Ok, so a "provacative" thread title, but I was just trying to get some attention. Please be aware that this post will be filled with what seems to be double entendres and that I realize that everyone has their own "best" burger place in Manhattan. Anyway...........
Burgers in Manhattan, like pizza, usually suck. You'd think it would not be so hard to get a good piece of meat between two quality buns, but it's like some sort of dysfunction. Today, I had a great burger. And by burger, I do not mean the short rib and foie gras concoctions that are peddled for $75 at some restaurants, I mean a high quality sirloin/chuck burger, at a democratic price, which you can take with you if need be. I've had burgers at the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridian, the burger at some place (Corner Bistro maybe) in the village, from Nick's etc and they all seem to lack some good meat flavor. When I put the meat in my mouth, I want to taste the meat and it's natural juices.
Zaitzeff (I went to the one in midtown) has good meat. I think they are a financial district mainstay, but I have not been down there in years. They offer a sirloin and a "kobe" burger,in 1/4 and 1/2 pound increments, along with some other vegeterian crap, like turkey and veggie burgers and a chicken breast sandwich, menu is quite spartan. They have fresh/natural potato and sweet potato fries. The meat is grass fed. I went with the 1/4 sirloin, the 1/2 pound is too much meat for me to handle. Ordered it plain, no dressing. Comes on a nicely toasted bun, might be egg based. Cooked perfectly, very juicy. The meat had a wonderful "meaty taste" and it looked like coarsely ground beef, not a brown sponge. My only issue with it was that it was no salted at all. I can't recall the last burger I've had that was salted properly. The fries, skin on, were very tasty as well. Crispy on the outside, white and creamy on the inside, and actually tasting of potato. Also, not salted (here a plus), most places salt their fries like they own stock in manufacturers of high blood pressure medication. I would rank these guys above the others I mentioned and look forward to going back.
Burgers in Manhattan, like pizza, usually suck. You'd think it would not be so hard to get a good piece of meat between two quality buns, but it's like some sort of dysfunction. Today, I had a great burger. And by burger, I do not mean the short rib and foie gras concoctions that are peddled for $75 at some restaurants, I mean a high quality sirloin/chuck burger, at a democratic price, which you can take with you if need be. I've had burgers at the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridian, the burger at some place (Corner Bistro maybe) in the village, from Nick's etc and they all seem to lack some good meat flavor. When I put the meat in my mouth, I want to taste the meat and it's natural juices.
Zaitzeff (I went to the one in midtown) has good meat. I think they are a financial district mainstay, but I have not been down there in years. They offer a sirloin and a "kobe" burger,in 1/4 and 1/2 pound increments, along with some other vegeterian crap, like turkey and veggie burgers and a chicken breast sandwich, menu is quite spartan. They have fresh/natural potato and sweet potato fries. The meat is grass fed. I went with the 1/4 sirloin, the 1/2 pound is too much meat for me to handle. Ordered it plain, no dressing. Comes on a nicely toasted bun, might be egg based. Cooked perfectly, very juicy. The meat had a wonderful "meaty taste" and it looked like coarsely ground beef, not a brown sponge. My only issue with it was that it was no salted at all. I can't recall the last burger I've had that was salted properly. The fries, skin on, were very tasty as well. Crispy on the outside, white and creamy on the inside, and actually tasting of potato. Also, not salted (here a plus), most places salt their fries like they own stock in manufacturers of high blood pressure medication. I would rank these guys above the others I mentioned and look forward to going back.
(note to self: next time go downtown)
