The Original Viand

Nestled in the heart of "stuck-up" Manhattan (60's and Madison), The Original Viand coffeeshop is a true classic. Everything from the amusingly loud waiters to the outstanding food just oozes New York City. I'm usually not a fan of burgers at diners, but at the behest of a very special friend, I was encouraged to go ahead and order a Bacon Burger with cheese fries and I was not disappointed. The burger was juicy and flavorful and the bacon was thin and crispy, just like I prefer. The waiters literally take your order and yell it to one of a few grillmen who fire up your food within minutes. The burger was cooked to perfection, and my only complaint would be the juice seeps through the bottom of the bun, so be leary of your first bite, epsecially if you're wearing a shirt that will easily stain. Overall, the burger was outstanding and I can't wait to make a return trip to this gem. For now, I'll just enjoy the stench of the grill that has followed me back to work. One tip: tables only accomodate 2 people, so don't go with a group larger than that.

The Capital Grille

I'll preface my review tonight by saying, the burger I sampled was a take-out order which definitely takes some luster away from the meat. Having said that, I was pretty underwhelmed by the whole package. Despite the allure of bacon bits placed inside the ground chuck, the Burger was lacking real flavor and the bun was a debacle. As I watched my two coworkers "scoop" out the bun, I had flashbacks to a plethora of whiny, obnoxious girls (like this one----------------->)
ordering bagels scooped out. This is not what I want to be thinking about as I'm about to sink my teeth into a burger, "Matty The Meat Hook" style. Another problem with the burger was the unannounced presence of some weird looking cheese. I don't know if it's a good sign or a bad sign that I was able to scrape it off all at once, but I'm rolling with a bad sign. In conclusion, even giving Capital Grille some slack because it was a takeout order, I expect more from a Nationally respected establishment. Two out of 5 burgers from me, and thankfully this meal was expensed. Next time I'm there I'll roll with the steak.

Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien

What better way to start a Saturday at 11:30 in the morning, then with some burgers at the one and only, not Las Pamillas, but the Burger Joint. Luckily, it was not crowded and we beat the traffic. I was more nervous to order this burger than Newman

was entering The Soup Nazi. Simple instructions at the Burger Joint: Order quickly, grub quickly and bounce. The first burger I ordered was plain and medium rare with some fries and water. I devoured that quickly, even though they cooked the meat a little too long. In the time span of eating my next burger, about 40 people came in. While waiting a little, and trying to memorize how to order, I ordered another medium rare burger but with pickles and tomatoes. These burgers appear to be as juicy and succulent as Pamela Anderson. The bun was weak but the meat was good. It is cheap, simple, and fatty fresh chuck. Burger Joint must have sold 150 burgers in the 30 minutes experience being there. I give it 3 out of 5 burgers and looking forward to coming back.

New York Burger Co.

I was on my way to shake shack and the line was too long and I was in a rush. I gave this burger spot a chance. I ordered the “New York Burger,” that comes with tomatoes and lettuce, on a bun, medium rare. $5.95 for a 6 oz burger, but the bun was bigger than the burger. This all natural Coleman beef spot is as appealing as watching the Tampa Bay Devil Rays against the Texas Rangers on a Saturday in late April. The burger was okay. The fries were reasonable as they were $2.00. The last part to the meal was a strawberry banana smoothie. Hit the spot for $5.00. Anyway, the meal was about $14.00 with tax, and I would say I would be better off going to a club and spending that money on a vodka sprite for a girl I will never end up speaking too. The best part of the experience was the public bathroom which had one stall that was as clean as Brittney spears spreading her legs. I give it 2 out of 5 burgers. Next time I am early for class, hungry and having a conversation with my stomach, I will be back, but try and go directly to the bathroom.