Blue 9 - Hell's Kitchen

I should have been scared.

Let's start by taking you back to a time when I was on one of my typical eatercising quests. This time was roughly 5 years ago and I was in the midst of trying out some "must have" food in NYC. I'm not going to put any other spots on blast here but I say this NY, it's not that you can't get a good cheesesteak in NYC but if you are telling me it's just like the Philly experience and you do not deliver, shame, shame, shame. It's not "let's call Arnold Diaz" type shame but it's not good and I'd rather make a run down to Philly. On a night like that, after a cheesesteak letdown, I needed a burger pick me up. Blue 9 was close and I had heard good things so it seemed like a good fit. Until I ate it.

Fast forward to the present day and I was doing some wandering up and down 9th avenue - one of the BEST places to wander if you are not in the village IMO - and there was another Blue 9. Sure this was not the same one that jaded my opinion of their small chain but at some point, a chain is a chain because they do it all the same. If not, what's the point. The only thing that varies, is the amount of love the cook has for the food. If the cook wants your burger experience to be the best burger experience, chain or not, they can and will wow you. Trust me on this, I had Taco Bell late last night and it wowed me. Sure I was famished but I was also shocked that the food presented nicely and was neatly packaged in the tortilla.

So Blue 9 2.0, here's to you. I walk in the Hell's Kitchen location, door wide open, place empty, two guys behind the counter seemingly confused as to why I am there. I ask, "you are still open correct?" The hesitant "yes" should have told me to go home and eat some Chobani but I was here so why not? I ask for a Blue 9 Burger  (double burger, cheese, lettuce, tomato, thousand island) As the pic shows you, raw onion got on there too, NBD since I like it but why the wilted lettuce? I say that is not necessary. The burger itself is actually not bad. The picture you see is a double and each bite does provide enough beef. It also has enough similar qualities to a number of other burger places that sell shakes in NYC however if you like you burger served with a side of apathy and heaping loads of indifference on top, then you might love Blue 9.

Blue 9 Menu with FLASHY flash!

Rating - 2/5 - This has been a middle the road burger for me for a long time. I took a 5 year hiatus and they're still there, mediocrity, minus half a point for wilted lettuce and indifference. It's nothing spectacular though I've noticed the burger menu has morphed a bit to feature some more exotic pairings - mango came to mind at the Hell's Kitchen spot. Similar experiences, different locations, years apart. Who really goes here? And why?

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