A Hamburger Today
Photo Gallery: Goodburger Scouting Run
Had to try Goodburger after reading about it on Tuesday. Went there last night. It's at the corner of 43rd Street and Second Ave., on "Yitzak Rabin Way," just across from the Pfizer building.
It's large and roomy inside with marble countertops and inch-square tiling on the floor. Cooks work off a small gas-flame grill toward the rear of the counter area and use a broiler to toast buns and give the cheese a good melt. Prefab nostalgic signs hang on the wall.
The menu is pretty straightforward and perhaps just a touch more expansive (but not much more) than that at Burger Joint, which this place is modeled after. Note: They will cook your burger to medium doneness if you don't specify your preference. I ordered mine medium-rare.
Like at the Shake Shack, the expediter at Goodburger places your meal in a sorta-handy-yet-sorta-flimsy cardboard tray. As at Burger Joint, the fries are McDonald's-like in size and taste. I suspect they're the same J.R. Simplot fries I've seen in bags at Burger Joint.
But you want the money shot, don't you? Here 'tis:
Preliminary analysis: Excellent, juicy burger. Heftier than Shake Shack farther downtown but not so insanely thick you can't get your mouth around the thing. Crisp, fresh red onion and plenty of thickly cut, sweet pickle rounds. Goodburger appears to use the same almost pocketlike buns that Shake Shack uses, and the bun is toasted, though mine had gotten a very light toasting. The fries are good, too, but this isn't a french fry blog, so I'll spare you. Will have to do a Goodburger–Burger Joint head-to-head analysis soon. More to come!
GOODBURGER
Location: 800 Second Ave. (at 43rd St.), New York NY 10022
Phone: 212-922-1700