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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Mel's Burger Bar

Mel's Burger Bar - Al Fresco

Oh the Upper West Side. Where do you really begin and end? I mean, by real standards and not real estate standards. I don't gauge the boundaries of this neighborhood by the insane costs of rent to live on top of people but more so on the rotten summer stank on the 1 train as you cruise up Broadway. I have a certain disdain for the waft of hot, dank air that blows into the air conditioned train cart at each passing stop and when you hit 96th, you know you're either ready to a) get off the train and just hoof it b) spray some type of deodorant to neutralize the funk in the air or c) put on a gas mask and enjoy the rest of the ride.

I had the recent pleasure of riding the 1 up to 110th to hit up Mel's, who offers a wide variety of burgers and shakes (Cookie Monster - ahem, Big Daddy's clone, PBJ, Smores, etc.), along with a handful of interesting starters (fried pickles, buffalo wings, brisket chili). The burger of choice for me was "The Original" because I kinda liked the nod on the menu that read "Thank You Louis." A nod to Louis Lunch over in New Haven that I thought warranted giving the burger a shot. For the record, I did not think it was going to replicate what LL has been doing for 115 years in any way other than slapping the burger sandwich on toast. A true LL fan like myself can also tell you that the obvious omission of the cheese spread left the sandwich lacking a little flavor (not just because they forgot my onion). Overall the burger was good. The girl was seemingly intent on giving me a medium burger, and I quote "is medium ok." To which I replied, nope. Gimme mine mooing and I'll take care of the rest.

Mel's Burger Bar - The Original

Overall the burger was good. The meat was really just meat. Black Angus? Who knows for sure. Could have been Angus MacGyver for all I know. It's a nice label but irrelevant in the scheme of things, especially if the meat lacks an overall flavor palate to make it stand out. My biggest complaint, if you can call it that, was the fact that the bread was a little too big for the burger. Not brutally big, but a little oversized. Did I enjoy this burger? Yes, I did. Was it a bit off? Yes it was.

Mel's Burger Bar Slogan - OK?

So what do we do? On the one hand, there's an extensive burger menu with some interesting and unique offering and on the other there's a lack of meat flavoring that makes the burger stand out assuming you were to eat it on a plate (but who really does that?) If you like well done fries, Mel's has exactly what you are looking for - twice fried, done nice and hard.

Rating - 3.5/5 - If ranking just my burger experience it would have been a little lower but I am giving a half point bump for the shakes (though I didn't try one they did intrigue me so I'll venture back, ideally in the Fall) and sides.

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Big Daddy's

Big Daddy's Menu

Big Daddy's, located on Columbus and 91st, is a retro themed diner that in my opinion is on the map for the Sweet Potater Tots. The retro theme is complimented with Trivial Pursuit cards on each table and a funky wallpaper that spans no specific generation, featuring logos/icons from the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, and 2000s. Sure they offer a handful of extra large burgers and a number of homemade shakes as well but since Napoleon Dynamite made tots all the rage, they're a menu must. Making sweet potatoes into tots is just taking things up a few notches and that's something that needs to be recognized.

Big Mac Daddy

In eateries that serve sweet potato fries, I'm one to ask for maple syrup to dip them in. Sometimes that will result in some odd looks for the wait staff but I'm very used to odd looks. Big Daddy's, however, serves their Sweet Potater Tots with a homemade, over the top, spicy and not sweet at all BBQ sauce for dipping and it is NOT a good pairing for me. The sauce is strong and not complimentary to the sweetness of the sweet potatoes and that's just a mistake. For a look at their menu, click here.

Half Eaten Big Mac Daddy

The big burgers, are cooked to order from fresh meat and served with tots. Be warned!! Do not ask to sub in the Sweet Potater Tots for regular tots because Big Daddy will draw the line and you'll be put in your place. I've been told "We can't do that." In the food service business, focus on the word service, there's no such thing as can't. Want the sweet tots? Spend an extra $6. I was seething at this one because it's just absurd. The last thing I need is tots and more tots to go with my burger. I sorta worry about my waistline sometimes and I think I should pay some attention to my cholesterol so getting more fried treats, no matter if they're trans-fat free or not, seems like a not so hot idea. Add that to the fact that it's nice 'n' greasy for my complexion and we've got a winning combo.

Infamous Sweet Potater Tots

But you are saying, this is a burger site, where's the burger review? Here it is. I recently visited and ordered the Big Mac Daddy burger - their take on the Big Mac minus one patty and one slice of bread while adding caramelized onions. The burger holds up really well and has nice flavor, with or without all the added toppings. The bun is a good size to hold the large slab of beef piled on top of it while soaking up the burger's juices nicely.

Rating - 3.75/5 - No subbing sweet potater tots with a $15 burger and forcing the customer to spend an extra $8 on this signature item? Foolish. The burger is good and a bit on the high side. At $15 (not including a drink, sides, etc.) you are creeping in on Olde Homestead or Minetta Tavern territory and this is not on the level with those. It's a good burger, not the best burger but the no subbing really does rub me the wrong way.

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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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Classic - Brennan and Carr (Nostrand and U - Brooklyn)

There are huge rivalries all around NYC, typically dealing with sports teams and there are very few that sit on the fence and root for both. It's one or the other. You like the Yankees and hate the Mets. You like the Giants and hate the Jets. You could care less about the Knicks but you still hate the Nets. Rivalries truly do make the things we enjoy that much more enjoyable because we want our favorite to be the best. There are two sandwich giants in BK, most famous for the roast beef offerings, and many people are loyal to either Brennan and Carr or Roll N Roaster (featured here)

As a kid I did what you call the Brooklyn shuffle, moving five times over a span of seven years while being fortunate enough to remain in the same general area. During my most formative years (read rapid growth) I had the luxury of living 4 blocks from Roll N Roaster yet had to take a bus that transferred right in front of Brennan and Carr**

Brothy Goodness

What's a boy to do? I mean, everyone had their favorite and I honestly could not choose. This was not some Mets-Yankees scenario unfolding, this was food. Great food. And great food is one thing I never deprive myself of, in case you hadn't noticed. Since I'm not comparing who has the better roast beef sandwich (I'll save that for another day) I have to go based on burgers. In the burger fight, however,  B&C doesn't quite play fair.

Hard to tell how soaked the bun is.

YES, you can buy their beef burger and be fairly satisfied at their offering OR you can play it smart and order the Gargiulo Burger, have the pour beef broth on it and know that they just did to burgers what should have been done a LONG time ago. The Gargiulo is listed there on the menu and if you don't know and don't ask what it is, you're missing out. But now, you're armed with knowledge that you need to get this burger (NOT cooked to order) topped with delicious, hot roast beef, cheese (optional) and then the bun is smothered in broth. Let it sit a while and have some fun poking the bun to watch broth seep out. This is a heavenly sandwich. It's pricy too but nobody said heaven would be cheap.

I'm a burger with roast beef on top

Rating - 4.5/5 - This is just such an impressive burger/sandwich. Yes it's kinda cheating to add it here but NYC is loaded w/specialty burgers and this is one of the best.

**Editor's Note - While I did take the B3 to the B36 when I knew a sandwich from B&C was in order, there was an "easier" way to get home via the B49 and I tell you this in an effort of full disclosure.

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Suggestions??

Have a spot in the 5 boroughs you think I should hit up? Comment here and I'll be sure to add it to my list. Thanks!

Nawlins Meet Burgers, Burgers Meet Nawlins - Rack & Soul (258 W 109th St)

Where to begin because I have my share of issues with this one. I guess the best approach is to stay burger focused. I went to Rack & Soul last week and was skeptical to say the least. It's BBQ meets soul food meets New Orleans and I was somewhat lost. It's like going to a diner and ordering eggplant parmesan, just because they offer it doesn't mean you should do it. Unless, of course, they have the best eggplant parm in the world. And even then, I'm skeptical.

Entering this soul food meets BBQ meets who knows what, I had one question - why the heck can I not get Kool Aid at a soul food restaurant? If you think that's wrong, you are wrong. Getting over my desire to be quenched by some red drink, I settled in and read what the menu had to offer. I was not in the mood for any traditional BBQ and my eyes found the selection of Po' Boys. I saw they offered a hamburger po' boy and figured I must be in the right place.

They brought a handful of scratch biscuits to the table that had a honey glaze on top. These were really good so I ate 5 and went back to waiting for my rare burger po' boy. Or so I thought. What I was really waiting for was a miniature hockey puck on a baguette that was lathered, heavily, with ground mustard. The burger was cooked to oblivion and was dry as eating a spoonful of cinnamon - even WITH the mustard and extra BBQ sauce (homemade, thankfully). Somewhere underneath my salad sandwich you'll see some brown, that itty bitty piece of brown is my burger. Tragic, I know.

Conceptually, the burger had a lot of promise. It reminded me of a favorite of mine that I get in AC at the White House - the foot long cheeseburger. At R&S, I was asked how I wanted it cooked and even a rare-medium rare burger was lost on this baguette. For the price, it's a horrible deal as you get virtually no meat and the meat you get tastes like nothing. Overcooked nothing in my situation.

Fortunately, they had some AMAZING collard greens. How amazing? This much!

Rating - 1/5 - Strictly points for the concept but it needs a LOT of work to get out of the burger basement.

Back to the Big Apple - Island Burgers and Shakes (9th and 51st)

Looks are deceiving. Deceptively deceiving sometimes. From the outside, Island Burgers has a small and rather modest appearance which does not foreshadow what you are about to encounter on the inside. Island Burgers and Shakes are yet another burger/shake spot in NYC. Unavoidable, I know but I comprehend it better than the burger/shake/cupcake craze that's trending on the NYC streets. Put a burger on a cupcake and you have me as your brand new BFF but you decide to bake those too b/c you know that the $4 cupcake is a trendy little snack on the NYC streets, shame on you cupcake cooker. Or baker. Whatever.

Back to IBS, their menu is simply amazing. There are so many options, each coming with different toppings, seasoning, etc. Did I mention that you can have any of the burgers as either a hamburger or a grilled chicken sandwich? Not a bad deal if you are craving a delicious, juicy, big burger and have a friend that's more into chicken. The complete menu can be found here and locals can use it to place orders for delivery.

Bourbon Street

At left, you can see the inside of a perfectly cooked RARE burger. At right, you can see the Bourbon Street burger, featuring a blackened burger patty, jack cheese, sauteed onions, and bacon.

I had two issues with the burger and that's going to hurt my overall review. Issue 1 - the bacon was cold. Not room temperature, not sorta warm, but cold. It was obviously cooked earlier and then just sat around and was not even heated prior to climbing on top of my burger. That was a bit of a bummer b/c I ended up eating the bacon separately and wanted it on this burger. Issue 2 - the sourdough was a nice, different touch. There are a number of bread/bun options there and again, that's a HUGE plus. I didn't ask if I could select a different bread but I am sure I could have. After eating it, I can say that I wasn't a fan of this pairing as the bread was a little too large and the crust was just kinda out there and out of place. Not bad, just out of place.

Rating - 4.75/5 - The variety of food here should be enough to keep me coming back for more and I'd surely recommend it to you too! The burgers are big, cooked to perfection, and have lots of flavor. Have you been here? What's your favorite?

The BK Tour Continues - 67 Burger (Lafayette Ave.)

Fly your flag 67.

I get a message one day telling me that I need to try this hot burger spot in Brooklyn and then I find myself there. It's that easy. Not far from the soon to be home of the Nets is 67 Burger, located in Fort Greene, amidst some other really good eateries, Smoke Joint and the landmark Junior's immediately come to mind, 67 Burger has been building a really solid reputation with a fairly tough crowd.

When I am told something is a "must have" I usually am a skeptic. When this particular friend tells me it's a must have, I'm there without hesitation. Why? Usually because it means he's buying, both the burgers and the coke and by coke I mean nose candy and by nose candy I mean cocaine.

Hi, I'm the 67 Burger. I wear bleu cheese.

Hi, 67 again, profile shot. I sit on bacon.

All gone.

I absolutely love their menu. It's simple to the point of being short bus but deep to the point of being Grand Canyon. Sounds oxymoronic or just plain moronic, I know but let's examine what I'm trying to say. You start with the meat of choice though in reality there's only one meat for a hamburger but you can choose beef, turkey, chicken, or veggie. From there, it gets fun. Well, fun for me but I'm a bit of a slob. When I am presented with the amount of choices a place like 67 presents, I do a lot of pre-planning and show up in sweatpants. Not so stylish but certainly spacious. Since choice one is so simple for me, choice two made things tough. My brain does not work in a manner that says, "just go back another time or two or four to try all the things you want to try" rather my brain says "you gotta catch 'em all, Pokeman" or something along those lines. NO I cannot eat 12 burgers in one sitting, YES I can try. My eyes shifted to the specialty burgers and I immediately crossed one of the 12 off the list. "The Ranch" was my Judas and was quickly crossed off the list of 12. Not sure if "The Ranch" proceeded to hang itself but I don't do ranch so I skipped that offering.

The choices are abundant and there's just too much to list here so I've opted to give you a link instead - http://67burger.com/assets/67.menu.06.14.09.pdf It's a link to a pdf so you can print it and plan your course. I'm not going to say exactly what I had because my photos are not up to my usual standard but I can tell you that I vouch for the 67, the Cajun, the Southwestern, and the Western.

Multiple visits are recommended, especially if you care to dine al-fresco. If you choose to eat the opposite of al-fresco (or indoors) that's ok too as there's ample seating.

Rating - 4.75/5 - Cooked to order, fresh not frozen, nice sized bun. Lots of toppings and options if you so choose and just done right.

Haiku Review - Roll N Roaster

it's good but not great

cheez on anything you pleez

that's roll n roaster

Rating - 3.25/5 - If I was rating other things on the menu, I'd go 5/5 here. The food, the consistency, and the nostalgic feel are all worth the raves and repeat visits. The burgers are not main eventing at RNR but they are good. Go with cheez and onions.

Brooklyn's Finest - Peter Luger's

The premier Brooklyn Steakhouse, perennially rated as the top steakhouse in all of NYC also serves up one of the city's best burgers. It's so special, they only serve it during lunch hours (until 3:45pm) and you'll most likely need to get a reservation well in advance to eat there. I've been fortunate enough to be greeted by a little old lady at the hostess counter each time I've visited. She's awesome. Tell her DJ says hi.

A little advice if you are making your first trip to Peter Luger's:

1 - Try, no TRY the bacon. Get it as an app, eat if while you wait for the burger to be cooked.
2 - Do not get a 2nd bacon on your burger after having tried it and liked it. Trust me, I'm right.
3 - If you skip the bacon as an app, do get it with your burger. Eat it alone. Savor it. Chances are it will be the highlight of your meal.

Before I go further, when I say app, I mean appetizer. I'm not talking about something you can play with on your iPhone or Droid so just leave the app-store now since there's no such thing as a Peter Luger Bacon App. Nor should there be.

Holy Pig Fat Batman, look at that bacon!!!

Moving on, going here for a burger may sound like sacrilege to the steak lovers out there but not going here for a burger IS sacrilege to all the burger lovers out there.

This is a MUST if you are craving a big, juicy burger. Now, all this praise does not go without some negativity. If there's a knock on Luger's, it's simple. They seem to cook the burger(s) however they want to cook them. In my most recent visit, we were a party of 5 (minus Neve Campbell) and 2 of us ordered our burgers to be cooked rare, the others ranged from medium rare to something more cooked.

The little plastic cow said my burger was rare and that little plastic cow was not lying. Unfortunately the little plastic cow on my friend's burger that said medium was not medium.

Let's just say there were 5 rare burgers on the table at the time of delivery. It's so disheartening that their cooking of what would arguably be THE burger in all of NYC is so lax that it hurts the overall rating. I compare this to seeing your dream girl and then finally asking her out only to find out that she was born a dude. "She's" taking web design classes by day and did just buy a webcam to make some extra money to speed along the process to become a real-live girl but "she's" just not quite what you wanted now that you've got "her."

Rating - 4/5. If I just graded this on my experience, it's a 5. The meat just tastes so good, the bun perfect, and the slice of raw onion is really all you need. But the cooking errors are just abundant. I grew up in BK and know the FU attitude that BK has but I aint rolling over and handing out grades based on that FU BK charm.

Oh and I did NOT order a cheeseburger but they made me one anyway. Thanks but I was trying to keep Kosher.

Suggestions?

Have a spot in the 5 boroughs you think I should hit up? Comment here and I'll be sure to add it to my list. Thanks!

Burgers and Shakes and Fried Pickles, Oh My! - STAND

Nothing is more welcoming than a red, white, and blue cow adorned with the stars and stripes. Nor is there anything more American. Trust me, my team and I did the research and the cow to the left one. It's why I have one in my bedroom. That and because he's fun to cuddle with during the cold winter months. 

For a time last year, Stand, which is located right in the heart of the NYU scene, featured this cow to lure people in for burgers and beers and...wait for it....if you guessed milkshakes, pat yourself on the back until you feel that sense of accomplishment that patting yourself on the back can bring. Where were we class? Ah yes, the NYU scene. If you can't hang with that, fear not as school's almost out for summer and for some, school's out forever. 

 

Let's start with the most important thing in your life that you may not know yet, the, as in THE Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake. I know I've been on a rant lately about burgers and shakes and what have you and that's because the abundance of these establishments has watered down the concept to the point of me not wanting to indulge my inner fat kid. Do something different. Give us a reason to think you wanted to make a shake that is not just ice cream in a blender. Give me a reason to want to shift up to a size 34 pants. Give me a toasted marshmallow shake and make it the biggest one you got! Rarely do I go this gaga for anything that's not that lady singer but holy hamburgers this thing is ridiculous.

 

To the left you have the Stand Burger with a pair of fried pickles and some home-made ketchup. According to their menu, the Stand Burger comes as follows:

Specially seasoned beef, red onion, lettuce, tomato, house sauce $10

 
I don't even eat ketchup on my burgers so I end up just doing a shot right out of the little ceramic cup it's held in. Is that a ramekin? I'm not sure but if it is, I'm right about it maybe being a ramekin. If not, well, then you tell me what it's called since I missed all last season of Martha Living. 

Also to the left is their Cheeseburger which features:  

Sesame bun, beef, onion marmalade, lettuce
Choose: blue cheese sauce, cheddar, American or Swiss cheese $10

That particular photo is one w/the onion marmalade and blue cheese sauce. The sauce, also in a ramekin, maybe, was so good that I sipped up whatever didn't get poured onto the burger. Why? For starters it tasted good. Secondly, it embarrasses my mom.

I always go here for the shake. It is the best in town and it always hits the spot, for me. We eat with our eyes, the creators of Stand know this. My eyes love what they see from the shake to the burgers to the fried pickles to kick the meal off. I've been here more times than I can count, so much so that I've get them thinking I'm a PhD student at NYU which doesn't get me far but lying about fancy things makes me feel good.

Rating - 5/5. Always cooked to perfection. Always seasoned perfectly. This is one of my go-to spots. The burgers are top notch and you'd be hard-pressed to find a burger place serving up better shakes.

Stand is conveniently located on E. 12th St. near the corner of University Pl. Click here for their menu