Flatbush Farm & Bar(n), Brooklyn

A faint glimpse of the sun this past Saturday afternoon necessitated a trip to Flatbush Farm. The back patio is open for the season and it's a great spot to gather with friends for drinks and vittles, but the burger leaves a bit to be desired. On the plus side, the burger was successfully cooked to order- medium rare was indeed medium rare. Juicy it was, but flavorful it was not. Raw red onions were overly abundant and utterly useless in my opinion. The bacon add-on (removed) was overcooked and gray in color, which is just plain wrong. As for the bun, well I think my friend summed it up perfectly: "I don't like having my burger on a croissant." Neither of us were a fan of the brioche-like bun. I gave up on the burger about half-way through and turned my attention solely to the fries which were excellent (twice fried). Next time I might just say "hold the burger."

Flatbush Farm & Bar(n), 76 Saint Marks Ave. @ Flatbush Ave., Brooklyn
Flatbushfarm.com

Burger Joint, Parker Meridian, NYC

If you are looking for a cool insider experience in NYC, grab a burger at Burger Joint.

Located behind a red curtain inside the Parker Meridian, and highlighted only by a neon burger sign down a hallway, its worth hunting down.

The burgers are cheap and the menu is small.  Stick with the classic burger and get an order of fries.  

http://www.parkermeridien.com/eat4.php

BLT burger, NYC

I recently visited BLT burger.  I loved the atmosphere... a classic burger joint feel, located on 6th ave in Manhattan.  Their menu was also a burger lover's dream...  seven different types of burgers, from salmon, to lamb, and kobe beef, not to mention an extensive milkshake bar with extreme mix'ins (ex: twinkies).  

They also offer a few fry options, like waffle or seasoned.

I tried the mac n' cheese fritters, a special that day, a coffee shake with oreo, and the cheeseburger, medium.

I was more impressed by the ambiance and menu than any food I tasted, but I think this place is definitely worth a visit.

bltburger.com

Diner, Williamsburg Brooklyn

If you haven't been to diner yet you are missing out.  Located under the Williamsburg bridge, this place is about as brooklyn as it gets.  I do have to say that I prefer some of their other dishes to their burger (since everything is so good there), but its blog worthy none-the-less.  Grass fed and delicious.  A nice solid burger leaning toward the gourmet side.... no thin patty or fast food feel here.  And they sure are doing something fantastic with those fries.

Picture compliments of Grant Cornett.  (check out the diner journals to see more of his work) Thanks Grant!

dinernyc.com

http://www.dinernyc.com/dinerjournal/

67 Burger, Fort Greene, Brooklyn

Some words from our Prospect Heights Contributor:

"The burger was fantastic - juicy and well cooked.  No nonsense or fanciness, this is a straight-up burger.  The bacon (in pieces) on the bottom is a nice touch and added great flavor.  All five of us were extremely happy with our burgers.  My only drawback is that it is a little too big, but John loves it that way (he finished off what I couldn't :)"

67 Burger is located at 67 Lafayette Ave. in Fort Greene, Brooklyn

67burger.com

718 797 7150

5 Guys Burgers and Fries, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Five Guys Burgers and Fries recently opened a location on 7th Avenue in Park Slope, Brooklyn. The D.C. chain (with 400 locations to date) has been highly lauded by numerous publications- but I'm not sure it merits the title the "Willy Wonkas of Burgercraft" (Washingtonpost.com). I think it's safe to say that customers can get a consistently decent burger here. But if you're looking for memorable, I'd head to Shake Shack or the nearby Dram Shop. The burgers come in two sizes- standard and the "Little" (pictured) which is actually the perfect size to order if you are getting fries too. Toppings are key and more importantly FREE- so don't hold back. With some inspiration and a little creativity one could probably craft a great burger. I stuck with a few of the basics, tomato, mayo and cheese. But the burger still remained a bit on the dry side. Next time I'll go with more sauces...

284 7th Avenue, Brooklyn

Blue Moon burgers, Seattle, WA

From our Seattle based contributor:

Their Southwest Burger has jalapeño bottlecaps and spicy mayo. Spicy!

A light sweet Blue Moon white ale to go with....mmm!

Blue Moon Burgers has two locations in Seattle:

920 Republican Street

703 N. 34th Street.

bluemoonburgers.com

The Dram Shop Bar, Park Slope, Brooklyn

Every good burger has a history and The Dram Shop burger is no exception. It has stood the test of time, having first been served over 60 years ago at the Mallow Grocery in Dallas, Texas. Now the good people of Park Slope can partake of this delicious mess. Don't even bother with a menu. Just ask for the burger. Two square paddies with cheese is the standard here, but you can ask for a single or add a third. I have sworn to eliminate the words "hold the..." from my vocabulary and to just take things as they are intended to be- pickles and all. On the napkin scale of things- five were handed to me and all but one used. As you can see from the picture, this burger isn't served "neat". You may want to tie your hair back and maybe even tuck a napkin into your shirt, because the lettuce, pickles, mayo, mustard, tomato, and diced onions, all lightly glistening with the right amount of grease, have a way of oozing out the side. But once you pick it up, just go for it.

The Dram Shop Bar is located at 339 9th Street, Brooklyn. Looks like a great spot to watch sports, play pool, and even shuffleboard if you fancy. Can be a bit dark, but there is an outdoor patio at the back if you need to escape the slightly cavernous feel of the bar area. Booth seating is also available.

Williamsburger, Brooklyn NY

Not much for ambiance or frills, and the name is a little cheesy,  but this is the place to go for one fantastic burger. The price is right (7.00 for a burger and fries), the burger is great, the fries are amazing, and their custard shakes are the best.

Check it out in Williamsburg located at south second and wythe.  

williamsburgernyc.com

Shake Shack, New York, NY

Probably my number one pick for a New York burger, and the only place in competition with In N Out Burger.  This place is located in madison square park on 23rd st.  Its now open year round and hosts some of the longest lines.  Completely worth the wait.  Chef Danny Meyer knows how to do fast food.

Get the shackburger and try the custard. (see custard calendar on line for specials)

www.shakeshacknyc.com