8 Creative NYC Burgers To Celebrate National Cheeseburger Day
Thursday, Sept. 18 is National Cheeseburger Day and we are ready to celebrate! Treat yourself to an out-of-the-ordinary burger to mark the day-long celebration of an American classic by checking out one of these New York City concoctions. By Sarah Shaker.
Kick off National Cheeseburger Day with the Classic Cheeseburger at Big Smoke Burger, but be sure to get there early as the first 50 customers will receive their burger for FREE! That's right, we're talking free cheeseburgers here folks. No need to fret for all you late risers out there, this Chelsea eatery doesn't open until noon. For those of you who don't make the cut, consider trying one of Big Smoke Burger's other delicious patty options, including the Blue Burger topped with gorgonzola, avocado, rosemary garlic mayo, tomato & lettuce.
For decades New Yorkers have been heading over to Moran's Chelsea for a Classic Burger topped with their choice of cheese. Its popularity even played a hand in the decision to build a kitchen and hire a cook back when the 50-year-old establishment was just a dive bar. And while you can never really beat a classic, Moran's decided to up the ante in honor of National Burger Month back in May and debuted a brand new treat: the Gaucho Burger, which features mixed peppers, onions, garlic, cilantro and is interestingly topped with a slice of pineapple.
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Chef Paul Denamiel's Little Prince opened last year boasting a special "off-menu" French Onion Soup Burger. A grilled patty of Pat LaFrieda beef is topped with caramelized onions, Gruyere and béchamel on a toasted English muffin. Head to SoHo for this "secret" burger to celebrate National Cheeseburger Day like the in-the-know New Yorker you are. If you're really feeling carnivorous, order the Steak Tartare starter: grilled bread topped with hand chopped filet and a quail egg.
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Sourcing independent purveyors right in Astoria, Burger Club proudly serves comfort food with local ingredients. For something on the lighter side, try a Farmer's Market Burger with a patty made of seasonal veggies, that's topped with marinated portobello mushrooms, avocado, sprouts and goat cheese. Or go indulgent with a Carolina Burger topped with slow-cooked pulled pork, pepper jack cheese and homemade coleslaw or The Frenchy Burger with foie gras, sauteed mushroom and caramelized onions.
Brooklyn's Korzo Restaurant and Korzo Haus in the East Village are known for their sinful fried burgers. The Original, a beef patty ground on their counter with apple-smoked organic bacon, Allgauer Emmentaller cheese, mustard and dill pickle inside Langos Hungarian fried bread is served with Fried Halušky in rosemary oil and buttermilk aioli. The complete patty enclosure guarantees no loss of juices within the crispy outerlayer and soft inside crust.
Known as the neighborhood's top beer bar with one of LIC's best happy hours, Alewife also offers a solid menu. The Alewife Burger is a delicious way to celebrate the day of the cheeseburger with a patty topped with mizuna, roasted tomato, dill relish, grilled onions, Irish cheddar and finished off with garlic spread.
Cheese lovers can't get enough of the Mac & Cheeseburger at Go Burger. Topped with Fried Mac and Cheese, caramelized onions, bacon, cheddar cheese, and a housemade smoked ketchup, this is a burger for a kid at heart. Go Burger's list of creative burgers has something for every mood, with other notables including a Miso Hungry with tempura red onion rings, soy mushrooms, jack cheese and Miso Russian or the UltiMELT with caramelized onions, bacon and Go Burger Sauce between two slender rye and Gruyere grilled cheese sandwiches.
With restaurants in Park Slope and Fort Greene, Brooklynites can celebrate this day in a creative way with 67 Burger's popular Pastrami Burger. Choose a beef or chicken patty encrusted with pastrami seasonings topped with sauerkraut and swiss on a soft and crusty pretzel bun with mustard. And if pastrami seasonings aren't your thing, there are 13 other burger styles with five proteins to choose from for the burger of your dreams.
Bite into a burger with a barbecue twist. The Pulled Pork burger features a patty with Common sauce, pickles, cheese, and BBQ suckling pulled pork on a brioche bun. And while you're dining, check out Tequila Park, which opened last year in Hudson Common serving up a menu of tacos and tequila.
Sarah Shaker is the founder of the blog Bright Lights, My City.
