Pamplona
37 East 28th Street
New York, NY 10016
(212) 213-2328
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3.5/5
Notes:
- Burger: Pamplona’s tapas menu offers a pair of slider-sized burgers made of a tasty mixture of ground beef and chorizo. The sausage imparted a smoky flavor into the neatly packed miniature patties, which arrived perfectly medium rare – slightly charred on the outside and a nice pinkish red hue inside.
- Bun: These little snack burgers are served on a white bread bun that holds together nicely, in part because the patties are so lean.
- Garnish: Garnished with leaf lettuce, a thin cut of tasty tomato, and a hearty slice of white onion that went perfectly with the sausage-flavored burger.
- Mess factor: These sliders are so small and the meat so spare that there’s nothing messy to speak of at all.
- Fries: The fries were thick and crunchy, but unfortunately without any flavor.
- Price: $14, with the fries.
- Bordeaux: We selected a 2001 Coto de Imaz Rioja Riserva with rich tones of berries and vanilla. The wine was the highlight of our evening – low on the tannins, highly drinkable, very smooth with a clean finish.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall: Pamplona has an international vibe, with world music and a medley of languages filling the air. They maintain a low-key profile tucked away on a side street above Madison Square Park. The comfortably modern and simple décor consists of dark wood tones, high ceilings, and large round white light shades. The menu is straight-up tapas – we were equal parts surprised and excited when we heard they included a burger. Unfortunately, the little sandwiches don’t stand up to some of the other small plates they offer – the dates wrapped in smoky, crisp bacon easily outshone them. Plus, the burgers are too small to settle for just a couple – if you’re hungry, like we always are when it’s burger night, you should probably order 4 of these babies.
September 4th, 2008
jonas
Nice Matin
201 West 79th St (@ Amsterdam)
New York, NY 10024
(212) 873-6423
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3/5
Notes:
- Burger: Nice Matin’s famous Five Napkin Burger might not quite live up to it’s name, but it’s definitely enormous, decidedly juicy, has a great meaty flavor, and an even, crumbly texture. And, it was cooked just right.
- Bun: With a burger this juicy, finding a bun that can hold it together is a real challenge. Unfortunately, they’ve chosen a soft, seeded brioche that is no match for the juice that spurts from the first bite of this burger.
- Garnish: Garnished with a sharp, crispy radicchio, a thick slice of beautiful, red tomato, hardly discernable comte cheese, and an overwhelming mound of sautéed, caramelized onions that contributed more to the mess than they did to the flavor.
- Mess factor: Testimony to the juiciness of this burger, after the explosive first bite, the waiter swooped back in and replaced my plate with a dry one. Despite the name, they don’t deliver a quintet of serviettes with this burger and we both ended up with one very fully-used cloth napkin.
- Fries: The fries were the standout here – deliciously flavored with garlic and rosemary and cooked to the perfect level of crispiness.
- Price: $17.50
- Bordeaux: The wine list at Nice Matin is surprisingly extensive – it isn’t the kind of place where we expected a sommelier to rush over to help us choose the right wine to pair with our hamburgers. We declined her assistance and selected a Cousino Macul Antiguas Reservas Cabernet Sauvignon from 2006. It had a nice, rich fruity flavor that went great with the burger and fries and opened up nicely over the course of the evening.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there, if you knew her pretty well.
- Overall: With the recent unveiling of the Five Napkin Burger restaurant in Hell’s Kitchen, we decided to try the original sandwich that inspired it. Unfortunately, we were a little disappointed. The patty itself is as tasty and juicy as we hoped, but the overall experience suffers from too many faults – most pointedly, the messy mass of onions, the flavorless cheese, and the soggy bun. The décor is like an American bistro that has forsaken the traditional bistro trappings – instead of a tile floor or faux-vintage mirrors, Nice Matin is decked out in patterned wallpaper and tall light fixtures that look like giant flat-top mushrooms with light bulbs. The space is light and airy with nice large windows overlooking the corner of 79th and Amsterdam.
June 29th, 2008
jonas
Seymour Burton
511 East 5th St (b/t A & B)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 260-1333
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3/5
Notes:
- Burger: Seymour Burton’s burger has a lot going for it: a delicious char-grilled flavor, a nice and juicy interior, and a thin layer of sharp white cheddar cheese on top. Unfortunately, none of this can quite make up for the subtle seasonings and therefore subtly disappointing taste of the patty itself. Plus, we both ordered our hamburgers medium-rare, and both came a little overcooked, with not a hint of pink to be found.
- Bun: Served atop an English muffin that started out strong but started to fall apart towards the end – testimony to how juicy the burger was, and how good the bread was at capturing the juices.
- Garnish: Served with a thick slice of red onion, the aforementioned white cheddar cheese, and a slightly garlicky aioli.
- Mess factor: The mess factor increased the further along we got – but all in all, a pretty manageable experience.
- Fries: The burger comes with thin cut, nicely salted fries that were just shy of crispy.
- Price: $13
- Bordeaux: Seymour Burton has a limited wine list that didn’t feature a Bordeaux the night we visited. We opted for a 2004 Cachagua Cabernet from Heller Estates, which had a very hearty fruit flavor and hints of licorice and anisette in the aroma. It was very easy to drink and paired well with the burger and fries.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall: Given the positive marks that Seymour Burton consistently receives for their food, we went with high expectations. While the appetizers delivered, we were somewhat underwhelmed by the burger. The restaurant itself has a charming “under construction” kind of appeal, with exposed wood, electrical conduit in plane sight, and the night we visited, actual construction going on above the open kitchen. The menu is written on a huge, wall-sized chalkboard, requiring diners in the far corners of the small restaurant to get up to fully view the offerings. The tables are small and cramped – except for the long community table at the center, which seems like they’ve just thrown in the towel and admitted they couldn’t get two small tables any closer, so they might as well seat everyone together.
June 10th, 2008
jonas
The Smith
53 Third Ave (b/t 10th & 11th Street)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 420-9800
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3/5
Notes:
- Burger: Unfortunately, The Smith’s burger disappoints in the flavor department – it’s a lackluster patty without an inherently delicious meaty taste or the seasonings to improve upon it.
- Bun: A homemade white bread bun that holds the sandwich together without getting in the way of the burger experience. This would have been more appreciated had the burger delivered a little more zest.
- Garnish: Served with lettuce, thin slices of red onion, white cheddar cheese, a dubious “special sauce” and a delicious layer of smoky, crisp, salty bacon.
- Mess factor: There’s plenty of juice in this burger, but very little mess.
- Fries: The burger comes with a massive pile of thin, crispy fries. Like the burger, unfortunately, they were underwhelmingly seasoned.
- Price: $13 (with everything)
- Bordeaux: The Smith doesn’t serve a Bordeaux, though they do offer a small selection of wines by the carafe and half-carafe, listed on a chalk board behind the bar. Wines are served in a juice glass, and we went with the cabernet, which was satisfying enough to wash down the sandwich and fries.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall: The Smith is a rock and roll restaurant, with a combo of indy-label music and classic 80s pop (including Cure and Romeo Void) blaring in the background. The dining room is large and airy, with a wall of windows overlooking 3rd Avenue. The brushed stainless steel bar, milk glass lamps, and wood plank ceiling add a nice touch to the décor. We had a delicious braised bacon and egg appetizer, so there’s no reason to believe that more effort went into the ambiance than the food. However, if we had just had the burgers, we might have left believing just the opposite.
April 28th, 2008
jonas
Westville East
173 Avenue A (@ East 11th Street)
New York, NY 10009
(212) 741-7971
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 4/5
Notes:
- Burger: Westville East’s patty is firm, juicy, and well seasoned – a delicious mouthful that bursts with flavor on the first bite.
- Bun: The sandwich is served on a Portuguese muffin that’s toasted on the grill. This was one of the most impressive buns we’ve seen for holding up to – and holding on to – a juicy burger.
- Garnish: Served with lettuce, tomato, a thick round of white onion and sweet pickle slices. We ordered our burgers with cheddar cheese, which came as a hearty layer of melted goodness.
- Mess factor: There’s plenty of juice in this burger, but the bun really minimizes the mess.
- Fries: The burger is served with a generous pile of thin cut fries that were lightly seasoned and deliciously crispy. An optional salad can be ordered instead of the fries, though we can’t vouch for that.
- Price: $10 (with cheese)
- Bordeaux: Westville’s wine list is printed on a laminated card on the table, isn’t divided into regions, and doesn’t specify the vintage of the wines on offer. Of the four reds listed, none were from Bordeaux. We ordered a California Pinot Noir from Heron, which was too young and light to match the hearty burger and salty fries, but was very drinkable nonetheless.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall: Westville East serves pleasant comfort food in a casual setting. The white walls and large windows overlooking Avenue A give the space an open and airy feeling, and the small, candle-lit tables make it intimate. The vibe is Friday night pre-party, even late on a Monday evening, with the Beach Boys looping around in the background. Overall, this is a nice place to stop in for a respectable burger, but not necessarily worth a trip if you aren’t already in the hood.
March 31st, 2008
jonas
The Spotted Pig
314 West 11th Street (@ Greenwich St.)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 620-0393
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 5/5
Notes:
- Burger: A damn good patty. Cooked to the ordered temperature and sized just right for the bun.
- Bun: The soft, brioche bun is grilled on both sides, which adds a nice crunch.
- Garnish: N/A
- Mess factor: Astoundingly little mess given the juiciness and liberal portion of gooey roquefort.
- Fries: These fries define shoestring: Thin, crispy and well seasoned with a touch of garlic. The fresh rosemary is also a nice touch. The Spotted Pig is not stingy with the fries, you’ll have plenty to share with your neighbor or pile on your burger.
- Price: $17 (stock presentation includes Roquefort cheese)
- Bordeaux: The bordeaux on offer were well beyond our price threshold. Instead, we chose a 2005 Zinfandel from Ridge “Three Valleys”. A drinkable wine–slightly upstaged by the roquefort. Those not dead-set on drinking wine may be better served by pairing this burger with one of the many fine beers available.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall: Don’t let these laconic notes lead you to believe that this burger isn’t worthy of more ink–it certainly is. But, the no-bullshit presentation of this burger deserves a similar writeup. Any establishment that sends their burger out sans garnish is confident that the sandwich can stand on its own. In this case, that confidence is well founded. Both the first and second floor dining areas are cozy and, well, publike. The Spotted Pig is no secret. This coupled with its no-reservations policy leads to multiple-hour waits. If, however, you sneak in early (before 6) or late (they serve until 2 nightly), you should be rewarded with a table rather quickly.
March 13th, 2008
JP Reardon
Rare Bar & Grill
303 Lexington Ave. (@ 37th)
New York, NY 10016
(212) 481-1999
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3.5/5
Notes:
- Burger: We ordered the M & M Burger, which arrived a little less pink than preferred but beautifully presented and deliciously covered with caramelized shallots, cheddar cheese, and apple-smoked bacon. The patty itself wasn’t the star of the sandwich, but the tasty toppings certainly made that easier to overlook.
- Bun: The burger was served on an egg-coated sweet bun, almost like a brioche, which earned extra points for texture and flavor. The bun was a little small for the large and tall stack of goodness in the middle.
- Garnish: In addition to the shallots, cheddar, and bacon on the M&M Burger, Rare serves their sandwiches with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles.
- Mess factor: Shortly after we ordered, the waiter dropped off a handful of extra napkins. We put them to good use.
- Fries: Shoestring fries that benefited from a little pick-me-up by the salt shaker.
- Price: $15
- Bordeaux: Rare has a good selection of California wines, but no Bordeaux. We ordered a 2005 Zinfandel from Ravenswood that was full bodied with mild flavors of cherry and spice. It was easy to drink and went well with the hearty sandwich.
- Atmosphere: A nice place to take a girl.
- Overall: What’s most rare about Rare is that it feels like a restaurant, not a hamburger stand. The dark wood and candle-lit tables are a nice contrast to the well-lit burger joints. But, Rare still has all the great benefits of a burger joint, including a large menu of topping combinations and a longer list of individual garnishes if you want to build your own. We had the good fortune of waiting for our table at the bar and sampling from their large beer selection. With so much going for it, and such great toppings heaped on their burgers, it’s too bad their patty doesn’t stand out more.
December 7th, 2007
jonas
Deborah Restaurant
43 Carmine St (b/t Bleecker & Bedford)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 242-2606
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 5/5
Notes:
- Burger: This patty is packed with flavor – salt, garlic, and pepper emerge with every bite – and manages to be generously juicy without being overly greasy.
- Bun: A brown-topped white bun that is a little smaller than the burger. The bread added a little texture, but not much flavor, to the sandwich. Most importantly, it held together until the last morsel.
- Garnish: Deborah tops their patty with a nice, fat onion ring, diced tomatoes (brilliant) and melted cheddar cheese and then covers it with a thin spread of spicy aioli.
- Mess factor: A pleasantly un-messy affair, given the size and juiciness of the patty.
- Fries: Perfectly seasoned shoestring fries that are every bit as good as the burger.
- Price: $12
- Bordeaux: We found a trusted standby on the wine list at Deborah, a 2005 Cotes du Rhone Parallele 45. It is a great pair for the flavorful burger, with a nice, fruity (slightly strawberry) bouquet and a clean, dry finish.
- Atmosphere: A great place to take a girl.
- Overall: Deborah is a perfect neighborhood restaurant in the heart of the West Village that successfully manages to be overlooked by both tourists and foodies. We’ve visited the restaurant before and have always been impressed with the food, service, and the atmosphere of the tiny, brick-walled dining room. The standout here is the fully flavored patty and the onion ring garnish, which adds a great crunch to the delicious sandwich.
November 16th, 2007
jonas
Fairway Café/Steakhouse
2127 Broadway (B’twn 74th & 75th)
New York, NY 10023
(212) 595-1888
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 3/5
Notes:
- Burger: Fat and juicy. The light seasoning is just enough to bring out the flavor of the beef.
- Bun: Standard, somewhat doughy white bread. Comes dangerously close to being outsized by the patty, but hits the spot.
- Garnish: Bibb lettuce, tomato and red onion. Nothing special, its all about the burger here.
- Mess factor: Surprisingly manageable given the patty to bun ratio.
- Fries: Non-shoestring variety fries with a bit of potato skin left on. Cooked somewhat crispy and modestly seasoned.
- Price: Plain: $8, Cheddar: $9, Bacon & Cheddar: $10
- Bordeaux: 2006 Cloudline Cellars Pinot Noir. This young Pinot had a red fruity flavor that complemented the burger nicely. All this at a nice price.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there, perhaps.
- Overall: Dining at Fairway Café is not entirely unlike dining in the natural foods section of a supermarket–without the florescent lights. Even so, they do a good job of cordoning off the dining area from the shopping area. The open kitchen can contribute to the noise level when busy, but not so much that diners can’t carry on a conversation. Fairway could do much to improve the evening atmosphere by dimming the lights just a touch. They were quite busy when we arrived around eight o’clock on a Saturday night. Even so, we were seated immediately. As we were enjoying our burgers and wine, the dining area slowly emptied. So, if one wants to avoid the rush, showing up later isn’t such a bad idea. Anyone who has visited a Burgers & Cupcakes outpost will find the burger at the café very similar if not exactly the same but for the presentation. If you are craving a burger while in the neighborhood, this is a good place to stop. Be aware that weekend days at Fairway Café can be busy, so you might be forced to shop for legumes in the bulk foods section while waiting for a table.
October 27th, 2007
JP Reardon
AOC
314 Bleecker Street (corner of Bleecker & Grove St)
New York, NY 10014
(212) 925-9975
[map] [subway directions]
Rating: 4/5
Notes:
- Burger: AOC serves a mouthwatering, charred patty made of high quality ground beef that they’ve seasoned nicely with salt and pepper.
- Bun: A fresh baked bun that was crusty and dusted with flour on the outside and toasted on the inside. It had all the craggy benefits of an English muffin, so that by the end of the sandwich, the bread had nicely captured the flavor of the juicy burger.
- Garnish: We ordered ours with Swiss cheese and bacon, both of which added a nice flavor to the already tasty sandwich. Red onion slices, tomato wedges, and a green salad accompany the burger.
- Mess factor: Thanks to an outstanding bun, there wasn’t a bit of mess to this burger.
- Fries: The fries were a bit of a letdown, especially given how nice they looked. These were thin cut, fried to a golden brown, but too mildly flavored and lacking any crispy crunch.
- Price: $13 (with bacon and cheese)
- Bordeaux: We had a 2003 St. Emillion that was served by the glass. It was a delicious wine to pair with the burger, with a dry, fruity finish that did a good job of standing up to the high stakes of the tasty sandwich.
- Atmosphere: You could take a girl there.
- Overall:
AOC is a tasteful bistro in the heart of the village, with large windows overlooking the corner of Bleecker and Grove. It was pleasantly quiet and we had no difficulty getting a table right away (especially since it was a warm Wednesday evening and we opted to sit indoors instead of their back garden, where most people headed). They had a groovy soundtrack, played low enough to not interfere with conversation. While falling short of a great rating, they served a burger they can be proud of on one of the best buns we’ve encountered.
October 10th, 2007
jonas
Previous Posts