Where To Celebrate National Burger Month 2016 In New York City
It's National Burger Month, so if you haven't indulged in a burger or two this May, now is the time to do it! Whether a double or triple decker, stuffed with cheese, doused in sauce, or pilled with bacon, these eateries have all your carnivorous burger desires covered.
Ai Fiori in the Langham Place Hotel on Fifth Avenue, is known for its "modern interpretations of cuisine from the French and Italian Rivieras." That said, chef Michael White makes a darn good burger! The White Label Burger features a custom dry aged blend from Pat LaFrieda and comes topped with Nueske's bacon, white American cheese, pickles, and pommes dauphines.
One of my personal favorite burgers is from the newly opened rooftop gastrobar and restaurant, Rock & Reilly's, located at the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel. Come hungry because chef Maximillian Nazabal offers specialty burger options that aren't for the lighthearted. For those of you who know about In-n-Out and love its burgers, will be literally blown away by the all American "Gorilla Style" burger. Meat lovers will enjoy the four layers of dry-aged handmade beef patties stacked with cheese, pickles, bacon, egg, and topped with a special sauce ─ served with a side of truffle fries. Unless you're a giant, you can definitely share this one among friends. Not sure about downing that? Order the Cheeseburger Spring Rolls ─ two delicious things in one.
Rock & Reilly's also offers a vegan burger, layered with spinach, tomatoes, grilled onions, and guacamole or the Turkey Burger with melted pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, and Aïoli spread over a handcrafted turkey patty.
Looking for a trendy, glam, and popular spot to get your juicy burger from? Get familiar with the Lower East Side's Beauty & Essex, a multi-level restaurant-bar-club-lounge known for luxury, celebrity-spotting, and a functioning pawn shop entrance. Don't miss out on the Beauty & Essex Burger, which comes stacked with roasted garlic aioli, beefsteak tomato, goat feta, and a side of addictive crispy bbq fries. This burger beauty is also available at its recently opened outpost at Las Vegas' Cosmopolitan.
Find yourself in midtown? Then head to Atwood Kitchen + Bar for its Atwood Kitchen burger and thrice-cooked fries. With caramelized onion, applewood bacon, Gruyere cheese, house mayo, and xo bourbon bbq, all on a sesame brioche bun, you won't regret it!
For a good 'ol classic American cheeseburger, head to Leave Rochelle Out Of It on the Lower East Side. Go all out for Nat'l Burger Month with this burger gem which comes with Pat La Frieda beef, Cheddar cheese, lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a Balthazar bun.
If you want to escape the stress of the city, take a load off, sip a cocktail, and chow down on small plates, Bar 54 at the Hyatt Times Square, will take you there. The 54-story indoor and outdoor rooftop lounge provides a gorgeous backdrop that includes river views, the Chrysler Building, Lower Manhattan, and Times Square. New to the bar is the light bites (and cocktail) menus which offers a decadent "Bar 54 burger," which comes with a truffle relish and provolone cheese.
Check out the hearty classic sirloin burger at Rocco Steakhouse if you're looking for a simple, yet delicious take on the American hamburger. From chef Johnny Jevric, this Sirloin Burger is composed of a 100% certified prime black Angus beef patty and American cheese (or cheddar), on a toasted sesame seed bun made fresh daily. On the side, your presented with lettuce, a field-grown juicy beefsteak tomato, onion, homemade steak fries or onion rings, and of course some ketchup or Rocco's signature steak sauce. Those extra hungry patrons have the option of adding thick cut steakhouse bacon to it.
Hungry and near Grand Central Terminal? Head to recently opened Bedford & Co. where chef John DeLucie, has created the Bedford Burger. Featuring bloomsday cheddar, caramelized onion, pork belly (yes!), martin's potato bun, and house made pickles, this burger is made to impress.
If your in the Upper West Side, don't miss out on the iconic Harlem Shake's griddled burgers (or even its classic NY hot dogs and hand-spun shakes). Try out the Hot Mess, a lean sirloin patty with pickled cherry pepper-bacon relish, American cheese, and a smoky chipotle mayo; the Harlem Jerk, a sirloin patty topped with Jerk fries and Jerk sauce; or a classic barbecue onion burger, grilled with an onion slice pressed into it, cheese, pickles, and homemade BBQ sauce.