Thursday, February 17, 2010: Can’t you smell the weekend? Most of you are starting your weekend tonight–whether you have to work tomorrow or not. If you fit into that category, there are plenty of late night parties and bars to get into tonight, including one heck of a party going on at Suzie Wongs. But I’ll start off with a familiar face from the early 2000’s. There weren’t a lot of funny people on the anti-rap MTV of my adolescence, but this guy below was one of the few MTV personalities that could keep my attention for more than five minutes. Read the rest of this entry »
Burgers! How can you not love them? They are the common man’s food alternative to steak and filet mignon, and sometimes, they’re even better than the real thing. Besides, unless you work for AIG, who can afford to cough up $35+ for a decent steak in Manhattan these days?
I didn’t think so.
So to help you out, here are some of New York’s best, and cheapest, burgers:
M2M – 2935 Broadway, New York, NY 10025
Yes, that’s right! Travel on up to the Upper West Side to get one of the best burgers in Manhattan. Columbia students already know about this diamond in the rough, but allow me to share it with New York City’s masses. I don’t know what they do, or how they do it, but somehow these seemingly amateur short-order cooks serve up one of the best burgers I have ever had in New York City. In a place where they’re selling Tropicana fruit punch and sushi, you can still go to the order station, ask for a cheeseburger deluxe, and be blown out of your mind as to just how tender and flavorful the burgers they make are. Not to mention, any deluxe burger order comes with fries, which just happen to be some of the most addicting fries I’ve ever had, despite the fact that I’m pretty sure they come straight out of wholesale bag. I usually go for the ultimate death nail of a burger, a double-patty with cheese and bacon. Sure, it doesn’t do much for my heart, but my stomach never complains.
Blue 9 – 92 3rd Avenue, New York, NY
Blue 9 doesn’t have the biggest burgers or the most tender burgers either. But what they do have is a piece of meat that is so full of flavor, oils and is prepared with a careful touch right up until they stuff it in the greasy bag they give it to you in. Their burgers are placed in a nice little bun, served with tomato and onions, and you have the option to turn it into a heat-producing firecracker or you can simply get the “Blue 9” burger, a double cheeseburger with more taste in a single bite than just about any other burger in Manhattan.
Shake Shack – Multiple Manhattan Locations
I wasn’t sold on the merits of the Shake Shack burger at first—that is until, of course, I tried it! With several Shake Shack locations now in Manhattan, you really have no excuse not to have tried this L.A.-style burger. Loaded with everything from lettuce, tomato, shake sauce and Portobello mushrooms, the Shake Stack burger is my favorite. Like Blue 9, they aren’t the biggest burgers in the world, but the Shake Stack burger is a double-stuffed. The fries here make the burger, and if you’re feeling extra risqué, you have the option of adding cheese to those fried potatoes. So the next time you see that giant line oozing out of the Shake Shack venue during lunch time, don’t question those patrons’ merits. Just grab a spot in line next to them!
If you are wondering how the recession is truly effecting our eating habits, look no further than beef to explain away some of our nation’s recent dietary trends. It’s pretty hard to pay $20 or more for a decent steak in New York City when the town is awash with massive job cuts on Wall Street and as the real estate market folds like Bernie Madoff investments. But that hasn’t stopped New Yorkers from enjoying the very meat that saw this country thru wars, civil and revolutionary, as well as political and social movements—not to mention other recessions. What meat is that?
Beef!
It’s what’s for dinner!
However, during these economic times, beef is not too popular in T-Bone or Filet Mignon form. Heck, the New York Strip isn’t even too popular in New York City these days. Instead, the burger, far more affordable than steak, has seen a major resurgence over the past year and half. In fact, as of this past January, the number of New York City restaurants offering burgers was up 7% compared to two years ago. Perhaps you should take advantage of it.
Sure, you could hit up the usuals; you know, the Blue 9’s, the Shake Shacks and the Five Guys of the world. But now, some places are serving up burgers made from Kobe beef, New York steak, and short-rib patties, causing the “delectability factor” of burgers to reach an all time high.
So where can you find these mouth-watering treats? Here are just a few of the choices out there:
Bar Artisnal – 268 W. Broadway, New York, NY 10013
How can you say no to the burgers of Bar Artisanal? Of course, the burger of choice there is unquestionably the Artisnal Blend. Raved about in New York Magazine, the Artisanal Blend burger combines short rib with chuck beef in a combination so flavorful and juicy that you won’t believe you’re eating a burger. Served with house-made remoulade on brioche, the Artisanal Blend burger is just as classic as it is rare, and that’s a hard combination to come by in the world of hamburgers. So Tribeca’s secret is out. The Artisanal Blend burger is not just for the bankers and lawyers down on Wall Street looking for a lunch prix-fixe. Now you too know about this beef delicacy, which can be yours for the relatively low price of $13.
Five Napkin Burger – 630 Ninth Avenue, New York, NY 10036
Yes, the name of this burger-joint does coincide with its dietary concerns—or lack thereof. Five Napkin Burger caters to an extremely carnivorous crowd that likes to get dressed up before they scarf down their greasy—yet extremely tasty—treats. Their signature burger, the “Original 5 Napkin Burger,” is their signature burger for a reason. This greasy, juicy, sizzling, 10-ounce, beef monstrosity comes covered in rosemary aioli, Comte cheese and caramelized onions. Made from fresh-ground chuck, the Original 5 Napkin Burger oozes with flavor, which is possibly addictive, because I keep going back to pay the $13.95 just to taste God’s gift to burger-lovers every where.
BRGR
I know BRGR can seem like a pretty trendy place that probably doesn’t have a decent burger in the joint, but that perception couldn’t be further from reality. With a selection of burgers and burger toppings that combine to give you a multitude of personalized options, BRGR is second to none when it comes to “having it your way.” That said, do it my way and try the Rainforest Burger, which is made of grass-fed beef, gruyere, avocado, mayonnaise and L&T. FIT students and Chelsea residents are already familiar with this place, which is why BRGR is making out like bandits with the Rainforest Burger and all of their menu options. So don’t be the last one to check it out. For just $9 you can try my favorite burger from here, and for as little as $7.55, you can choose from an array of signature burgers and toppings and still have enough money left over to pay for the cup of coffee you’ll need just to prevent the itus from hitting you on your way out the door.
