It’s hard to deny the merits of a good, tasty burger (Shake Shack anyone?). Some of my personal favorites, off the top of my head, include: a good lamb burger at L’Express, a fantastic chow-down at the Burger Joint inside the Parker Meridien, the bone marrow burger at the Marrow, the black label burger at Minetta Tavern, a nice juicy cheeseburger at the Burger Joint, and even an occasional indulgence at the ever-ubiquitous Five Guy (which can be a bit rich, even for me!). Plus, let’s not forget the inevitable In-and-Out burger when I’m in the west coast (protein style a must!).
Now – to add to the mix – the Umami Burger! An LA-based favorite by Adam Fleischman that recently found itself in Greenwich Village (with open arms of course), this new branch of artisanal burgers is definitely a strong contender in the burger world, and, in my view – here to stay. Believe it or not, it first landed on my radar by way of Foursquare (where, surprisingly, I can access some fantastic & timely info by simply tracking my friends' movements). From there, I read a couple of press pieces, and my curiosity was thoroughly piqued!
Off we went, on a lazy Sunday afternoon – where thankfully, there were no lines to speak of (friends of ours were told that the wait was two hours the last time they tried!). I had the truffle burger and hubby went with the manly burger (I’m convinced he only did it because of the name). Of course, you can hardly go wrong selecting just about anything off the menu. Might I also suggest getting a couple of starters (just check your calorie count at the door!). My favorite was the fried pickles and the cheesy tater tots (which, bizarrely, was a “secret menu” item).
True testament – a European couple sitting next to us actually had two servings of Umami goodness. I literally thought it was déjà vu when I saw them order yet another round of burgers plus the tempura onion rings (hubby, of course, advised me not to stare!). Yes, I suppose it is that good!
Next time I go, I’ll have to try the signature Umami burger (topped with parmesan crisp, shiitake mushrooms, roasted tomato, caramelized onions, and house-made Umami ketchup!). Nommy.
