Fried Onions Make Everything Better at 12th Street Bar and Grill in Park Slope

Posted by Robyn Lee, September 8, 2009 at 10:30 AM

[Photographs: Robyn Lee]

Across the street from the subject of my last Park Slope burger review, Johnny Mack's, is another restaurant with a promising burger, 12th Street Bar & Grill. Accompanied by the same burger-loving friend as last time, we went to the bar (the restaurant is split into two parts: a formal dining room at 8th Avenue and 12th Street and a casual bar around the corner on 12th Street) to find out which burger would win in the battle of "Burgers at the Intersection of 8th Avenue and 12th Street."

12th Street Bar & Grill won. Here's why, after the jump.

The eight-ounce burgers ($11) come with "frizzled" (breaded and deep fried) onions, crisp lettuce, chunky tomato slice, thinly sliced onions, and your choice of cheese (American, cheddar, Swiss, or blue) on a grilled bun. Mushrooms, bacon, or caramelized onions are available for an additional $1.50.

My medium rare burger came topped with a melty blanket of American cheese. I put on the lettuce and fried onions—raw tomatoes interrupt my burger joy, and raw onions make my mouth feel like death—and dug in.

Juices flowed freely from my bisected burger. Score. The patty was sufficiently salted, but even if it hadn't been I don't think I would've minded because of the presence of fried onions, automatically my new favorite burger topping for its flavor and crunchiness. (It's also my favorite hot dog topping.) Fried onions should be offered more often as a burger topping—you can't really go wrong with salty fried crispy bits-o-something on top of a meat patty.

The plain bun was a good fit for the burger—just a smidge smaller than the patty, hearty enough to stand up to the burger's heft and juiciness, but soft enough to not interfere with the meat and toppings.

Burger with cheddar and mushrooms.

My friend said his burger cooked to medium was also plenty juicy, in case you prefer something a little more well done.

The burger comes with either fries or a salad. The skin-on fries are crispy and salty; unless you're craving a salad (it happens) or have an aversion to fried starch, get them.

While Johnny Mack's makes a tasty burger, 12th Street Bar & Grill wins the game—for being cheaper (Johnny Mack's burger is $11, but doesn't come with cheese), for using a better bun, and for coming with fried onions.

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Tags: 12th Street Bar and Grill, AHT reviews, Brooklyn, NYC, Park Slope, reviews