Burger & Shake Co. — Restaurant in New York

I only just recently moved to the area and am slowly building out my list of regular haunts. When I first walked into the shop, I was greeted by a twinge of neighborhood-y fantasia. ‘Could this be my new spot?’ I thought to myself. The wall-length cooler is filled with dozens and dozens of beers, both cases and single bottles & cans. There are pints of Van Leuwen and pints of a brand of alcoholic ice cream anchoring either side. The menu is affordable and expansive, offering everything from the store’s namesake to yet a third option of ice cream, courtesy of their Baskin-Robbins-style set-up. They sell cookies and mochi and even Korean street food, too, all for just a few bucks each. Plus, there’s a clean, well-kept bathroom, which isn’t always easy to find (or appreciate) in the city. However, in the midst of my hearty, hungry hope, I neglected to acknowledge one crucial detail about the store: It was totally empty on a Friday night.

I ordered the double cheeseburger combo and added American cheese (because they don’t offer cheddar), pickles, and caramelized onions, all to be nestled inside of a brioche bun. Plus the order comes with fries and a soda, all for under $15 (it’s cheaper in store than on DoorDash, but I had a coupon). The woman behind the counter was friendly. When my order was ready (I waited about 10-15 minutes from the time of placing it), she emerged from the back grill area with a serving tray and asked me if it was here or to-go. It was then that I should have realized that it felt not unlike when the lunch lady handed you your daily pathetic, pre-prepared pile of pasturage in high school, because Burgers & Shake Co is nothing more than cafeteria food.

The bun was dry enough to use it as a compostable alternative to cinder blocks. The sauce and condiments saturated the sandwich so much that every bite was a struggle to not rapid-fire eject the patties onto the table. And the meat tasted like anything but; the all-too-familiar ‘petals’ or rounded edges that decorated the burgers back in high school were instantly, terrifyingly recognizable, having emerged from some freezer-burned level of hell. The patty had no flavor other than a whisper of processed smoke and crumbled into spongey slivers with each bite. I couldn’t taste any of the other toppings, either, because they all eventually ended up on either my hands, the ground, or the wrapper. I couldn’t eat more than half of it until I began feeling genuinely unwell. The crinkle fries tasted like traumatic middle school lunches, too, and lost about 99% of their quality (what little there was) the moment they hit room temp.

I know I can be dramatic (hence my bio). This is just some burger shop out of a million in New York. This probably doesn’t matter. But what does matter is that something as simple as just a ‘burger shop’ can’t even get the most basic, elemental, entirely-human snack food right. Its disgusting. Its lazy. It would be criminal if Google Maps reviews could ever be used as evidence in court. It only tarnishes this beautiful, vibrant part of Manhattan that has so many other delicious restaurants to try. It’s not worth your time, your money, your appetite, or anymore of my words other than these: If nobody else is in there, you probably...

This place is great for affordable and delicious food. You may have to wait a bit longer here to get your meal than you would at a typical assembly line fast food restaurant, however, the wait is worth it for the much higher quality food you receive. The food isn't the only thing that is refreshing here, as the prices are refreshingly reasonable as well. Whether as a quick stop for a yummy bite when studying late at City College or for a nice casual sit-down meal with friends, this place will leave you satiated and smiling.

The staff and owner demonstrate care and hospitality to every guest. They have a great selection of drinks, including alcoholic beverages, which are great for when you just had a long shift at work or need a night cap after class.

While you're waiting for your meal, or when taking a break from working on your laptop or reading at one of the cozy seating areas, there is a beautifully maintained Pinball Machine for you to play.

The machine they currently have is "NBA FastBreak." It's a ton of fun. You get to select your favorite team to play as before you start flipping your flippers, and with enough practice, you can become your teams Grand Champion. If you keep practicing and coming back you can eventually beat the games objectives and get a high score with your initials on the screen and a ring by your name that indicates you completed the game and won a championship ring. You can pick to play as any NBA team, as I mentioned earlier, and each team has its own high scorer. So, if you have claimed your rightful place as the champion of your favorite team, you can go back and defeat other peoples' high scores on their teams! Such a blast.

I post my high scores on the pindigo app and invite others to do the same. My initials are SHP. I love a competition! As the current Grand Campion, I look forward to seeing someone take me down!

Happy eating and...

This place was spot-on on every level! I recently tried the fried chicken sandwich they make and I couldn't believe that I actually found a fast food place that had a better quality chicken sandwich than Smash Burger's. The chicken meat was juicy, tender and tasty to the core! I experienced bliss with every succulent bite. Then it was time for the shake -- I was shook! The pistachio shake was heavenly! Thick but not too dense and very nutty-yum! The fries and onion rings were very crispy and they travelled well, surprisingly. The memory of that first meal will linger until my second visit. The service was quick and very efficient and the atmosphere was easy-going and unhurried. Also the price was right, for the quality of food. I cannot wait to try the burger! If you have not yet given Burger & Shake Co. a try, you should, today! Your palate and your belly will thank you.

I tried this place again, and they delivered on consistency. The shakes were out of this world! I had the sea salt caramel— delish! The burgers were filling and tasty and the onion rings...