Emily — Restaurant in New York

Emily's is all that everyone says. Is the Emmy Burger the best I have ever had? No, I still think I will give that award to Black Iron Burger, but this is like comparing a Ferrari to a Lamborghini, sometimes it comes down to personal preference. Let's start with our appetizer which was the Quinn Pizza. It is a six slice white pie consisting of four cheeses, mozzarella, havarti, pecorni, and ricotta cheese. It came out smoking hot, perfectly well done with a bottom charred to perfection. The pie was slightly salty (perfectly salted), creamy and full of flavor. For those ordering the burger, you might want to skip appetizers as the burger is large and smothered with caramelized onions and Grafton cheddar cheese. I especially love the pretzel bun as the juices are absorbed and not lost. More importantly, the bun does not fall apart as the typical seeded roll would. The onions are amazing and have flavors that are developed in the caramelization process. The server did not know what was added to the onions, but there was a distinct savory flavor that was not the typical additives (balsamic vinegar/wine/sugar). So, why was this burger ranked slightly below Black Iron Burger. It is just opinion. I find that you are able to taste the meat in Black Iron a little more easily, and trying to compare apples to apples, I had both on pretzel buns and it seemed as if the burger itself was slightly juicier in Black Iron. This is almost ridiculous to say as I am trying to separate the creaminess and silkiness of the onions from the burger and it really is impossible. Also, my taste buds on Monday could be different than Tuesday. Would you rather drive a Ferrari or a Lamborghini? We sat outside and the server was attentive and the service was excellent for outdoor dining. Our neighbors at the other table had the Hot Wings and the Roasted Beet Salad and both came out fresh and vibrant. The wings were smoking and they both said that both dishes were delicious. Unfortunately, after a pizza and three burgers, we were all stuffed and could not sample any of the other menu items. How would I rate the burger? I would be an idiot to say it wasn't delicious. It is delicious and one of the best you...

Maitre d, wasn't good at all. Some context- My best-friend & I (we're minorities) was literally the 1st party waiting outside before the Saturday 5pm opening. An older unaware couple stepped ahead of us, which was fine.

Upon entering, we didn't have a reservation. Most of the seating was obviously empty & yes, I understand the priority of reservations. So I quickly asked after Irene responded "No problem" (assuming this is the Maitre d judging from my receipt) if we could be seated a few tables from the front door. She replied, "No, that's for a reservation. You can sit here."

Where's the hospitality?? Would, "We have these tables available without reservations." be outlandish to say?

And what do you know, the people behind us also (because of the proximity near the door, it's easy to hear everything) didn't have reservations & was seated away from the door. 😑

All the while the Maitre d is slightly bumping on the leg of my chair (I'm skinny & sitting inward too) taking orders, & seating customers without reservations on the perimeter of my table. :/

My best-friend & I aren't feeling enthusiastic at all, as we Arrived 1st in the cold evening eager for a comfortable meal.

Thankfully, the $31 burger is delicious, even the Arugula salad tasted light & healthy.

But our evening got worse. I asked the Maitre d "If we can pack my best-friend's burger to go." Acknowledged, she returned & professionally inquired if I had wanted my fries. I stated that I didn't & afterwards I left a decent tip in light of the food service. It turns out they (idk who) had removed her fries! Like, what?? Our conversations was clear & concise- we're both shocked.

When we left, 80% of the restaurant was Empty. How can boxing a meal on some downtime be so erroneous? So, I call the restaurant & yep- all the options are Automated. Use an app to reserve a table, send us an email. I can't even get in touch with someone live. Sure, I guess I'll send an email & hope my issues find some Explanation. I'll report back if so.

In the meantime, we're not returning to Emily's...

On our trip to New York I was determined to find the cities best burger, no matter the cost. After scouring a few “Best of” lists online, it was clear that Emilys was on top. We scheduled a stop into our day and made the effort to get there and grab a table. Once we were seated the waitress mentioned that there were only two burgers left available to order, before she had the words out of her mouth I quickly said “I’ll take one please!” And waited patiently. My Fiancé knew I was excited, she stated that when the burger arrives she would leave me to my experience in peace. A courtesy I can appreciate. I had incredibly high expectations, and for good reason. Though, In life, I find expectations to curve reality and leave us hoping for something that never existed to begin with, forever diminishing unlike the contrasting experience of a “pleasant surprise”. This was not the case. As you take your first bite you are met with the press of the pretzel bun, not too soft and not too hard, a perfect introduction to what is about to come. As the bite falls into your mouth your mind begins to decipher the medley that it was just given. Within a moment you start begin to identify the sharp cheddar, and as soon as you arrive at this conclusion you are immediately greeted with the sweetness of the caramelized onions. This taste lingers with you for as long as you would like it to and then diffuses into the flavour and texture of the perfectly cooked meat that stands at the forefront of the taste until the experience dissipates and you are slowly lowered from a state of bliss back into reality. It’s at this moment I found myself emotional; proud that we as a civilization could curate such a culinary experience and that I was here, enjoying it. I take another bite and take the entire journey again, and repeat until I am finished. They say nothing said about art means anything, all that really matters is how it makes you feel. I implore anyone reading this to experience this masterpiece...