They call it “Rock that Burger” with a Colombian flair.
When you enter Kendall’s newest hamburger emporium in Snapper Creek Plaza, you quickly will understand why. One wall is emblazoned with a tribute to “Rockers” of past years, their photo images arranged in a checker board-like montage.
On an opposite wall hangs a dismantled rocker’s drum set, artistically placed as modern “pop” art and flanked by a row of guitars.
“The design was my sister’s work, partly due to my rock band, Detour, that I led for three years,” grinned 37-year-old Flavio Alarcon who guided Kendall’s latest hamburger venture into a rocker’s heaven with brother, Andres, 25; sister. Angela, 31, and a helping assist from their mom, Miryan Alarcon.
Wooden slat chairs and eight tables along with chrome-plated stools for a small luncheon bar in a blazing red color scheme completes an upbeat interior décor.
But what about the burgers — and those “Yellow Dogs?”
“They’re different,” explained the Alarcons. “You have to taste them to see why. We have a special seasoning that makes them that way.”
What makes their “Yellow Submarine” hamburger unique is a homemade pineapple sauce, a holdover from the days when the Alarcons’ popular Yellow Submarine food truck drew passionate crowds of West Kendall Colombians for rarities like a pineapple-spiced hot dog.
“Oooooh! Is that hot dog good!” tweeted one customer who said the Yellow Dog “won my heart in the hot dog world.”
A colorful menu card lists that “Paradise City” hot dog with a combination of mozzarella cheese and house-made pineapple, mustard and tomato sauces.
The “Yellow Submarine” burger highlights the same pineapple-spiced topping along with tomato, lettuce and onions.
You can also Rock Your Burger with a combination of exotic-toppings including jalapeño peppers and banana peppers.
To keep an American flavor, there’s also a choice of Chicken Wings (10 for $6.99) with homemade barbecue or Buffalo sauce, as well as French or “Loaded” chili fries. Beverages vary from canned sodas to Corona, Budweiser or Heineken beer, topped off by an espresso, latte or cappuccino.
So how can a Colombian family outdo a Shula Burger, due to open just a mile or so south of their 6-month-old operation?
“Just try us, and you’ll see!” chorused the enterprising trio who grew up learning American tastes after the family left its native Cali 15 years ago to open a business called Home Necessities before branching out into catered food services.
“Folks have spread the word about our new place, including many fellow Colombians who knew us from our Yellow Submarine days on Kendall Drive at SW 147th Avenue,” Flavio added.
Rock That Burger is open from noon to 9 p.m. every weekday and from noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays at 7138 SW 117 Ave. For take-out, call 305-270-2110.
