Green Igauna’s Burger Week special- the I.C.B.M. burger

Nearly 50 restaurants are participating in this year's Tampa Bay Burger Week Nov 2 - 12, sponsored by Creative Loafing, and I was rarin’ for something unique. Being kind of a burger snob, I was hoping to find a place that would kick some taste bud butt.

The Green Iguana on Westshore Blvd advertised a creation with far too many ingredients to be any good, so I figured it was the place to throw down. The GI has been a Tampa staple since it opened around 1990 and has been known for its food and live entertainment ever since. There’s a casual beachy neighborhood tiki-bar feel, with a thatched roof out front and reggae music playing throughout at lunchtime.

The origianl Green Iguana Bar and Grill - 4029 S West Shore Blvd.

For Burger Week, they are featuring the I.C.B.M. burger, described as “a burger patty topped with mac and cheese bites coated in a mild Buffalo sauce, blue cheese crumbles, candied jalapeños, onion straws, rocket lettuce, and tomato. That’s just too much, I think to myself. I love a broad flavor palette, but this ain’t going to work. This I.C.B.M is going to bomb. I was wrong.

They deliver a massive 7-inch-tall concoction topped with thin fried onion rings and kissed with bleu cheese on an inch-thick patty riding on a bed of sweet jalapenos, lettuce, and their house mac and cheese bites. I grab the monster and go all Guy Fieri on it, cramming as much of a bite as I can into my mouth in order to get all those flavors at once. The first thing that hits my tongue is the sweetness from those candied peppers, then the crunch from that stack of onions on top. The burger is thick and juicy and perfectly cooked medium rare. The beef is slightly peppery and mixes well with the creamy cheese. Just enough heat from the jalapenos and buffalo sauce kicks in at the end. It's a messy fall-apart, two-fisted, luscious, salty, sweet, crunchy, savory bite with a blue cheese finish. The I.C.B.M hits its target. A heaping basket of lightly coated, thick-cut, crispy fries is the perfect side. Winner!

Green Iguana heaping basket of fries served with the ICBM burger

The Green Iguana features live music every night, usually with shows at 6 and 10. Tuesday night alters between karaoke and music trivia. There are two full-service bars, a game room in the back, and a decent amount of onsite parking. The kitchen cooks up weekly specials frequently, and they are posted on the events and specials board at the bar.

Green Iguana game room with pool table, darts, and large flat screen

Servers know their shiz, and prices are moderate. The I.C.B.M. burger with fries is $15. Want to try your luck for Burger Week? Head over to Creative Loafing and pick your place. There are photos and descriptions of who’s got what. Let me know your favorites.

4029 S West Shore Blvd., Tampa https://greeniguana.com/home

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