Dear AHT,
I try to eat at least one burger a week. This past week, however, the burger got the best of me. I have long been a proponent of the P.J. Clarke's burger as the indisputable best burger in Manhattan. Well a few friends decided to challenge me on this, so we went to each person's top pick, ordering medium-rare bacon cheeseburgers at each, to see if we could reach a consensus.
BLUE SMOKE | 116 East 27th Street, New York NY 10016 [map]
Actually no one thought Blue Smoke was the best burger, but we saw your review and another writeup (New York magazine, I think) and decided it was worthy of inclusion. This was the most disappointing burger by far. Meduim-rare came out medium. Not very juicy. Still, good flavor.
J. G. MELON | 1291 Third Avenue, New York NY 10021 [map]
One of us was confident this was the best. Medium-rare was almost really medium-rare, but still not quite there.
CORNER BISTRO | 331 West 4th Street, New York NY 10014 [map]
This medium-rare was as close as the Melon burger, but with far more flavor. Combine this with the almost fairyland-like prices, and you have your hands-down No. 2.
P. J. CLARKE'S | 915 Third Avenue, New York NY 10022 [map]
I was able to convert the Melon guy with this burger. It is simply perfect. I would estimate that I have experienced it about 10 to 15 times, and each and every time, it is a perfect medium-rare. Eating this burger is like eating a steak. Sorry for my lack of descriptive details, but you need to eat this today.
—Greg K.
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