Monster Patty

Paul’s Place
131 2nd Avenue (B’twn Aves. 7th & St. Marks)
New York, NY 10003
(212) 529-3033

[map] [subway directions]

Rating: 2/5

Notes:

- Burger: Big burger, little flavor. This is accomplished by starting with a patty devoid of seasoning, frying it on a griddle, and finishing it by steaming it under a cover. This cooking method speeds the process and melts the cheese nicely, but delivers a bland burger that falls apart from the first bite.

- Bun: Paul’s burgers come standard on a seeded, white bread bun that adds little to the flavor or the overall experience. Kaiser rolls are also on offer and might be a better choice for such a hefty patty.

- Garnish: Make it deluxe and it comes with lettuce, tomato and pickle.

- Mess factor: One of us ordered The Eastsider (their specialty). The bun was no match for the gluttonous amount of toppings. The wiser of us chose a bacon cheeseburger, which was more manageable, but still crumbly.

- Fries: Fat steak fries which arrived in a soggy state and lacked any seasoning. If the fries were crispy to begin with, they may have had a better chance of retaining their texture if they weren’t used as a platform for the burger.

- Price: Bacon Cheeseburger: $5.60/8.10. Eastsider: $9.25/11.55 (burger/deluxe)

- Bordeaux: Take our advice and order beer from their limited selection.

- Atmosphere: You could take… On second thought, use your own good judgment here (see below).

- Overall: Paul’s Place came highly recommended, but we were a bit disappointed. Judging from their brisk business, however, it seems that many enjoy their burgers. These are not bad burgers, they just aren’t very well aligned with our tastes. The atmosphere is that of a typical burger joint with tables spaced close enough to sneak a fry from your neighbor. There are also several televisions placed at strategic locations so that you need not pay too much attention to your dining companion or food. The menu claims The Eastsider is their specialty, so even with an excessive number of toppings, it was hard to resist. If you have a hankering for a hamburger topped with cheese, bacon, ham, mushrooms and onions, give it a try. Unfortunately, this pile of artery clogging goodness makes for an unwieldy sandwich. If you attempt this burger, order it on a kaiser roll for sure. All that said, if you’ve got the appetite for a big burger Paul’s just might be the place for you.

1 comment September 14th, 2007