I am a sucker for all things burgers, shakes, fries and all things that scream hearty & rich. There are a ton of places you can go to in Manhattan to experience at least one of those items, and one of those places that seems to expertly get it down and then some is 5 Napkin Burger, which has multiple locations scattered across Manhattan. With a simple yet wonderfully executed menu of burgers and shakes, as well as wings, and even some sushi options, 5 Napkin continues to be one of the best places to go for brunch, lunch and dinner in New York City.
I originally reviewed 5 Napkin Burger for Manhattan Digest nearly three years ago (their Union Square location to be specific), and was impressed overall with its fun and modern ambiance, quality food and service which has allowed itself to be put on many of our top 10 listicles since then. The Midtown West location is right in the heart of the Theater District and Hell’s Kitchen, located on the corner of 45th Street and 9th Avenue.
I went there yesterday with a mission to try out some items that I haven’t done before, and was fully satisfied with the options that i had. I am a big fan of wings, regardless of if they have the bone in them or not, flavor, etc. For an appetizer, I tried their spicy & sweet Hell’s Kitchen Wings, which were absolutely delicious and bursting with a ton of flavor that had a great contrast. The spice was a bit much, however the sweetness of the wings counteracted the space and made for a delicious starter.
A great Brunch burger that they have (another perk, great brunch location) is their Spicy Bacon & Egg Burger, which comes with fried egg, braised bacon, crispy onions & spicy mayo. This really is such an amazing example of what a brunch dish should be, as it perfectly mixes the lunch side of a burger and the brunch side of the bacon and egg so well together, that it makes for a perfect bite of deliciousness.
You can’t go to 5 Napkin Burger without having a shake, they are legendary and quite frankly some of the best i have had in Manhattan. I would definitely recommend their Peanut Butter Chocolate or Salted Caramel, as each has a ton of flavor depth and thickness which goes down easy after a tasty meal. A no brainer in terms of what to finish with at a great location.
For more information on 5 Napkin Burger, check out their official site.