Midtown’s legendary Burger Joint, whose cheeseburger was recently named Most Awesome Hamburger in New York City in the final round of Eater NY’s Ultimate Burger Bracket, opened its second New York location in Greenwich Village earlier this month.
Ever since opening its doors 10 years ago, Burger Joint has successfully combined low prices with quality burgers. Its Midtown shop, located in the lobby of Le Parker Meridien hotel, has garnered an incredible reputation for serving one of the best burgers in Manhattan — lines out the door serve as proof — and inspired world-class chef Danny Meyer to open Shake Shack.
Although the franchise had been reluctant to expand in the past, Burger Joint recently opened a store in Seoul, South Korea, and is actively planning to open another in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“We decided to open our second U.S. store in downtown New York because we thought the atmosphere of the neighborhood fits perfectly with our company’s vibe,” said Marisa Zafran, director of public relations and marketing at the Jack Parker Corporation, which oversees operations at Burger Joint.
Burger Joint at Eighth Street differs from its Midtown location. The dimly lit restaurant is not only three times bigger than the original but will also be equipped with a full bar as soon as it acquires a liquor license. The dedication to making delicious, fresh burgers, however, remains intact.
“We have our own butchers in our stores,” Zafran said. “They grind up quality meat and make fresh patties for us.”
To bring out the full flavor of fresh beef, Burger Joint not only refuses to use any seasoning but also incorporates a golden ratio of beef — 20 percent fatty and 80 percent lean meat — in making its patties.
Food served at Burger Joint is simple — no fuss, just burgers. Customers choose between the hamburger ($5.50) and cheeseburger ($6.50), with condiment options of lettuce, tomato, onion, sliced pickles, mustard, ketchup and mayonnaise.
The addition of any other condiment may distract the flavor of the juicy beef. Instead, French fries ($2.75) are always a great accompaniment for the burger. Don’t forget to try Burger Joint’s milkshakes (vanilla or chocolate, $4.50).
“We are eager to add the student population at NYU in our customer pool,” Zafran said.
Quality burgers on a college budget, in addition to proximity to campus, will surely make Burger Joint a student-favorite in no time.
Steinhardt freshman Luis Jacome said he will be a regular at the newly opened restaurant.
“Obviously the burger is really good,” Jacome said. “But the store is really spacious. I will be coming here with my friends a lot.”
Burger Joint is located at 33 W. Eighth St.
A version of this article appeared in the Wednesday, Apr. 24 print edition. Daniel Yeom is a contributing writer. Email him at [email protected].
