264 W 23rd Street, New York NY 10011 (map); 212-242-4900; another location on 52nd Street Cooking Method: Griddled Short Order: A little more than what I want to pay for a tasty fast food-style burger. Want Fries with That? Crinkle cut, crispy, and salted; if you want fried carbs, go for it. Price: Cheeseburger, $6; fries, $3; combo w/ shake: $13
The Serious Eats office is on a somewhat food desolate stretch of Eight Avenue a couple of blocks south of Madison Square Garden. But if I'm willing to walk 15 minutes, I can reach many tasty food destinations—like Koreatown, Chelsea Market, or Shake Shack in Madison Square Park.
And that's pretty much what I thought of after eating at Lucky's Famous Burgers, which opened about a month ago and is three avenues away from Madison Square Park. It wasn't bad, but if I want a fast food-style burger, I'd rather spend the extra ten minutes or so walking to Shake Shack than eat at Lucky's for the same price. Take a look at the burger after the jump.
Lucky's Famous Cheddar is made of a six-ounce patty topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and pickles on a soft Martin's Potato Roll with a smear of ketchup and mustard on the bottom bun.
The burger comes very neatly wrapped in paper-lined foil and is automatically cooked to medium. Although not dry, it wasn't juicy either. The toppings tasted fresh and crisp, and they balanced well with the meat and bun, but the meat didn't have much flavor on its own. (Adam and Nick have reviewed the previous incarnation of Lucky's in the East Village where the burgers had a smoky flavor, but the burgers no longer have that smokiness.)
A side order of crinkle-cut fries was far too much for one person, but I ate most of the bag anyways since it fulfilled my craving for crispy, fatty, and salty carbs.
The black and white shake, a vanilla shake topped with chocolate syrup, was also far too much for one person—I only got through about a third of it. It's suck-your-face-inside-out thick, if that's the way you like your shakes (better than too runny, in my opinion, since it can at least melt to a more drinkable texture), and the flavor was fine, not too sweet.
I wouldn't say there was anything bad about the burger; it just didn't stand out as special, especially for the price. It's hard to look at Lucky's when I have Shake Shack so close by. A comparable burger, fries, and shake from Shake Shack costs $12.75, while at Lucky's the cheeseburger, fries, and shake cost $14, or $13 as a combo. Shake Shack's portions may be a little smaller, but the food tastes better. Lucky has a more diverse menu though, in case you want bacon cheeseburgers, turkey burgers, salads, chicken sandwiches, onion rings, or sweet potato fries. There also serve miniature versions of their beef burgers, which sound like a nice option if you want a snack to share with someone.
The red-and-yellow restaurant is clean and comfortable, and the employees are notably friendly. It's certainly a better choice than a regular fast food restaurant—it's comparable to other In-N-Out-esque burger joints in New York City like Petey's Burger and Blue 9 Burger. I'd look at Lucky's differently if it weren't near a Shake Shack—if this were near my apartment in Bed-Stuy, I'm probably go there to sate a burger craving.
Of course those ten extra minutes could lead to an hour long wait once you actually get to the Shack, I doubt there is ever that much of a wait at Lucky's.
Glad you got to try it Robyn. I have tried Lucky's twice since emailing you.
A week after they opened I ordered delivery. I asked for medium rare, but received a well done hockey puck that had as much cow flavor as a piece of leather (I assume.)
Not to judge unfairly on a possible service hickup in their first week, I went back on Friday and ordered takeout. Obviously, takeout and delivery are not the best for burgers but I love just a few blocks away. This time I wasn't screwing leaving anything to chance - I ordered it rare. This probably was on the rare side of med-rare. It was pretty tasty, but yeah it was no Shake Shack. Good fresh-tasting pickles and onions, good condiments like the special sauce and the chipotle mayo. All in all, pretty decent.
As you pointed out, I'd be better of going to Shake Shack or trying Bills (still need to try it, will ask for extra juicy), IF I have the time. Thing is, the Shack isn't right between my subway and my apartment, so I will probably pick this up again sometime just because of the convenience factor.
The shake was pretty standard, but huge. Even diners usually give you a $5-6 shake in a 16 ounce cup. This was a full 20 ounce thick shake.
I liked the fries a lot. Better than the Shack. Same fresh-cut crinkle cut fries, but Lucky's had a much more real potato flavor to me.
@Big B: Glad to hear another opinion! I usually don't even get fries at Shake Shack cos I'm not hungry enough, but for the purposes for this review I got the major burger components (well, for me at least: burger, fries, shake). Lucky's fries did taste better. I love shakes, but I had it when they're unreasonable large. :( Then I feel poopy for wasting so much food.
This was one of the places we ate while we were in NY this spring. We weren't impressed. It was Ok, but won't go there when we return to NY. Will probably try 5 Napkin down the street.
Within the past week, I've eaten at both Rockwell's and Lucky's (though at the Hell's Kitchen location).
The meals came to the same price (10 and change) for a burger, fries and soda combo.
Lucky's was good, comparable to Shake Shack and much less crowded, but I didn't appreciate them not asking if I wanted lettuce or tomato (I didn't), and the shop itself was kinda dingy. I appreciated getting a lot more fries than I would have at Shake Shack. I also (thanks to my poor budgeting at a street fair) was a little short on change and they told me not to worry about it. That was nice. I'd eat there if I was with a friend, but the next time I go for a burger, I'll go to the Shack, they're a dollar eighty nine cheaper and closer to a big concentration of cute puppies.
Rockwells offers "boring" burgers (their words, not mine) and "mix-in" burgers. Their fries are delightful. The mix-in burgers (up to four mixins, including bacon, cheese or veggies, and your choice of sauce) are cheaper and therefore a better deal than the boring burgers but to those who prefer to have cheese ON rather than IN their burgers it can be a little disconcerting. Mine TASTED like it had bleu cheese, onion and bacon in it but maybe it was just flavoring. It was tasty and the place was cute, but again, I'd rather go to The Shack. Unless it's raining.
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8 Comments:
Of course those ten extra minutes could lead to an hour long wait once you actually get to the Shack, I doubt there is ever that much of a wait at Lucky's.
Nick Solares at 11:30AM on 11/02/09
@Nick: That's true; I didn't have to wait at Lucky's. But I'd still rather wait at Shake Shack. ;)
Robyn Lee at 11:41AM on 11/02/09
$13? Ouch!!!!
jkdrummer at 12:04PM on 11/02/09
What about Rockwell's Express on 8th St.? Anyone know if its any good?
jess8328 at 1:17PM on 11/02/09
Glad you got to try it Robyn. I have tried Lucky's twice since emailing you.
A week after they opened I ordered delivery. I asked for medium rare, but received a well done hockey puck that had as much cow flavor as a piece of leather (I assume.)
Not to judge unfairly on a possible service hickup in their first week, I went back on Friday and ordered takeout. Obviously, takeout and delivery are not the best for burgers but I love just a few blocks away. This time I wasn't screwing leaving anything to chance - I ordered it rare. This probably was on the rare side of med-rare. It was pretty tasty, but yeah it was no Shake Shack. Good fresh-tasting pickles and onions, good condiments like the special sauce and the chipotle mayo. All in all, pretty decent.
As you pointed out, I'd be better of going to Shake Shack or trying Bills (still need to try it, will ask for extra juicy), IF I have the time. Thing is, the Shack isn't right between my subway and my apartment, so I will probably pick this up again sometime just because of the convenience factor.
The shake was pretty standard, but huge. Even diners usually give you a $5-6 shake in a 16 ounce cup. This was a full 20 ounce thick shake.
I liked the fries a lot. Better than the Shack. Same fresh-cut crinkle cut fries, but Lucky's had a much more real potato flavor to me.
Big B at 4:57PM on 11/02/09
@Big B: Glad to hear another opinion! I usually don't even get fries at Shake Shack cos I'm not hungry enough, but for the purposes for this review I got the major burger components (well, for me at least: burger, fries, shake). Lucky's fries did taste better. I love shakes, but I had it when they're unreasonable large. :( Then I feel poopy for wasting so much food.
Robyn Lee at 5:03PM on 11/02/09
This was one of the places we ate while we were in NY this spring. We weren't impressed. It was Ok, but won't go there when we return to NY. Will probably try 5 Napkin down the street.
beth1 at 5:16PM on 11/02/09
Funny you should mention Rockwell's, jess8328.
Within the past week, I've eaten at both Rockwell's and Lucky's (though at the Hell's Kitchen location).
The meals came to the same price (10 and change) for a burger, fries and soda combo.
Lucky's was good, comparable to Shake Shack and much less crowded, but I didn't appreciate them not asking if I wanted lettuce or tomato (I didn't), and the shop itself was kinda dingy. I appreciated getting a lot more fries than I would have at Shake Shack. I also (thanks to my poor budgeting at a street fair) was a little short on change and they told me not to worry about it. That was nice. I'd eat there if I was with a friend, but the next time I go for a burger, I'll go to the Shack, they're a dollar eighty nine cheaper and closer to a big concentration of cute puppies.
Rockwells offers "boring" burgers (their words, not mine) and "mix-in" burgers. Their fries are delightful. The mix-in burgers (up to four mixins, including bacon, cheese or veggies, and your choice of sauce) are cheaper and therefore a better deal than the boring burgers but to those who prefer to have cheese ON rather than IN their burgers it can be a little disconcerting. Mine TASTED like it had bleu cheese, onion and bacon in it but maybe it was just flavoring. It was tasty and the place was cute, but again, I'd rather go to The Shack. Unless it's raining.
divinebovine at 7:45PM on 11/02/09