Brooklyn Diner’s Bacon Cheeseburger is one of the best, read on to find out why or check out more of my New York Burger Tour here…

Let’s breakdown this bad boy:

• Custom blend ground beef – never tastes too beefy, always moist and crumbly, and cooked on a flat griddle, which I’m not usually a fan of. That proves this burger’s greatness right there.
• Vermont Cheddar Cheese – not too sharp and always well-melted
• Smokehouse bacon – I ask for it well done and it’s always fresh and cooked to order. It has never tasted as though it was pre-cooked and slapped back on the grill.
• Frizzled Onion Rings – Though they’re a little greasy, they’re thin, crisp, and don’t come back on you throughout the day like a Donovan’s Burger or even Luger’s
• French Fries – Thickness which falls between shoestring and diner-style, they always come crisp, potatoey, and piping hot
• Buttered & Grilled Brioche Bun – Evenly grilled, seeded, and always glistening this bun is light and just substantial enough to support the massive patty without having an overbearing presence

What else can you really ask for?

Take a look at the burger as served. That’s a hell of a presentation. Heinz ketchup comes served in a small bowl which you can see at the top of the picture.

Look at this cross section. The size of the burger may look imposing and although it requires a big bite, the airiness of the bun and crumbly nature of the burger allow for a good squeeze.

The best way to build the burger is….

1. Arrange loose bacon and spread small layer of ketchup
2. Put about half, or a little less, of the fried onions on the burger
3. Apply more ketchup and top bun
4. Slice and eat, rationining a little of the remaining fried onion on select bites

Take a look at the perfectly grilled bun. Still light and airy, the buttery flavor is hardly detectable but how could it hurt the overall burger? The beauty of a great, buttered bun is that if you finish the burger before the end of the bun you may be left with a little grilled cheese sandwich.

Mouth-watering. Juicy. Flavorful. These are the three main attributes I look for in a great burger. I’d rather have a burger cooked over an open flame than on a flat griddle but I won’t discriminate. You have to keep an open mind when it comes to food and I’m glad I did because I definitely balked when my friend Eric Cook first suggested Brooklyn Diner’s Bacon Cheeseburger for dinner one night at work. I heard the price and I said “Forget it.” He said “Trust me here” and I did. The rest is history. I try not to eat this burger too often because it’s so delicious I wouldn’t want to spoil the excitement I feel every time I order it. I hope you try it and feel the same way.

Brooklyn Diner

I’ve eaten at Brooklyn Diner at least 4 or 5 times and ordered in just as many. Mark my words: It has never disappointed. The burger comes on a buttered and toasted brioche bun that is always fresh and “inexpressibly delicious” to borrow a phrase from Monsieur Proust.

Take a look at this cross section:

That’s what we call “the dankity dank.” Ordered medium rare, cooked medium rare. The burger breaks down like this from top to bottom: 1) bun 2) ketchup 3) fried onion 4) ketchup 5) bacon 6) vermont cheddar 7) custom blend burger.

You always get a healthy handful of fried onions which are fried but light and never overly greasy, and, in my experiences, have always been fresh :

The platter also comes with two quality half-sour pickle spears and a healthy offering off usually crispy shoestrings. Their crisp-ness is what makes them so vital to a delicious combo bite of burger, fried onion, fries, and pickle. Delicious.

Special drink advice below…

Order an egg cream, despite it’s $4.99 price, it’s hefty and well worth it. Seltzer’s always bubbly and syrup’s always balanced and in the end what goes better with a diesel burger on grilled brioche than an old-fashioned egg cream or milk shake.

Look at this delicious grilled butter action:

The best part of a butter toasted bun with a cheeseburger, similarly excellent at Fanelli’s, is that if you run out of burger and you’re only left with cheese and bread, you have a mini grilled cheese sandwich. KICK ASS (Thank you Mr. Cartman). This is doubly delicious at Fanelli’s because their burger comes on an oversize onion roll. Imagine that: A mini grilled cheddar cheese on an onion roll after you just took down a quality burger. Fanelli’s burger mind you, did not impress me.

There you have it folks, an awesome burger outside of Burger Joint and Five Guys DOES exist in Midtown near Times Square. Pretty startling, huh? Even though it is a $20 meal without a drink, it’s damn worth it if you want to spoil yourself. Enjoy.

Brooklyn Diner (2 locations)

212 W 57th St (Btwn Broadway & 7th Ave)

Phone: 212-977-1957

155 W 43rd St (Btwn Bway & 6th Ave) **I’ve never eaten or ordered from this one**

Phone: 212-265-5400