New to NYC Burger Chains: The Counter, SmashBurger, Go Burger, and Elevation Burger

Last week, I visited Elevation Burger, an organic burger chain from Falls Church Virginia, The Counter, a high concept design-a-burger chain from California, Go Burger, a brick-and-mortar version of the truck based on a Los Angeles burger joint, and Smashburger, the rapidly expanding Denver-based chain that just opened its first New York location in Brooklyn. At each restaurant, I ordered a few burgers, tried all of their sides and special menu items, as well as a milkshake. How'd they compare to each other, and more importantly, are they going to be key players in the New York burger landscape? Let's take a look at them one at a time and see.

Continue reading »

33 Comments | Posted by J. Kenji López-Alt, June 20, 2011 at 10:30 AM
Tagged: Brooklyn, chains, Elevation Burger, Go Burger, NYC, SmashBurger, The Counter, Times Square, Upper East Side, West Village

Elevation Burger's New Conveyor Belt Griddle

On Saturday, organic burger chain Elevation Burger debuted a new prototype griddle (currently being patented) at their latest opening in Germantown, Maryland: a 20-foot-long conveyor-belt cast iron griddle, reports Nation's Restaurant News. The new griddle can cook three times as much food in an hour as a regular griddle, simplifies training new staffers, allows burgers to be cooked to different doneness levels, and allows for more more topping options, like cooked-to-order bacon.

Continue reading »

3 Comments | Posted by Robyn Lee, June 6, 2011 at 8:15 PM
Tagged: chains, Elevation Burger, videos

Elevation Burger Opening in NYC Next Month

[Photograph: Elevation Burger] In 2009 Virginia-based organic burger chain Elevation Burger announced plans to open in Lower Manhattan by the end of the year, then changed the plan to open near Union Square by May 2010. And then...that didn't...

Continue reading »

9 Comments | Posted by Robyn Lee, November 23, 2010 at 1:45 PM
Tagged: chain restaurants, coming soon, Elevation Burger, NYC

Dear AHT: Elevation Burger

Here's a recent recommendation we received in the AHT inbox. [Photograph: BigWoollyMammoth] Hello, it's the BigWoollyMammoth aka Ron here, and I wanted to share some of my photos with the AHT crew. I had a great experience at Elevation Burger...

Continue reading »

11 Comments | Posted by Robyn Lee, November 11, 2009 at 11:30 AM
Tagged: chain restaurants, Dear AHT, Elevation Burger

Philadelphia Burger Smackdown Chart

[Image: Philadelphia Weekly] Philadelphia Weekly put together this handy chart comparing three of Philadelphia's most recently opened burger joints: PYT, SquareBurger, and Elevation Burger. Besides describing typical burger-eating characteristics—patties, toppings, buns, fries, and shakes—the chart also notes waiting times...

Continue reading »

1 Comment | Posted by Robyn Lee, September 23, 2009 at 10:00 AM
Tagged: Elevation Burger, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PYT, SquareBurger

Elevation Burger Coming to New York City

Organic Virginia-based burger chain Elevation Burger is planning to open their first location in New York City in Lower Manhattan. Their website lists a launch date of winter 2009....

Continue reading »

1 Comment | Posted by Robyn Lee, May 15, 2009 at 5:25 PM
Tagged: Elevation Burger, NYC, openings

Elevation Burger Coming to New Jersey

Virginia-based organic burger chain Elevation Burger is planning to open their first location in New Jersey in Montclair. Four more New Jersey locations are in the works, along with locations in Texas, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C....

Continue reading »

Post a Comment | Posted by Robyn Lee, November 25, 2008 at 1:30 PM
Tagged: chain burgers, Elevation Burger, New Jersey