Kendall goes crazy for their barbecue. Now they’ve opened a new Miami burger spot
At Apocalypse BBQ, the wildly popular smoked meat mecca at Killian Greens Golf Club in Kendall, owner Jeff Budnechky serves mounds of brisket and ribs, pulled pork and chicken wings, with a behind-the-scenes assist from his wife Laura.
When they added smashburgers to the menu, the burgers went viral and the crowds went wild — even though (or especially because) you could only get them on Tuesdays. They were enough to make even the most devoted fan forget Taco Tuesdays existed.
Now, you can order those smashburgers every day of the week at Lala’s Burgers and Fries, which opened recently at Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co. (They’ll still be available every Tuesday at Apocalypse BBQ, too).
The Budnechkys wanted to serve burgers for the most obvious reason of all: They love them. And why not? Burgers are one of America’s top comfort foods, and smashburgers in particular are having a moment.
“It’s something that we’ve always cooked at home,” says Laura Budnechky (friends call her Lala), a registered nurse who works at Baptist Hospital and helps out with Apocalypse. “To generate some revenue for our costs and building out the new restaurant, we set up a tent outside of Apocalypse, and we were just making burgers. So burgers have always been a thing, but it’s never been able to fit well in the Apocalypse menu.”
The couple’s second restaurant concept was always going to be meat-related, Jeff Budnechky jokes.
“It’s in my blood, right?” he says. “My dad’s from Argentina. My mom’s from Brazil. I had no choice.”
The menu at Lala’s, located in a kitchen behind the brewery, is straightforward and pairs well with craft beer. Nothing fancy: Burgers and fries and a chocolate chip cookie for that perfect touch of sweetness for dessert (or, alternatively, you could just order another beer).
The smashburgers aren’t quite as smashed as you might be used to. Budnechky uses five ounces of meat instead of the usual four, so the burgers aren’t as flat.
There are two burgers that will always be on the menu: The Lala Smash ($12, with American cheese, grilled onions, the secret Lala sauce and pickles) and the Classic Smash ($12, with American cheese, onions, pickles, lettuce and tomato).
A third specialty burger will rotate through the menu every month. For December, it’s the Maduro Smash ($16), a fabulously sweet and slightly spicy creation with American cheese, onions, smoked sweet plantains, brisket bacon crumble and maduro aioli. This burger is so good it’s worth braving the Palmetto at rush hour just to try it.
Fries are $6, while a chocolate chip cookie is $3.50.
Budnechky, who will split time between Lala’s and Apocalypse BBQ, doesn’t plan to add much to the menu. Maybe a crispy chicken sandwich at some point. But he doesn’t expect to add vegetarian or other, healthier options (though his wife swears he makes a mean turkey burger).
“Healthy options exist, right?” he says, mentioning restaurants like Pura Vida and Carrot Express, and one of his favorites, The Last Carrot in Coconut Grove. “We’re only going to do that kind of thing half-assed. So we’re going to do the things we’re passionate about. And what we love is burgers. Is it a greasy spoon thing? Yes. Should you eat one every day? Yes, you should, though your doctor might disagree.
“Burgers aren’t for everybody, and there are other really great restaurants that are focused on other things. I don’t want to ever produce something that my heart isn’t behind.”
Lala’s Burgers and Fries
Where: Lincoln’s Beard Brewing Co., 7360 SW 41st St., Miami
Hours: 4 to 11 p.m. Monday; 4 p.m.-midnight Tuesday and Thursday; 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Wednesday and Friday; noon-1 a.m. Saturday; noon-9 p.m. Sunday
More information: www.instagram.com/lalasbrgrs