Petey's Burger in Astoria, Queens, specializes in California-style burgers, à la In-N-Out (the red and yellow color palette seems to allude to the West Coast burger chain). I visited Petey's last November shortly after it first opened with the intention of returning before posting about it, but I never got around to that second visit. However, since we've recently received a handful of emails from AHT readers alerting us to Petey's existence, I'll share my first impressions, most of which are hopefully no longer valid. (Of course, we appreciate the emails! Sometimes we need that push to get things done.)
I ordered a single (it also comes in double and triple) cheeseburger, ($3.99), which came topped with cheese, lettuce, tomato, raw onion, and "special sauce" on a toasted bun. Autopsy shot after the jump.
My two friends and I all thought the same thing: the patty tasted...well, not like anything since it was flavorless, and it was on the dry side. Unfortunately, much ketchup dipping occurred to make the burgers more palatable. There wasn't anything particularly remarkable about the rest of the burger—the patty is all I remember.
The french fries ($2.79) were okay, but I wouldn't order another one of their milkshakes for $4.
What are your experiences with Petey's Burger? Let me know how it's changed since November.
Petey's Burger is pretty unremarkable, but it's on my way home from work, so I inevitably end up eating there a lot. Although the burger hasn't grown on me, I accept it for what it is, a fast food burger that's better than other local fast food burgers, and that gets my patronage. Not worth a special to Astoria, but it's nice for us locals.
Ate at Petey's last night, also on the way home. Pretty much the only place around 30th Ave / 31st St to get a decent burger, everywhere else, diners mostly, the burger is an after thought. As "decent" as it is, I will have to agree with the author, everything about the place is unremarkable.
P.S. My friend is a vegetarian, their veggy "burger" is a $4.50 crap cheese sandwich, I don't know where they got the idea that a cheese sandwhich could be called a veggy burger.
I think it only fair that the person who first reviewed Peteys go back, try it again, and then write up a second review. Reposting the old review doesn't due much justice, especially since the review was written when Peteys first opened up and probably wasn't cranking out its potential.
I'd say this is one of the better burgers in the NYC area (if you like West Coast style burgers). I'd put it up there with BLT Burger and Shake Shack which I'd also classify as West Coast given the buns and sauces. In fact from what I understand Peteys gets their meat from the same supplier of Shake Shack. Everytime I have been there burgers and fries have been super fresh. I go with a double which at times can be too juicy and leads to bun erosion. Fries are hand cut from fresh potatoes. If you can recognize a handcut fry from a fresh potato you'd appreciate it.
I bet if you blindfolded the reviewer and put a Shake Shack and Peteys burger in front of them they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
And who goes to a burger place and orders vegetarian???
@dombrooks: I posted this review mostly to stop people from sending us emails telling us that it's there, hehe. I would have rather gone again to see if it was still the same, but Astoria isn't really near my nabe. I think our burger fiend Nick Solares was interested in trying Petey's, so maybe we can get an opinion from him as well.
I disagree though that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a SS burger and a Petey's burger though. And I'll totally take a bind taste test if anyone's willing to bring both to me (I kind of doubt it). ;) From what I remember, the buns and meat tasted very different from both places, unless Petey's has drastically changed in the past 2 months.
I've tried Petey's, and it's just okay. It's basically a slightly superior version of what you'd get at Blue 9. It's nothing like Shake Shack, not even close, aside from them both being hamburgers.
i am still glad i got a menu for the place shoved in my mail box this week! my hamburger standards are pretty minimal and my oven is broken so it's been a take out kinda month :)
There is a place called Sanford's on 30th street and Broadway that has awesome burgers($5.95 I believe). The place is more restaurant style, but their British Burger on an oversize english muffin is huge, juicy and flavorful. I highly recommend it.
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10 Comments:
A single cheeseburger at in n out costs half that, and is five times as good....
zindh at 10:07AM on 01/22/09
Petey's Burger is pretty unremarkable, but it's on my way home from work, so I inevitably end up eating there a lot. Although the burger hasn't grown on me, I accept it for what it is, a fast food burger that's better than other local fast food burgers, and that gets my patronage. Not worth a special to Astoria, but it's nice for us locals.
Now when will Mano's Papaya next door open?
Joshua Bousel at 11:52AM on 01/22/09
Ate at Petey's last night, also on the way home. Pretty much the only place around 30th Ave / 31st St to get a decent burger, everywhere else, diners mostly, the burger is an after thought. As "decent" as it is, I will have to agree with the author, everything about the place is unremarkable.
P.S. My friend is a vegetarian, their veggy "burger" is a $4.50 crap cheese sandwich, I don't know where they got the idea that a cheese sandwhich could be called a veggy burger.
gomercobs at 2:30PM on 01/22/09
I think it only fair that the person who first reviewed Peteys go back, try it again, and then write up a second review. Reposting the old review doesn't due much justice, especially since the review was written when Peteys first opened up and probably wasn't cranking out its potential.
I'd say this is one of the better burgers in the NYC area (if you like West Coast style burgers). I'd put it up there with BLT Burger and Shake Shack which I'd also classify as West Coast given the buns and sauces. In fact from what I understand Peteys gets their meat from the same supplier of Shake Shack. Everytime I have been there burgers and fries have been super fresh. I go with a double which at times can be too juicy and leads to bun erosion. Fries are hand cut from fresh potatoes. If you can recognize a handcut fry from a fresh potato you'd appreciate it.
I bet if you blindfolded the reviewer and put a Shake Shack and Peteys burger in front of them they wouldn't be able to tell the difference.
And who goes to a burger place and orders vegetarian???
dombrooks at 4:50PM on 01/22/09
@dombrooks: I posted this review mostly to stop people from sending us emails telling us that it's there, hehe. I would have rather gone again to see if it was still the same, but Astoria isn't really near my nabe. I think our burger fiend Nick Solares was interested in trying Petey's, so maybe we can get an opinion from him as well.
I disagree though that I wouldn't be able to tell the difference between a SS burger and a Petey's burger though. And I'll totally take a bind taste test if anyone's willing to bring both to me (I kind of doubt it). ;) From what I remember, the buns and meat tasted very different from both places, unless Petey's has drastically changed in the past 2 months.
Robyn Lee at 5:08PM on 01/22/09
Love your blog it's not doing anything for my diet, but I linked you anyway.
gummypez at 5:59PM on 01/22/09
@roboppy - Lets see what Nick says. Make sure he gets a double.
dombrooks at 8:18PM on 01/22/09
I've tried Petey's, and it's just okay. It's basically a slightly superior version of what you'd get at Blue 9. It's nothing like Shake Shack, not even close, aside from them both being hamburgers.
Perpetua at 8:36PM on 01/22/09
i am still glad i got a menu for the place shoved in my mail box this week! my hamburger standards are pretty minimal and my oven is broken so it's been a take out kinda month :)
in dubious batter at 9:57AM on 01/23/09
There is a place called Sanford's on 30th street and Broadway that has awesome burgers($5.95 I believe). The place is more restaurant style, but their British Burger on an oversize english muffin is huge, juicy and flavorful. I highly recommend it.
psvb44 at 6:34PM on 04/30/09