Original City Burger Better Than Black Label? Combo Comes Down By $1
Earlier this week I had an email exchange about the new changes at City Burger(on 39th just East of B’way) with Josh “Mr. Cutlets” Ozersky. Not only is he editor of The Feedbag, but he is also the self appointed president of the Pat LaFrieda fan club:
Josh: “You better get on down to City Burger… Went there with a few other people the other day. It is SICK! Really, really good now.”
Me: “I don’t know. [The black label burger] is a little pricey for my cheap-ass blood… but yeah, I’ll probably break down and try it this week. Have the regular burgers changed at all?”
Josh: “Listen to this! I like the regular burgers BETTER than the black label. They’re top-three burgers in town right now. They got rid of the grills and brought in griddles…started warming the buns… oh man I wish I had one now.”
That is a bold statement… top 3 burgers in the city?!?! (Not even just Midtown?) The truth has been narrowed down to 2 possibilities. 1) City Burger has significantly improved their burger. Or 2) The Abitino Brothers (who own City Burger) have some serious dirt on our good friend Mr. Cutlets.
Only one way to find out which is true…
Regular City Burger w/ the Works
I admit I am no burger expert, but the regular City Burger has definitely improved with the change from the grille to the griddle. What used to be a hard hockey puck is now greasier, way juicier, and as a result much more flavorful. And most importantly, it was cooked perfectly (a big issue when they first opened.)
Innards
They’ve also heard the cries of the Midtown Lunch mob, and reduced the price of a burger/fries/soda combo from $10.55 to $9.55. It’s still a little overpriced for my taste, especially because I think the burger is now a little thinner, but I still applaud their effort. I also will admit that it is comparably priced to Good Burger and the Burger Joint at the Parker Meridien… but that doesn’t make me any happier to pay $10 for a burger, fries, and a soda.
What about the new Black Label Burger, you ask? It’s completely against everything I believe in to pay $11 for a take out burger for lunch, but after Danny’s description last week, and some of the other posts I had read, I couldn’t help myself. I think it was the term “funky” that piqued my curiosity the most…
It doesn’t really look any different…
And funky it was… not in a weird way, but in that you-know-you-are-definitely-eating-some-serious-beef kind of way. To put it another way, it has a very pleasing, very strong beef flavor that makes your mouth water as you eat it. Really, really enjoyable. Worth the $11+ for lunch? Fuck no. (What can I say? I’m a cheap ass through and through.) It also doesn’t help that it is a small burger that doesn’t fill you up, and after spending all that money, you still have to pay extra for cheese. That being said, I agree with Danny and the commenters who said it is worth trying once.
And with the regular City Burger vastly improved, and half the price, it’s tough to disagree with Cutlets. Top 3 burgers in the city? That may be going to too far… but certainly a worthy (albeit slightly overpriced) Midtown Lunch.
City Burger, 1410 Broadway (on 39th Street just East of B’way), 212 997-7770
Posted by Zach Brooks at 11:50 am, December 11th, 2008 under 39th & B'way, Burger, City Burger.
45 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
45 Comments
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I thought you might wish to know that my wife “E”(owner of a WILDLY successful chain of laser hair removal salons) has given me an early Christmas present.
My beloved housecat, Mr. Wiggles, passed on several weeks ago. Seeing how morose I had become, E spent long hours searching for THE perfect Manx kitten. She found one several hours away and surprised me with him just yesterday.
I have decided to name him MR CUTLETS in part because the kitten has a loveable paunch and a very odd set of whiskers, much like the human Mr. Cutlets, but also because it’s such a RIDICULOUS moniker.
Pictures of Mr. Cutlets will soon grace my MySpace page, should that excite you.
Regards,
Chuck, PhD -
IE:Chucky shot the cat when Obama won.
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McBeagle
For your information, Mr. Wiggles lost his life in a tragic accident involving our home tandoor oven.
Also, should this interest you, my wife proudly voted for Barak Obama. I would have, but am prevented from doing so thanks to an overzealous federal prosecutor.
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what about HK (39th and 9th) or Keen’s Steakhouse (36th between 5th and 6th) have mighty tasty burgers and no “burger” in the name. They also have other less “meaty options for some of you veg heds. Keen’s may have meatless salad, but I dont know for sure….
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Yes, all the local polling places take us too close to local elementary schools for DocChuck to vote, and as you all know my beloved hubby-dubby is legally constrained to remain 1000 yards or more at all times away from elementary schools. Tis causes us great difficulties, such as having to map out in advance legally acceptable routes to our beloved Applebees (not the one we were permanently barred from, the newer one), Chili’s, and Olive Garden. It also plays havoc with our budget, as camera equipment capable of generating sharp images of young boys at play from 1001 yards away does not come cheap.
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Just had the Black Label or whatever, the fries were meh, the burger was good, but not $11 a la carte good. If their $4.50 burger is like shake shack, it would be worth going back, but if not, who needs em?
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True story! DocChuck was sent to jail for harassing and threatening some backwater newspaper staff and a bank employee in Arkansas. Hard to believe right?! Here’s a blurb from BaxterBulletin in Mountain Home, AK….ENJOY!
“A Baxter County man accused of harassing employees of The Baxter Bulletin and Gail House, an employee of First Federal Savings and Loan, pleaded no contest Tuesday in Baxter County District Court to a single misdemeanor charge of harassing communications. District Judge Van Gearhart entered a finding of guilty against Dr. Charles Treuter and sentenced Treuter to 90 days in jail with all but 10 days suspended. City Prosecutor Roger Morgan brought reams of papers to the hearing that were allegedly faxes and printed copies of e-mail authored by Treuter containing untrue, derogatory and profane statements directed at the victims or their employers. Morgan told the judge that Treuter’s communications with The Bulletin had continued for more than seven years and had recently become increasingly personal and defamatory in content.”
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Oh and speaking of voting! DocChuck got also received a felony for vote fraud. Seems he tried voting as himself and his “wife”. Which wife was it Doc? The one in the MySpace profile or the one on TripAdvisor, cause they’re not the same person.
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Nothing you people say will bring back Mr. Wiggles.
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I had the city burger regular burger today, and it is definitely better than before. Probably the best burger in the price within a couple of blocks of my office at 42nd and 7th.
I know the Park Slope argument is off topic, but as someone who eats a burger at least once a week in the slope, I’d rank the $10 Melt bar burger ahead of Bonnie’s. However, I’ll easily declare the wings at Bonnie’s (spice level: hot) as the best in the city. FYI, if you haven’t had the burgers at Sidecar or 200 5th, they’re both worth checking out.
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Mamacita, we’re on it! I’m a medium rare, too. Why bother with a burger if you like anything beyond medium, eh? I’ll email ya…
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I for one would like to offer DocChuck my deepest sympathies on the untimely passing of his dear Mr. Wiggles.
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There would have been a funeral, but we don’t waste good meat here in Arkansas. You know, cat is not bad with enough Kraft BBQ sauce.
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so I went to city burger today and they clearly can’t handle the crowd. it is busy again like when they opened and they are overcooking burgers again. i was doing better there a couple of weeks ago when it was dead and i could micromanage the burger flipper while he cooked my burger.
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I went there today also and have the exact same complaint. I thought I’d be slick by ordering online but I still had to wait 20 mins once I showed up. They really need to get their act together.
PS – the Black Label burger is definitely good, but sooooo not worth $11. I kinda want to go back one more time for the new regular burger, but they are on my “two strikes” list at the moment.
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a little off topic, but I just went to 5 guys today for second lunch (raging hangover, today is a tough one) and I almost had a heart attack when the burger flipper took a bacon weight and SLAMMED it down on my burger, pulverizing the thing and sending all the juices flying out of my burger! Is this standard 5 guys practice?
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I think I’ve seen them do that before. Shameful.
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I went by last night after reading some of the reviews (yes…Im gullable). I decided on the Black label burger as well, because I was totally sold on the description, and thought I should give it a try. It was tasty, and a damn fine burger. But I thought it was a bit too small, especially for the price. Way too expensive! You can call me cheap if you like. I have no problems paying for something thats worth it. Not completely sold if this burger (esp at such a miniscule size) is worth $ 10+ (not including fries and drink!). I would try their regular burger though because I felt that what I was given was an extremely well cooked and delicious burger. So can only imagine their regular burger would stand up well, both against the palatte and the wallet.
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Ate a black label today. Meh…
DID YOU JUST SAY NUTS?
oh, err, you didn’t
*TWITCH* sorry
However, I will still be happy to bite you nuts off, McBeagle