Dexter V.
Yelp
After my flight had been delayed at a stopover, I was in no mood to venture out to explore the local scene in Doral and since I was staying at the Trump National I figured I might as well try one of the restaurants located in the resort. So I opted for Champions Bar & Grill located in the main club house. The first impression I got from this place was it felt as I was in some sort of boardroom. Wood accents throughout and wide, red leather chairs to lounge in. The atmosphere was grand and spacious and certainly did not fit the traditional definition of a sports bar. I would venture to call it fine dining in the most casual manner. I don't know if that makes any sense but in this instance I guess it will have to do.
Having been greeted by a wonderful wait staff, I was ready to order up. I went with a nice cold Newcastle brew and an order of the Mediterranean plate. The beer was hoppy with a strong finish which paired well with the appetizer and entrée I had for the evening. The appetizer was good for two people to share. It consisted of 6 slices of freshly grilled pita bread, two long wedges of feta cheese, a good helping of humus topped with microgreens, several pieces of olives, and two stuffed grape leaves. This was a fantastic exercise of bold Mediterranean flavor that I have to say ranks up there with some of my favorite restaurants here in the Northeast. For the entrée I went with my waiter's suggestion of the "Calle Ocho" Burger. This burger, named after the eponymous street of Little Havana, is a monster of a burger that stuffs a blended sirloin patty, ham, roasted pork, Swiss cheese, and mustard on a brioche bun. It is served on a nice carving board with a side of fries, ketchup, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickle. Looking at the burger already made me stuffed and that's before I even had a bite. At the end of it all I could only finish half of the dish and took the rest back to the room for a "healthy" breakfast the next day. Everything in that burger tasted delicious and truly fit for--dare I say--a champion.
I did not set any expectations before trying this restaurant. I just wanted a delicious bite after a long day of travel. After a wonderful and relaxing dining experience I call this eatery a true winner in my record book any day of the week.