Archive for August, 2009

Burger Babe of the Week

Burger meets Babe

Burger meets Babe

Meet the Burger Babe of the Week, Emily!  Emily is seen eating the burger at Chelsea’s The Frying Pan.

Check out this great spot to let your hair down with live music, cocktails, and of course burgers.

Get that burger bod bronze and beat the heat on the Hudson at this fantastic water-view bar.

Be the Next Burger Babe!! - Send us a pic of you or your Babe & a Burger

Burger & Babe

Burger & Babe

The Frying Pan- Rating (6 out of 10 Burgers)

The Frying Pan Burger

The Frying Pan Burger

Round up the friends, bust out the shades, and get ready to work on that tan down at The Frying Pan.  Make sure to hit this bar and restaurant right next door to Chelsea Piers before the end of the summer nears.  This outdoor and waterfront bar has a great scene with live music, great cocktails, and a view that can’t be missed.

The Frying Pan burger itself is best described as one that you would find at a backyard cookout in the burbs, on a summer evening picnic dinner, cooking up one of America’s favorites.  It has a distinct char grilled tasted with quality meat but slightly overcooked and well done.  No reinventing the wheel here with burger toppings as the traditional lettuce, tomato, and cheese round out the meal.

The burger takes a back seat to the scene at The Frying Pan but while you are there do not decline the beef as it could leave you surprised when not expecting much.  Make sure to order up a side of fries to compliment your summer meal.

The Frying Pan

The Frying Pan

Hudson View

Hudson View

Blue 9 Burger- Rating (6.5 out of 10 Burgers)

Blue 9 Burger

Blue 9 Burger

Nothing blue about the East Village burger eatery and NYU neighbor, Blue 9 Burger.  This downtown  shoppe left me feeling pure happiness rather than blue and down.  Be prepared to be served up a simple but flavorful burger with an outstanding sauce.

The beef along with the sauce and the works is a tasty mess that is old-fashioned but finger-licking good.  The sauce is so-called “mango chili” but not sure if I tasted either.  Those flavors couldn’t quite be made out tonight but it may have been a result of a few adult beverages preceding my Blue 9 trip. Either way whatever that sauce is made up of it is extremely good and who cares what’s in it ,right?  All i know is that it gives the McDonald’s secret Big Mac sauce a run for its money.

Now is the overall burger experience the best in the neighborhood? Maybe not, BUT it is a definitely worth the trip and i’ll leave it up to you to be the judge of that.

Blue 9 Seating

Blue 9 Seating

The Blue 9 Burer

The Blue 9 Burer

PJ Clarke’s- Rating (8 out of 10 Burgers)

Burnaise Burger

Bernaise Burger

Hats off to the Midtown Manhattan seasoned veteran PJ Clarke’s for its endless effort of never disappointing.  Clarke’s is one of New York City’s oldest and most beloved burger joints and bar.  Known for its simplistic but masterful burger, this perennial powerhouse will leave you coming back for more…fo’ sho’.

The Bernaise burger is prey this evening cooked medium rare, cheddar cheese, smothered in Bernaise sauce and sneaking onto the burger is a handful of fried onion strings (The onions are a side but who is going to stop you?). This juicy delight will surely have you licking your chops and singing praises for a tradition unlike any other, The Bernaise Burger (…not the Masters)

Brush up on your Irish accent and strike up some friendly conversation with the happy folks behind the bar.  They are assured to offer up great service and generous pints of “loud mouth soup”.

Bernaise Burger w/ onion strings

Bernaise Burger w/ onion strings

Bar scene & Bartenders

Bar scene & Bartenders

Rapid Fire- 123 Burger Shot Beer

Photo by Gavin Thomas/nymag.com

Photo by Gavin Thomas/nymag.com

Be sure to check out Midtown West sports bar 123 Burger Shot Beer.  This spot is fantastic for meeting up with colleagues for happy hour, couples looking to let loose a bit, or watching a Yanks/Mets game with your pals.

$1 Sliders w/ cheese and onions, $2 shots and $3 pony beers.  Hop on it!

Burger Creations (5 out of 10 Burgers)

Sante Fe Burger

Sante Fe Burger

Artistry is the name of the game at this Greenwich Village burger shoppe, Burger Creations.  This small burger boutique offers an out of the ordinary menu featuring creativity ranging from Hawaii to Paris.

Tonight is a venture down south and saddling up with the Sante Fe Burger.  This tumbleweed treat is 7 oz.  of char grilled beef topped with Pico de Gallo, Guacamole, and Jack cheese on a Brioche.  The fixings take first prize with  very flavorful Pico that’s salty, sweet, with a fiery kick.  The Guac is smooth, zesty, but mild enough to allow the Pico to dance in your mouth (Bailaaaamos! Let the rythm take you over Pico de Gallooooo!…a little Enrique for y’all)

The beef is far from the bee’s knees tonight as it lacks even the littlest amount of flavor.  The meat was overcooked and might as well have been ordered “well done & done”.  A little gentler with the heat on the grill and Burger Creations has a potential for a great burger…but still some work left to do.

Location- 50 East 8th St (Between Broadway & Mercer) Burger- Sante Fe Burger Price- $7.50

Burger Creations Seating

Burger Creations Seating

Burger Creations

Burger Creations

8th Street (Mercer & Broadway)

8th Street (Mercer & Broadway)

Stand (7 out of 10 Burgers)

Stand Burger

Stand Burger

Hats off, an ovation and round of applause for the Village’s Stand.  Whether you are a local, NYU student, or a tourist passing through center village make sure you pop into Stand for a fantastic burger, a great selection of beverages (both alcoholic and non…[see milkshakes]) and shoes string fries that bring on a new meaning to the classic cut.

There is no line to stand in tonight so a front row seat at the bar it is.  The “best burger in Manhattan at its price” The Stand Burger was the burger of choice this evening.  This beefy delight featured chopped onions, fresh parsley and Worcestershire sauce in the hamburger meat, topped with cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, accompanied by homemade ketchup and tempura battered bread & butter pickles.  A Standing O yet?

Be sure to add an order of the Shoe String fries (a small will do for a party of two).  They resemble a gourmet version of French’s Potato Sticks your mother use to pack away in your paper bagged lunch.

Location: 24 East 12th Street (Between University Pl & 6th Ave)Burger: Stand Burger Cost: $9

Seating at Stand

Seating at Stand

Stand Burger

Stand Burger

Stand

Stand