Good Burger Milkshake Place Suggestion

[Chemicalkinetics]

Hi, I live around central New Jersey near Pennsylvania: think Trenton, Ewing, Pennington..etc. I have stopped by diners here and there, and some chains like Cheeburger Cheeburger, but nothing quiet as good as the ones I had when I lived in California. I am sure there are some good ones around. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[ooi82much]

Try the burger at Joe's Mill Hill Tavern in Trenton. I wouldn't go there at night, but I've had good burgers there at lunch time. Not sure if they make milkshakes.

[Binha]

This might still be far, but I had a GREAT burger at a place called The Deck (I think), near Penn, on Sansom St. My burger was done superbly well and the service was more than friendly and accommodating.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Is it called "The New Deck Traven"? Thanks.

[Binha]

If you feel like driving up to northern NJ, stop by Bobby's Burger Place in Paramus. Pretty good, and I always get mine "crunchfied"! Also, Westwood has a great place for stuffed burgers called Iron Horse. They have killer pickles and slaw, on the house, as well!

[Chemicalkinetics]

Thanks. It looks good, but it is pretty far from me. I also heard that Frankford Hall has good burgers, but it is also not that close -- still, it is much closer. If anything this is starting to prove that it is difficult to find good burgers around here.

When I lived in California Bay Area, it seems so much easier to get good restaurant burgers. It isn't just California. When I was traveling the country for business, it was also not too difficult to get nice burgers in places like Denver, Colorado or San Antonio, Texas.

[GraydonCarter]

Did you just recently move to Jersey? I live off exit 13.

[Chemicalkinetics]

More than 5 years. Not that recent.

[MarlboroMan]

There's a Bobby's Burger Palace in Cherry Hill.. also one opening in Princeton on August 28. I've never been, just passing it along.

http://www.bobbysburgerpalace.com/loc...

My favorite place for a burger and shake is 25 Gourmet Burgers. They have locations in Branchburg and Woodbury. Second is Cheeburger, though I prefer their shakes over their burgers. Not being able to order a burger medium rare irks me. I always get the same shake there, though.. peanut butter & jelly.

[Chemicalkinetics]

<25 Gourmet Burgers>

Maybe I will give that a try.

<Not being able to order a burger medium rare irks me>

Same here.

<I always get the same shake there, though.. peanut butter & jelly.>

Haven't tried that favor yet.

[GraydonCarter]

<< Not being able to order a burger medium rare irks me
< Same here.

Me, too, but now we're talking an entirely different class of place. I don't think of burger 'n' shake places as somewhere that you can specify how you want the patty cooked.

[ebchower]

Last week I had a burger at Shake Shack in NYC. I didn't specify how I wanted it, but I would have classified it as medium rare. Either that's how they cook them or this one wasn't cooked to their specification. It was good.

Red Robin asks if you want "some pink" or "no pink", or something along those lines. They may be worth a try if you want something less than well done.

[gigotz]

Been to Shake Shack a couple of times (in NYC). Excellent burgers, IMO.

[Chemicalkinetics]

< I don't think of burger 'n' shake places as somewhere that you can specify how you want the patty cooked.>

True. Agree.

[GraydonCarter]

Binha, check out East Coast Burger Company, 75 Franklin Ave, Ridgewood, offering fries, burgers, hot dogs, salads, lobster rolls, and shakes.

[Binha]

Thanks for the tip. I've heard about a few places in Ridgewood that I've been meaning to try and will add this one to the list.

[GraydonCarter]

In Northern Jersey the best burger/shake places are diners with the name White in them... White Diamond, White Rose, White Manna. These are not the kind of diners with six page menus and salad bars. These are railroad diner cars that serve burgers and grilled cheese sandwiches, and that's about it. In my opinion, however, the best burgers are usually served at a bar & grill... no milkshakes served.

I can't think of anything like that in Mercer. That said, my favorite diner near there is the Princetonian up US 1.

[Chemicalkinetics]

http://www.princetoniandiner.com/

This one?

[1stand3rd]

You want a good burger? Go to Rossi's in Trenton. Forget the milk shake though.

[fourunder]

One of my biggest disappointments is my travels was the burger at Rossi's. Ordered it medium-rare and it came out well-done. When the owner behind the bar asked me how it was, i told him and he made no attempt or offer to replace it.

For five bucks for a plain burger, it may be good value for 8 ounces......but it's nothing exceptional......and regardless of my past experience, I would go back to give it another try, but only if I was in the area. It's definitely not a destination place.

I do like the fact you can have an adult beverage though.

[ebchower]

Did Princetonian used to be an Ethan Allen? It looks just like the one across the street next to Trader Joe's.

[GraydonCarter]

Just before there after the Lucas gas station.

So right there in that turn-off is a Whole Foods, Trader Joe;s, and Wegman's?

[Papa Bing]

Find the nearest In-N-Out.

[GraydonCarter]

We don't have In-N-Out on the East Coast, but I've heard the Five Guys is similar.

There's one in Ewing.

[Chemicalkinetics]

The one in Ewing (Five Guys) is bad. No, Five Guys is no way as good as In-N-Out.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Came back from Princetonian, ordered the blackforest burger. It is ok, but not impressive. The hunt is still going.

[Chemicalkinetics]

I thought NJ is the state of diners. What's up with the no suggestion for a burger/milkshake restaurant/diner?

[ebchower]

You implied that you've already tried diners and chains. Not much else to suggest.

[Chemicalkinetics]

Yes, I have tried a few diners and chains here and there, but it does not mean I have tried many of them, let's alone all of them. I am looking for suggestion for a particular good one.

Think if someone had asked for suggestion for a good Indian restaurant or good Chinese restaurant. Same here.

[ebchower]

For the most part, I think diner burgers are diner burgers. One diner that comes to mind for having a better, or at least different burger is Colonial in East Brunswick.

http://www.colonialdiner.com/pdf/DINN...

[Chemicalkinetics]

Maybe I am spoiled of the good burgers from other places. I know it is probably a personal thing, but I just seem better experience of hamburgers when I lived in California, or in business trips at Colorado, Texas...etc. Granted that some of these places are more like pubs than diners.

I will take a look at the Colonial. Thanks.