Best Burger?

Johnny Rocket is my favorite. It is on 1st Ave somewhere between 50th and 60th St.

Man, I would love to know who is cooking their burgers over a real flame these days. I guess the problem with burgers is that whenever I'm in the mood for one I don't want to go to a sit-down place and pay a ton of money for one. I am all about the casual burger dining experience.

But in any case I've been dying to go to DBGB Kitchen and Bar lately. They have a burger called "the piggy"... not exactly the most causal burger but I can feel it melting in my mouth just thinking about it...

When I was in DC's airport during a layover, I dropped by a Five Guys and loved the feel and the burgers. I've checked online and they have locations in NYC. Anyone been to one of em? Good?

I've been to several... they are all the same. Expect the same awesome (yet still fastfood) burger you had in DC.

Best burger is at Three Guy's Cafe and Diner on 96th and Madison, hands-down. Greasy but not fatty, rich but not artery-clogging, and utterly DELICIOUS!

It's a little pretentious but the burger at the Spotted Pig is really something that everyone ought to try. Blue cheesy, albeit, but pretty dynamo.

I am a fan of Five Guys, too, especially after a night of drinking. They have one in Park Slope, it's on 5th Ave near 6th St I think. Great stuff!

This thread might also help out on the burger front:

http://www.streetadvisor.com/new_york/forums/best-burger-in-new-york-city

There's a Johnny Rocket's in Hoboken too. It's pretty good. Five Guys is pretty standard. My fav burger used to be Minetta's until they changed ownership; now that summer's coming on I can't wait to get out to Fette Sau http://www.fettesaubbq.com/ They're first and foremost a BBQ joint, not really a burger place, but omigod they have amazing meats.

I recently ate at Five Napkin Burger on the UWS and it was pretty good. A friend and I shared the Burger for two which was scrumptious and filling to boot.

The reason I like Johnny Rocket is because of the Oldies music that is played there. I grew up listening to the Oldies and Country. When I eat their famous hamburger, it brings back memories of when I was a teenager.

@broadwaybk: I went to DBGB when it first opened and it was pretty underwhelming. I went with 5 people and not one of us enjoyed our food. Maybe it was opening kinks but that place is a definite pass for me.

Hmmm... I've worked at a few restaurants when they first opened and I have to say that I wouldn't want to go to a restaurant that has just opened its doors. It's possible that opening kinks is all it was? Anyway, @JenMac @BroadwayBK isn't that place supposed to have one of the best burgers in NYC? I looked at a few lists after this topic was posted and remember seeing it listed somewhere.

I' sticking with my Spotted Pig vote: if you like blue cheese and awesome, you won't be sorry.

@JenMac That's depressing. Those burgers look so amazing..

@everyone Anyway I've only been going to Five Guys lately. It's cheap and definitely a decent burger, no matter what I said in previous postings. The only thing is that you have to get takeout. Who wants to sit in a fast food place and actually eat?

@BroadwayBK I actually like sitting at Five Napkin Burger on the UWS its quite a snazzy joint that has a good wine list as well. We in fact paired our burger with a nice rose and had a great afternoon gabbing and scarfing down the huge burger.. definitely recommended..

@uptowngirl One of these days I am going to to up to the UES for some reason other than going to the park or the Met. Maybe for a good burger at Five Napkin? That neighborhood just makes me feel so...poor.

@BroadwayBK Five Napkin on the UWS at 84th and Broadway.. as for the UES not all of it is 'chi-chi' and old money..east of Lexington Avenue in the 70's and 80's its quite normal..with affordable shops and restaurants..in fact third avenue in the 80's has some good thrift shops which are definitely worth browsing around..

@uptowngirl Yeah... there is something about the way the UES looks that just makes me think "money!" all the time. I don't really think that everyone is rolling in it up there...

Yeah, I'm a fan of Yorkville. It's a nice escape from the pretensions of the UES, and the area aroudnd Lex and 86th St is good for inexpensive shopping

I was surprised to realize a lot of students live in the UES because the rents are affordable up there...the area always screamed "money" to me too.

I think it depends on where in the UES. East of Lex is pretty inexpensive. Plus I think plenty of the affluent set tend to own in co-ops - rental buildings are attracting a bit of a different audience

I also knew a few unpaid interns that lived way up there... in the midst of all those mom-and-pops diners and pretty close to where Derek Jeter lives. I guess affordable rents can be found there, indeed.

@Uraniumfish and Never Sleeps parts of Yorkville is populated with old world walk-ups which are generally rental buildings that are quite popular with students maybe that explains the proliferation of frat bars along Second Avenue in the 80's.

Why is that area so cheap? Is it because it's a bit of a hike to to subway?

@Uraniumfish I guess so.. but that hike doesnt deter me.. I always say that's my cardio for the day..but I do know that prices of apartments are definitely affected by their proximity to a subway line or two.. anyway the area will one day get the Second Avenue subway line and then I dont think it will be as cheap..

Also, aren't there a bunch of rather unattractive institutional buildings around there...? I really don't frequent the are but seem to remember tons of hospitals nearby...

@Uraniumfish the major hospitals are in the 60's and 70's Sloan Kettering, Lenox Hill, Rockefeller University, New York Presbyterian.. actually some of the best hospitals in the City ..

@Everybody: Someone mentioned Spotted Pig in this forum earlier. I don't know if I would want to go to a place that has that for a name. No thanks. I'll stick with Johnny Rocket for my hamburgers.

@Uraniumfish I remember that area as not being especially easy on the eye, though I've seen worse...like Bushwick.

@hhusted Spotted Pig is a great British style gastro-pub in the West Village and the food is quite exquisite..that is if you can ever get reservations.

@BroadwayBK - yeah, there are tons of huge post-war condos - with 60+ floors, brick walls, etc. Great views from the inside, though

@Uptowngirl: I think I will stick to Johnny Rocket. At least you don't need a reservation, and I love the music they play. Thanks anyway.

Is it just me or are there not too many burger places around that require a reservation?

@ajadedidealist I'll take your word for it. But I am not moving there anytime soon...it's too far away from my social life.

Fair enough. Although there are some great cheap eats, etc., around - TCBY, some lovely pizza places, plus a great Ethopian restaurant!

@Everyone a new burger bar is set to open in late June in Soho called Burger and Barrel, its by the same team who are behind Lure Fish bar
http://www.nbcnewyork.com/feast/Lure-Fishbars-Burger--Barrels-Opens-Late-June-91539799.html

@BroadwayBk and @Everyone I cook my burgers at home. You can come up with some delicious recipes. My husband likes my cheese stuffed hamburgers. He double stacks them. I try not to make them too big. Also, I have made a jalepaneo and cheese stuffed burger for those who love it spicy. I usually go with the classic American burger. I'm not a fancy person. I just love spices and home made buns. As you can tell I make most of my food from scrap. It's better that way.

@uptowngirl: I love Lure! I think that place is so cool without trying to be cool which makes it cooler. And, I do love me some meat so I can't wait to try the place! Thanks for the heads up!

@hhusted poor you youre missing out on a world of fascinating flavors...

I cook burgers at home, too... We have an awesome grill in our backyard. Really looking forward to three months of summer and grill time!!!

Has anyone ever grilled a burger with a whole egg inside of it? Or a big bit of butter? I know it's not the most cholesterol friendly thing, but soooo good!

@BroadwayBk I have never heard of a burger such as that but it sounds downright scrumptious for I love eggs!

A lot of brunch places will top your burger with a fried egg, which is also pretty tasty. The Sunburnt Cow comes to mind...

That sounds delicious! Sorte of like a croque madame (ham, cheese, bread, egg) with a burger!

I know BroadwayBK but the whole egg grilled in the burger piqued my interest.. I try with much difficulty to limit myself to two eggs a week sigh!

@Uptowngirl: Not really. How can I miss out on something I never tasted.

@hhusted that's my point ..not having tasted some yo'ure missing out for perhaps you will develop a liking for spices but then again maybe not ..:):)

@Uptowngirl: Not really. I like my food plain. I will pour honey on certain things like pancakes, unless I use pure maple syrup. Otherwise, I will sprinkle salt on certain foods that need it. But that is about it. I do not use sugar at all. It is wasteful calories.

Isn't there sugar in honey and maple syrup?

@JenMac: Yes, but I think the sugar in honey is natural. As for syrup, I'm not too sure.

@JenMac I think the sugar in Maple Syrup also comes from a natural source which is the sap of the trees -
http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/7036.pdf
However both honey and maple need to be consumed in moderation as they both are sugars even though they are extracted from natural sources.

Sugar's natural too, when you think about it...

I think sugar cane goes through some serious processing - involving chemicals - to get to be refined sugar. So...it's not THAT natural.