Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street's exterior looks as if the restaurant was plucked right out of the French Quarter and dropped right into midtown Manhattan. I really appreciated the rustic look of the building, complete with the gas lamps on the exterior. Last week I tweeted that we were hitting the road for Bourbon Street, located at 346 West 46^th Street in the heart of NYC. I reviewed the menu before my visit and had a plan as to what I was going to eat. For those that do not know, I am a big fan of the Big Easy so I was equal parts intrigued and skeptic. I was ready to grab a burger and a po' boy, needing both because I simply could not decide which I wanted so I figured why not have the best of both worlds?

Bourbon Street's Double Gator Burger

Shortly after my tweet, they tweeted back and suggested that I order the special "Double Gator Burger" and I was quickly convinced that this was the way to go! I cannot express how happy I was that they suggested I go this way. The gator was so juicy and had great flavor and spice. I'm not sure how often this is a special but I can tell you that if you are there and you see it on the special menu, get it and you will not be let down! Loyal readers will also know that I am not much into french fries but these fries are really, really good. They're thick, crunchy, and generously seasoned and provide a perfect compliment to this awesome burger. To steal a tag line from a popular 80's cartoon, this burger is "truly outrageous!"

Creole Red Beans And Rice

But Bourbon Street is not just about the burger. There's a wide variety of po' boys, appetizers, and drinks. I was fortunate enough to sample both the Creole Red Beans and Rice and the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo and both of these really hit the spot! Generous portions that exploded with flavor and I was impressed with the generous amounts of andouille and chunks of chicken in the gumbo.

Rating - 4.5/5 - this place is on point. Why not a 5? Well, I think the dessert menu was missing a couple of NoLA staples - No beignets? No bananas foster? Beyond that, this place is on point!

Their site - http://www.bourbonny.com/index.aspx - as referenced earlier, they are also very active on the different social networking sites so be sure to hit them up today to find out about what's coming out the kitchen! Also, they're very active on Twitter so be sure to follow them @BourbonNY

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And for more on that tagline, click here for the full intro video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YSLhrIuAZak 

5 Napkin Burger

5 Napkin Burger - UWS Exterior

5 Borough Food Guys, meet 5 Napkin Burger. 5 Napkin Burger, ummmmm, meet me. A long while ago, I teased a visit to 5 Napkin on my other blog, GothamBurgers (or Got Hamburgers if you're so inclined) and I finally made my way to the 5NB on the Upper West Side. Side note, is it me or is the UWS starting to look a lot like the UES? The conversations were eerily similar and the conversations were similarly nauseating but I'm not judging, just being judgmental. Maybe I just need a friend? Or a hug? Or a friend to give me a hug?

I digress and forge ahead. We're here for burgers, not people watching.

The place has a nice interior, I'm into the whole, meat hooks hanging from the ceiling look and it worked for me. The music did not and the tv that was nestled in the corner showing afternoon football served as a good distraction since I had one small glass of water to satiate my thirst during my entire stay.

Original 5 Napkin Burger - Cooked Rare

The burger selection was rather slim compared to some of my favorite burger haunts (Island Burger jumps to mind) The menu featured a handful of options but the Original 5 Napkin Burger was where I started, though I'm not sure why because I'm not too fond of Gruyere, though I do love me some caramelized onions. Related note, I was a little upset to hear that I could have subbed out the Gruyere after I finished my burger and overheard someone at the next table ordering. Sure I could have asked that question but the waiter just offered that info to the other patron.

The important stuff - the burger was asked to be cooked rare and it was PERFECT! The bun, however, didn't really hold up too well. The burger is a little too large and there bun is a little too thin for a burger of this size. The juices just ripped through the bread like juice tends to do.

I've heard lots o' hype about the "fantastic!!!" 5 Napkin but I must say, I felt a little short changed here, like maybe 3 napkins. It was good and my grade is really just based on the food...ok, and partially on the meat hooks. I'd love for someone to explain the presence of sushi on the menu? And perhaps the random entrees? Funny because I was thinking of burgers at a burger joint but the proprietors thought otherwise.

The prices are also a bit high, the Original comes in at a modest $14.95. Yes, yes. It's Manhattan. Yo comprendo. But for serious, if someplace else can charge like 8 bucks for a similarly sized burger...well, you know what I'm saying. I was tempted to order the "Burger for 2" but I didn't wanna be that pig that eats the "Burger for 2" by himself. Especially since I don't drink Diet Coke so I can't properly wash down my gluttonous sins with some diet cola.

Rating 3.75/5 - I was satisfied with what I had but I wanted more. More what? I'm still not sure. I know I wanted more water but I only saw the waiter to order my food and deliver the check. Why'd he get a 25% tip? Oh yeah, I'm a shmuck.

Their site - http://5napkinburger.com/

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Jimmys Burger Shack

Hard to believe there's more mini than 5oz

Love Potion #9. Or something

Home sweet home! Back in the city so nice they named it twice after a whirlwind trip that brought me all over the middle of this great country. After stepping off the MEGA BUS and before boarding the not-so-mega-train, I ventured to Jimmy's Burger Shack for some, wait for it....wait some more....you guessed it!! BURGERS! Desperate times call for desperate measures and I was putting my burger craving in the hand of Brother Jimmy in the hopes that he could satisfy my needs. Did Jimmy deliver? Did DJ get his burger craving satisfied on the corner of 8th and 32nd? Stay tuned to find out!

And we're back!! So I stroll into the Shack only to immediately be disappointed, why? Well, it appeared as if there was chaos all around in there and the cook just didn't look like he was feeling it that day. Maybe he wanted to see some preseason football? Maybe he had to catch up on his DVR episodes of Judge Judy? Maybe he just can't cook burgers? Well, I order the No 9 (5oz w/bacon and a fried egg) and I waited. And waited. And waited. Somewhere in that waiting was my realization that there was no way that my teeny tiny burger was going to show up rare. Or medium rare. Or medium. Or medium well. Or well done. It was just done. Hockey puck done which I guess is appropriate considering their proximity to MSG, the World's Most Famous Arena.

Hi. I'm #9

To the left is my lil' puck covered with a perfectly fried egg and perfectly cooked bacon (FOR ME PEOPLE! Maybe you want your bacon crunchy by for me this is perfect, k?) Anyway, this lil guy was like the most delicious bacon and egg sandwich (on a mini potato roll) marred by a ultra well done burger that lacked any flavor. Well, not any flavor. It had the flavor of overcooked, which I am certain is on the spectrum somewhere.

No9 - REALLY DONE

As your gracious host, I never stop at just one and I gave a mini a shot and well, the results were quite similar. Over done, no taste other than the lettuce and tomato, oh and bread. Can't forget that. Nor can I forget the Shack Sauce. All those little helpers tried to drown out the taste of overdone and all some type of flavor to the poor lil guy. I think the saying was help for the helpless as the end result was mediocre at best.

I was entertained by this couple engaged in a fight that was LONG overdue. And it was nice to be begged for money by NY hobos since I was tired of the beggars in KC or MPLS or Boston.

Rating - 1.25/5 - Concept is the only thing that scores points. Some cooking tips for anyone making a slider, it's small and takes a lot less time to cook. You do not need to cover it on the grill. Bad idea. Bad, bad idea.

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Jackson Hole

Jackson Hole - Columbus Ave

"Home of the 7oz. Burger." This must be some kind of joke because the burger at the Hole is massive. I'm not sure how many ounces it is in total (pre, nor post cooked weight) however it feels and eats a lot larger than lucky number seven - not to be confused with this classic film.

Jackson Hole is like a burger aficionado's dream come true in the sense that there's a wide variety of toppings and fun names for their burgers. I'm a burger aficionado! Must explain my affinity for this place. The burgers are fresh, never frozen, and served in giant hand-formed patties that are slightly larger for their undersized bun. More on that in a minute.

Jackson Hole - Southwest Burger

I've ventured to JH on several occasions and am always surprised at the size of the burger and I have to admit, I laugh because the big guy usually falls apart and I need to use my fork to finish it. Even at medium rare, this thing has a hard time staying together (at least you know the meat's fresh and not a frozen piece of junk).

Jackson Hole - Burger Breakage

The meat, however, lacks any discernible flavor. It just tastes like meat. The toppings, on the other hand, usually just add to the fun and make a nice party in your mouth. My most recent visit, for this review, features the Southwest Burger - topped with fresh guacamole and raw onion. Two words, simply delicioso - not to be confused with Miss Ingrid, but she can join me for burgers any day.

Look at the size of that thing! 7 oz?!?!? I think not but I LOVE IT! I've had a number of their mega-sized burgers and have always enjoyed them. Even when they break apart like the picture shows at right. Don't be fooled though, this will not disappoint! You may want to go with medium but that's against my religion.

Rating - 4/5 - Size and variety reign supreme. I'd love to see some different bun offering but this does the job.

For more on Jackson hole, click here.

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Croxley Ales - Redux

It's rare (no pun intended) that I'll go back to a burger joint and do another review but on occasion there's something that merits not just a revisit, but actually a whole new review. Heck, if I did a review for all my Stand visits you'd think I was stalking someone there. But, the newest review is actually a revisit to Croxley Ales, one week later.

What would warrant such a thing? Simple, the Mac Daddy offered by Croxley Ales. The menu describes the Mac Daddy as "our 1/2 lb burger topped with Mac n Cheese." Now Mac n Cheese can swing a number of different ways and as the review of the now dead WSBS proves that it needn't even have Mac to be Mac n Cheese. Such blatant false advertising should be illegal but in the end, the WSBS paid the piper and is not serving up burgers anymore.

Croxley Ales - Mac Daddy Burger

So, my burning question was, "will this thing even have macaroni?" Which was followed up with,"I wonder if it'll be boxed Mac n Cheese?" Well the moment of truth arrived and behold, in all its splendor, the Mac Daddy.

Let's start with the positives, semi toasted roll = YUM! Burger = cooked perfectly. Mac n Cheese = definitely homemade, definitely delicious, and kudos to whomever choose orecchiette as the Mac. WOW! Sweet potato fries on the side was a nice touch.

The negatives? Well, I'm not sure why there was lettuce, tomato, or onion on there. I ate them all separately and called it my salad - I needed something resembling healthy food since I wolfed down about 30 hot wings plus this monster.

The other negative, the burger and mac n cheese seemed disjointed. They just didn't seem to want to play with one another. I LOVED the mac n cheese. I can't stress that enough. I'd eat that any day of the week and put it up as a stand alone against anything S'mac serves and Croxley will be the winner. But this was not the right fit for the burger. I needed something more cheddar-y and less alfredo-y to deliver here. Would I do this again? I'm not sure. But I do suggest you try it because it's quite a delicious experience all for only $12.95.

Rating - 3.75/5 - the idea is flawless. The execution only slightly flawed. It's big and it's tasty and it's worth a look but there's still room for a true Mac N Cheese burger out there and I'm still on the hunt to see if anyone else can deliver.

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Croxley Ales

Croxley Ales Front

What started as a quest for a SICK wing special ended up being a quest for an even SICKER burger. For those not in the know, Croxley Ales on Ave. B (near 3rd) is the home of the 10 cent wings (Mon-Wed). I arrived as a skeptic for a couple of reasons - 1) that's too good to be true 2) the wings must be as tiny as popcorn chicken 3) there's gotta be a catch, there's ALWAYS a catch. Much to my surprise, this was not too good to be true, the chicken wings were big, not Dallas BBQ BIG but still a big wing, and there is no catch. Well, not really. If you consider buying a minimum of 15 wings a catch, well then they got you! Buy 15 and spend a buck fifty or ELSE! The wings alone are worth the voyage. Heck, the wings are worth more than they're charging but I am NEVER going to complain about wanting to pay more for something. Great wings at an even better price and the place is loaded with TVs to watch the game, TMZ, Golden Girls, whatevs.

But you're saying, what about this burger you speak of. Welllllll kids, lemme tell you about this burger known as "The What The S*?!" burger which is your typical 8oz burger with lettuce, tomato, and onion.

You say, "What's the big deal DJ?"
I say, "There's no bun!" 
You say, "Carb conscious all of the sudden?"
I say, "Nope, who needs a bun when you can put this burger between not 1, but 2 grilled cheese sandwiches?"
You say, "I wish I was your cardiologist b/c your heart's gotta blow sooner, not later."
I just laugh in your face.

Croxley Wings!

Now there are a number of other wild concoctions on the burger front and I promise to do more burgers and less wings next time so that I can maybe tame a pair of wild beasts (the Triple Threat - topped w/bacon, cheddar, pulled pork and the Mac Daddy - topped w/Mac N Cheese come to mind). The waitress was kinda rooting against me finishing my burger, said she's only seen 1 person do it and eat all the fries. I told her I don't eat fries and she rolled her eyes. My boy stands up and says "dude ate 15 wings" she seemed apathetic. I'll show her. One day she'll be proud of me.

The What the Burger!

On the real though, the burger is kinda flavorless. Maybe it was flavor overload? Maybe I was in a state of delirium with all the chickens and grilled cheesy goodness running through my system. But if I use some ketchup, the burger definitely needed some help when there was no more lettuce, tomato, or onion to save it. Sorry Louis, I didn't mean to do it!

Rating - 4/5 - this is a big burger, needs some flavor. Meat was fresh, not frozen. Cooked to perfection so I can't complain. But with all the options, I feel like I'm rating one and Croxley deserves a better fate because the burgers are stand out and the wings are spectacular!

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