Love Me Some Good Burgers, Yo
Burger joints in the city are in plenty like Kim Kardashian’s ego boosters, so really it is hard to differentiate which ones are the best nowadays. Sure you can be the frugal guy and go to your local Wendy’s or McDonald’s, but you can get that anywhere in the world, so question is- who does the burger justice in a great setting? That answer, my friends, is 5 Napkin Burger. I discovered this place a couple of months back when two friends of mine invited me to brunch at their Hell’s Kitchen location, and instantly fell in love with the ambiance and overall food satisfaction that was provided to me that afternoon. Last night’s experience was just the same.
They have four different locations- the Hell’s Kitchen one and ones in the Upper West Side, Astoria and Union Square. I was fortunate enough to cover the Union Square restaurant and they did not disappoint. The restaurant itself was a big turn on with its dim lighting and beautiful wood furniture, as well as spacious seating and a friendly disposition by all of the staff members. I was also greeted by the GM Ben Waclaw who was able to help us throughout our meal and made the experience that much better.
Then of course, there was the food. I was able to have the “Hell’s Kitchen” wings which their own hot sauce and blue cheese dressing. I tend to be somewhat of a buffalo wing connoisseur and these were definitely up to par. The blue cheese sauce was a bit off, but the wings itself were very tasty and didn’t overdo it on the spiciness which is a big plus in my book. My friend tried the Matzo Ball Soup and said that it was warm and tasty and the perfect soup to have with the chilly weather that us New Yorkers are experiencing right now. Off to a good start so far!
Something that they pride themselves on are their unique burger selections. From Lamb Kofta (lamb & beef ground with onions, garlic, parsley & spices, tomato, cucumber, pepper & onion relish, tahini sauce, soft white roll) to Ahi Tuna (marinated tuna steak, wasabi mayo, tempura onions, sesame brioche roll) to something more traditional yet yummy (8 oz. fresh ground beef, american cheese, raw onion, lettuce, tomato, pickles, sesame brioche roll) there is something for everyone there. I opted to try the Barbeque burger which had ground beef, green tomato chutney, sharp cheddar cheese and barbecue sauce, with a side of sweet potato fries. Freaking delicious. The chutney and barbecue sauce balanced themselves pretty well and I am a sucker for a good sweet potato fry and they were crunchy and yummy without being overseasoned.
Of course, we had to save room for dessert. Duh. This place in my opinion has some of the best shakes out there. I tend to limit myself to a couple of shakes a year (as I don’t want to look 6 months pregnant again) but this is one of the few times where I feel the need to indulge. I have tried two so far- the peanut butter and chocolate (lethal and delicious combo) and the salted caramel (delectable). They are not too thick but have a real thick flavor to them (make sense?). Overall, 9 out of 10 meal in my opinion.
Definitely a restaurant to consider next time you and your friends are looking for a night on the town. Check out the website for more information.