some thoughts on Burger Joint etc

[namreb]

After a long evening last night that involved drinks and not dinner.....I was ready for a cheeseburger and fries....just started working near the Bjoint....and felt today was the day to take the plunge and stand in line albeit hung-over and get my yearly confirmation that I have patience. The line was at least 20 min long and it took at least 20 min to get burger....was it worth the wait?

IMHO the burger there is very similar to Prime Burger. It's made the same way- grill to broiler.
The meat has the same flavor....but not charcoaled the way I like it.....for the time it took to wait>order>wait I could have easily walked over to Prime and had the same thing. and maybe the fries are better.

Now the question is when did the burger go up to 7.50 with fries and no drink your meal is 11.00. I remember the Bjoint to have the best deal in town. what happened?

Now where can I get an awesome charcoaled flavored burger now that the Cedar is gone?
I can think of one place and that is smith and W

[cocktailfiend]

The best bet in my opinion will always be Paul's on 2nd ave. They have huge burgers, and a meal with a friend never breaks the bank. They are especially satisfying after a few drinks.

[apple342]

I was at Burger Joint yesterday for lunch. No line and hardly anyone in there. Definitely a solid burger, but not worth waiting in line for. I think the toppings on the "works" are good, but seems like the burger could use a little seasoning. Also their brownie was really good -- not too sweet or heavy (although good sized) after downing that burger!
Gosh I miss IN-N-OUT.

[a_and_w]

Hit Burger Joint again today just to check my tastebuds. Called ahead just before 2pm, waited ten minutes to walk over, waited another ten in line, and was out the door with my cheeseburger and fries, which I took to the park to feast. Burger was cooked a perfect medium rare with juices flowing but without losing bun containment -- a big plus for me.

I do have a few caveats. First, the place was extremely crowded and the line still long at 2pm. This is not what I remember from a few years ago when I lived in NY. Part of it is the current influx of foreign tourists, many of whom are staying in the Parker Meridien. Anyway, I would not want to wait in that line plus for my burger then fight for a table. No burger, not Burger Joint or Shake Shack, is worth that hassle. Second, as much as I enjoyed my burger, the meat could stand a little seasoning.

Still, I gamed the system successfully and was quite satisfied. This, along with Shake Shack, remains my favorite burger in NYC.

[marciamarciamarcia]

what about bgr......yum fresh and quick.

[Lucia]

It's been a while since I've been, but I didn't like brgr at all. The burger was dry.

[a_and_w]

I had a decent turkey burger at BRGR a few times.

[Gossomer]

Aren't any posters aware of how high food prices have become? I have seen a rise in all food prices, especially in restaurants. $11.00 for a great burger and fries? Sounds like a good deal to me. Here in the city McDonald's will cost you over $7. But if cheap is what you're after then McD's it should be. As for Shake Shack, overrated IMO. Can you imagine the seeet deal Danny Meyer must have signed with the city? Of course he can keep prices low in the park.

[ginsbera]

yeah I noticed the food price hike at 'ino in the W.Village yesterday. A panini, usually priced at $9, has gone from $10 a few weeks back to now $11. It's tough to see things like this, but we need to understand that these spots are still trying to turn a profit.

As far as Burger Joint goes, I like it. I think it is one of my favorite burgers in the city, the shakes are also good, although the fries are just okay. However, I stand behind Shake Shack as the best in the city, although their fries are inconsistent.

[offthebeatenpath1]

Thank you. I thougth I was the only one in the whole world that finds shake shack overrated. I really don't see what is so fantastic about their burgers and I think it is agreed that the fries are terrible. I would rather go to Jane's Tavern, JG Melon, Brooklyn Diner, White Horse Tavern or others before waiting in line for an hour at shake shack.

[MMRuth]

"before waiting in line for an hour at shake shack." To me, that's the issue. I like Shake Shack, and don't think it's overrated in that I think it's good, but no way am I waiting in line for an hour for it.

[ginsbera]

Don't think you read my post (if you were thanking me that is), I love Shake Shack, think it is delicious. If I want a West-coast style burger I go there. If I want a larger 8oz+ burger I choose other spots.

[offthebeatenpath1]

sorry, meant to reply to gossomer's post.

[Miss Needle]

Concur about the fries. And the burgers at Shake Shack are good, but not worth that crazy line. Last time I was there (early summer), I got there 15 minutes prior to opening. I still didn't get my burger until 11:15, but it was better than waiting for over an hour. What I like about Shake Shack is the double stack -- combo of a burger and mushroom burger.

[ginsbera]

Miss Needle, I agree, it's not worth an hour wait. I generally never wait if the line is off the smaller gravel path. Most I've had to wait was likely 40minutes and that was on a beautiful day so it was okay. I too love the double stack, but lately I'ved decided that you cannot really taste the meat in the burger with all those other flavors. I actually ordered them separately last time and it was more enjoyable.

[Miss Needle]

You make a good point about the tasting the meat with the double stack. I think a better balance is the one with two beef patties and shroom burger. But there's no way I'd be able to finish that, let alone get it in my mouth!

[ginsbera]

ha, that's a lot of food! I could do it, but I can't imagine I'd feel good afterwards.

[Spends Rent on Food]

Burger Joint opened before the latest burger craze hit manhattan, so at the time they were competing with the likes of JG Mellon, PJ Clarkes, Corner Bistro, and Big nicks. I remember working in midtown at the time thinking it was pure genius, and telling everyone the burgers were awesome.

Since then the burger game has changed, and once Danny Meyer stepped in, well it's almost unfair compare with anyone who came before. Burger Joint does have a place in my heart, just like my first car. But you'll never see me driving around NYC in a 1979 Buick Riviera.

[Lucia]

I like Burger Joint for the burgers and esp for the milkshake. That said, I'd rather stand in line at Shake Shack.

[a_and_w]

Wow...I strongly dissent from the hate for Burger Joint. Since I usually get takeout, the appeal to me obviously isn't the hidden setting. In fact, this may be a major reason I DO like the burger so much -- I don't have to experience the hassle. Also, keep in mind that you can call ahead for your order, which will be ready by the time you make your way through the line. That said, I haven't tried most of the alternatives named in the area. I'll have to give them a shot...

BTW, I love Shake Shack, maybe even more than Burger Joint. But comparing them strikes me as wrong. The former does a tasty fast food burger that can't be cooked to order (i.e., rare, medium, etc.) like the latter.

[BW212]

Burger joint was okay to me. I prefer shake shack, but I think my favorite place for the actual meat is blt burger.

[sea97horse]

I love BLT's lamb burger!

[sam1]

ive only recently started going to burger joint...first time...in the restaurant, i absolutely loved my burger. it was like a charred, bigger version of an in n out...sorta.

then i brought it back to my office...didnt taste bad but didnt hold up well. ate about 2-3x more times at the joint and i enjoyed it less and less.

shake shack in my opinion is by far the best of the bunch for that type of burger.

[sarapeater]

like burger joint, would not stand in line there so have not been in at least a year. so I should say: liked burger joint. think shake shake is overrated. also like the blt lamb burger, but nothing else. think five guys is not great. think brgr is pretty good.

now that you know where I am coming from I'll say this: go to good burger for the charcoal taste. I've been many times to 3 of the locations (incl tonight at union sq, first time) and have almost never been disappointed, which is alot to say for a burger place. good egg creams too, if you really want to feel full of cow products.

[offthebeatenpath1]

Burger Joint IMO is very overrated and their fries are terrible. There is a Five Guys on 55th just off 6th, which I think is better than Bjoint, but not unbelievable. In that area, my pick for burgers and fries is Brooklyn Diner, but that is even more expensive.

[namreb]

five guys in very similiar in meat quality....more toppings (free) better value for sure

[Renguin]

I think five guys is pretty bad. Burger Joint is a solid, if unremarkable burger. Five guys is just fast food that pretends that its something else. Its basically wendy's. most of the ingredients are passable but the buns and cheese especially are terrible. i think they're using kraft singles or something.

[kelea]

I thought it was a total rip off at $6 for a burger and $3 more for fries. At a whooping $11, I would never be caught dead there. My personal opinion is that it is an average burger - albeit it is never dry. I used to go only cause I worked near it but I feel now, it's purely the thrill/hype of saying you went to Burger Joint than actually a good burger.

Btw, anyone know when Shake Shack on UWS is opening?

[sea97horse]

It's funny, but your "thrill/hype" statement is exactly what I would say about Shake Shack!

[kelea]

Sea97hourse, I agree as well.

But I do miss In-n-out and some days a girl just needs her burger fix :) so I'm hoping the UWS location will let me do that without the crazy lines

[namreb]

In-and out is coming to nyc?

[a_and_w]

No, Shake Shack is coming to the UWS.

[mjalz]

I'm in town from L.A. - Where is the Shake Shack?

[Lucia]

Madison Sq Park--23d St btw Madison & 5th.