Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger House — Restaurant in Pompano Beach

Oh if Jack was alive today. Normally a great place to eat. Tonight a Saturday night at 630 pm at the Fort Lauderdale store on US1 I ordered my food. When I got it I went to the center area to dress the burgers. To my surprise all the condiments were removed. They were there when I ordered however an employee decided to remove all of them and place them on the counter where you normally pick up your orders. That was not really the issue. I asked the young lady why she did that and where was the ketchup and mustard. Her answer was we put everything away. I then asked her to please bring them back out. She preceded to go in the back and start chatting with the other 4 employees that were also in the back. I then asked the lady in the front remaining if the manager was present. She said Shannon is the manager and she was not present at this time. She also explained that she worked at the other store and was helping the pompano location tonight. She saw what was happening and went in the back to tell the young lady to get the stuff back out, as the 4 employees were laughing and joking in the back. Finally I asked what her name was and was told her name was Angelique and she really didn’t care about getting the stuff out to all the customers waiting to garnish their burgers. I finally got the mustard and ketchup add the four young employees were joking and laughing together in the back as the only one working was the senior person who worked at the other store. I asked what time did the store close I was told 9 or 930 I don’t recall. I then asked Angelique can you wait until we are done to start putting everything away after all it was 630. As the 4 employees stayed in the back chatting and laughing I took pictures of the dining room with all the baskets and food not being cleaned up. As they saw that I was taking pictures one of the cooks came out to clean the tables. I have been going for years and it’s sad that a few non caring employees are hurting the brand.

Shannon the manager asked me to meet her today as she wanted to hear in person my experience. I must say that this was a truly great gesture from her. Writing reviews is not just about criticizing it’s about how companies deal with issues as we all have them. Following our discussion I must say that she impressed me in the manner of how she is dealing with this issue. Jacks still remain the best burger in town.

Thank you Shannon for all your candor and...

It is National Hamburger Month and what better way to celebrates than a visit to his Pompano Beach Institution. Jack Berry was working nights as the maitre d' at Dante's Restaurant in Ft. Lauderdale (now the location of a Harley Davidson dealership) when he decided to make a burger place that everyone could afford. The first Jack's opened in Ft. Lauderdale in July of 1972. This, the second location opened in 1973 at south Cypress Road in Pompano.

Located close to Dixie Hwy, parking is a breeze around the building and inside is 48-seat pine-paneled dining room complete with jukebox. The resin covered tables are imprinted with Jack's logo. On the walls are old pictures of South Florida that date back to 1908.

The restaurant is counter style. You order and pay and then hang on to your receipt because they will call your order for pick up when your food is ready. The menu posted on the wall is brief, burgers, hot dogs, and fries. There are also sandwiches that include grilled roast beef, smoked ham, turkey, and grilled cheese. Burger toppings are an additional charge. The two relishes served came from Jack's mother's recipes. Of course no self respecting burger joint would be complete without shakes and they serve those too along with chocolate chip cookies.

Burgers are hand pressed from choice top round and brisket which are cut and ground twice a day in house. The result is a thin patty that comes in half pound, third pound, and junior sizes. For my lunch I ordered the 1/3 pound original cheeseburger ($7.95) and fries ($2.95).

Jack Berry stepped away from running the restaurants in 1996. He passed away in 2011 at the age of 82 but 50 years later his burger restaurants are still going strong. Many long time business associates and family members are still running the restaurants today and they cite their quality as the reason new generations of people are still eating here today. The prices may have gone up through the years but you are always guaranteed a juicy burger and crisp fries. One visit to Jack's and it is easy to understand why they have...

Jack's Old Fashion Hamburger House keeps it simple and to the point in terms of both food and service. As you enter, you'll notice the surroundings live up to its name - a retro looking diner from the 1920s.

I arrived around lunch and surprisingly it wasn't that busy so I was first in line. The cashier was friendly and ordering only took a few minutes. I kept it simple, ordering a burger, fries and a drink. The food took less than five minutes to arrive. They have a pickup counter where they call out your order number, though I suppose they could bring it to your table if you'd like.

The food is very basic --- and that's definitely a good thing. You won't have to worry about any crazy toppings, sauces, undercooked or overcooked meat, or stale bread. There are toppings in the condiment section, such as ketchup, mustard, pickles, etc. The burger is cooked at a solid medium and arrives within five minutes of ordering. The fries are lightly fried and cut at medium thickness. Drinks are fairly limited with your typical selection of soda and tea. Taste-wise, the food is pretty solid and really nothing to complain about.

The venue is very clean and spacious. There are multiple booth style and regular tables to choose from. Due to this, I would consider this place to be ideal for large groups of hungry friends. If you're looking for quality burgers during a relaxing lunch, consider adding this over...