Burger Bash at a Pier Near You

The Burger Club President digs in!

When the BURGER CLUB founder and President says to you "do you have any interest in attending Burger Week?" the answer is never no.  And so it was that we ended up at the Beekman Beer Garden Burger Bash at South Street Seaport.

First of all, for those who have never been to South Street Seaport after hours, know that it is an adventure that you'll want to have once...and possibly never again.  Also, please know that Beekman Beer Garden runs all along the north side of the pier.  The glow in the dark furniture is funny, the over-sized chess set is kitchy, and the craft beer selection is surprisingly well curated for what might otherwise be an over-priced tourist attraction.

But I digress from the burgers.

When I say burger, of course, I mean meat and bun.  Well, meat and cheese and bun if you're explicit about it when ordering.  Sure, you can add your own ketchup and mustard, but don't be expecting lettuce or tomato.  We'll put this in the pros column for the burger purists out there.

Although the bun (1/2 of the meal) lacked heart -- and probably came off a shelf at costco three months ago -- the ground beef patty had soul.  It was juicy, it was flavorful, and it was an appropriate portion size in a world in which a 5 Napkin Burger exists. It also came with fries on the side, which is more than can be said for a growing number of burger establishments in the city.

In summation?  Go for the meat, go for the "experience," and go for the fact that you'll definitely have a story to tell the next day, then you'll probably never need to go again.

Black Market But Over the Table

It's not often that a meeting of the Burger Club attracts at least seven people, but this month there must have been something alluring about the Tompkins Square Park area of the East Village.  It was the call of the self-proclaimed best burger in NYC, at Black Market on East 7th street and Avenue A.  It may have also been the generous Happy Hour (2 for one signature cocktails or a burger and a draft beer for $15).

The week had been unusually low for some of the club members and very rainy for all of them, but this burger did not disappoint.  Sure, there were skeptics among us -- the best burger in New York? Is it really possible to choose just one?  Then again, when you're serving a high quality Pat LaFreida blend on your toasted buns, well, you get the picture.   Pat also provides the beef for the original Burger Club location - Shake Shack.

While many of the Burger Club outings generate dissent among the gathered party, Black Market provided consistent quality across the board.  All members thoroughly enjoyed the flavor of the beef, the sweetness of the bun, and the richness of the toppings.  Some of us were even bowled over by the dishware, which resembled something that you might take camping in a classy, East Village kind of way.  Or maybe it was more of a Williamsburg kind of way, but at any rate, it caused a stir.

The burger is served with medium cut, crispy french fries and a side of Ketchup and Mayo (plated separately, of course).  The pickles, tomatoes, and lettuce provided were the perfect ripeness and refused to wilt at the heat of the meat.  The sandwich itself was not the largest we'd seen, and no one had any trouble clearing her entire plate, but isn't there something about appropriate portion size that's oh-so-trendy right now?  After all, not everyone can corner the market for 5-napkin-requirements.