The Charlie’s Burger Bar is located on the grounds of the popular Mexican eatery Crab Island Cantina at Harbor Walk Village in Destin.

You enter the Cantina complex, then inside another set of doors into the cozy, clubby atmosphere of the Burger Bar. There are TVs everywhere; the walls are brick, with sports, liquor, and beer signs, photos and assorted blue-collar touches. 

As the name indicates, the burger is the star at Charlie’s. However, there are some non-burger choices on the menu, and a meal can be made from one of the “without the bun” selections. If you came for a burger, you can choose one of the specialties, or build your own with the user friendly five-step guide. There is also a kids’ menu.

A burger is a substantial meal, but we wanted to sample one of the apps. I went with a co-worker, and he ordered the Bourbon chicken wings and Jambalaya. 

Other starter/bar snack options are sautéed edamame, chicken wings, funky French fries (topped with chili, jalapeno cheese, chorizo or plain cheese), baked nachos, seafood and chorizo gumbo, chili beans with ground beef and steak, iceberg wedge salad with chorizo, and chicken Caesar.

Burgers can be ordered of Angus, bison, Wagyu beef, turkey, lamb, wild boar and ostrich. We stuck to the traditional, I ordered the Smokey Bones and my co-worker the Brunch Anyone. 

Mine came with Applewood smoked bacon, Jalapeno honey whiskey BB sauce and Swiss  with lettuce, tomato and onion. The burger was thick, cooked as ordered (medium), the challah firm and buttery, and I had to cut it in two. There were seasoned fries on the side. Other side options are onion rings, baked beans, mac and cheese, potato salad, cole slaw, and sautéed vegetables.

My co-worker got his medium.. Not sure if he should have had that for breakfast instead, as it includes a fried egg along with hash brown, bacon and Cheddar cheese.

Charlie’s offers three traditional desserts - bread pudding, cheesecake and key lime pie. There are also ice cream and fruit shakes for all ages, and some for adults, with various liqueurs and spirits. We were full, and could not finish all that we ordered. Can't wait to make it out there again...