The Extra 3oz of Beef at Bill’s Bar & Burger Make All the Difference in the World
What significance does 3 ounces have? Aside from the threshold of liquid & gel carry-ons that the TSA enforces flyers to adhere to, or perhaps a double shot of tequila chugged on a dare, 3 ounces is the difference in size between Bill’s Bar & Burger’s ‘Classic’ burger and their ‘Original’. And it makes all the difference in the world.
I’ve paid several visits to BB&B (on 50th btw. 5+6th) after Jeremiah’s initial assessment, and like Jeremiah, I opted for the thriftier 5oz ‘Classic’ ($6.95), which only drew a lukewarm reaction. On a recent visit curiosity and hunger got the better of me and I coughed up the extra $2 to upgrade to Bill’s ‘Original’ 8oz burger ($8.95), and an extra fifty cents for a topping of caramelized onions. This simple act of gluttony, it turns out, was the right decision.
The added bulk of the larger burger patty does a better job of retaining the juiciness, meatiness, and flavor that Pat LaFrieda’s blend is rightly famous for. And while Mr. LaFrieda has not attended my wedding (not that I’m married anyway), I laud the quality of his product, which is expertly grilled and slipped between a squishy sesame and poppy seed studded bun. Despite the heft of the burger, it’s surprisingly delicate in texture, and assertively meaty in taste.
This isn’t a burger that one can attack with giddy, sloppy abandon. Halfway through the burger, the unrelenting juiciness drove my co-workers and I to the knife and fork route. Not that that’s a bad thing.
In keeping with BB&B’s blue collar comfort food theme, there’s disco fries ($4.50) to be had on the menu. It’s incredibly hard to improve upon french fries smothered with brown gravy and cheese sauce, and perhaps the only thing that could have lifted this dish would have been a cold beer on the side. In any case, a good deal more than 3 ounces of beer couldn’t hurt.
Related:
Bill’s Bar & Burger Enters the Crowded Midtown Burger Scene
Posted by Chris H. at 11:45 am, November 4th, 2010 under Bill's Bar & Burger.
22 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
great pic of the burger innards!