like to be waited
on and maybe that is being picky of me but after 30+ years in the
restaurant business I don't want to give my order at a counter when I am paying $11 for lunch--but that's me.