New York City is home to people from hundreds of different nationalities. This is reflected in the many German, Chinese, French, Brazilian and other ethnic restaurants that dot the culinary landscape. One thing remains consistent among New Yorkers regardless of where they were born. They love their hamburgers. New York's hamburger restaurants come in all shapes and sizes, from the small neighborhood shack serving burgers and fries to upscale eateries serving them gourmet-style.
This Bleeker Street hangout's décor consists of metal chairs, low-budget tables, five flat-screen televisions and an assortment of roadside memorabilia that give no clue to the sublime food that is sold here. The menu reads like any other burger joint, but the food is anything but average. Fried Dominican cheese replaces typical mozzarella sticks and fried potato tots glazed with honey-scallion butter taste very different from those your mother made.
The menu offers a wide variety of salads, sandwiches, wraps and burgers and a few choice entrees such as the Horseshoe Sandwich (three mini burgers) and hoisin-glazed pork ribs. The Dirty Burger, made with a proprietary rub and honey and served with a side of ketchup and truffle mayonnaise, is available in a turkey version as well. Wash your meal down with a 40-oz. bottle of beer graciously served wrapped in a brown paper bag.
Thunder Jackson's
169 Bleecker St.
New York, NY 10012
(212) 677-6700
orderthunderjackson.com
Five Napkin Burger is an upscale neighborhood restaurant located in Hell's Kitchen. The original burger made its debut on the menu of Nice Matin where it quickly became the most popular dish offered there. Owners Andy D'Amico and Simon Oren knew they had something good going and decided to open Five Napkin Burger dedicated to the beefy treat. The new restaurant opened in 2008 and has an upscale feel and a casual atmosphere.
The house burger is 10 oz. of ground chuck topped off with Gruyere cheese, caramelized onions and rosemary aioli. Cheddar bacon, Italian turkey, lamb kofta and veggie burgers are available as is an inside out burger without the bun and a burger salad. The menu has been expanded to include sushi, appetizers, salads and an assortment of main dishes. There are 100 wines on the extensive wine list and 50 varieties of beer to choose from. Five Napkin Burger serves lunch Monday through Friday, brunch on the weekends and dinner 7 nights per week.
Five Napkin Burger
9th Avenue & West 45th
New York, NY 10036
(212) 757-2277
fivenapkinburger.com
HB Burger is the newest installment to the Heartland Brewery small chain of New York restaurants and the only full-service burger restaurant near Times Square. The large dining room has an upscale vibe and warm feel. The burgers are made from prime angus beef supplied by a local steak purveyor, the tuna is sashimi-grade and the Heartland Brewery makes the sodas and many of the craft beers.
Start your meal with tater tots stuffed with smoked slab bacon and jalapeno jack or some fried dill pickle spears with Cajun remoulade. The standard burgers are beef, tuna, turkey, veggie or free-range bison. Specialty sandwiches include a Cajun crab cake burger and a filet mignon sandwich. Fish and chips and a few salads are also available. Dessert consists of sundaes, shakes, floats and old-time egg creams. Hard shakes are offered as well, including a Strawberry Shot Cake made from Irish cream, Madagascar vanilla, Irish whiskey and strawberry ice cream. HB Burger is open for lunch and dinner 7 days per week.
HB Burger
127 W. 43rd Street
New York, NY 10036
(212) 575-5848
heartlandbrewery.com
