We meet at PJ Clarkes for the second installment of the Burger Series on Thursday, July 19.
4 World Financial Center @ Vesey Street
New York, NY 10022
212.285.1500
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Paul's Place: A party in our mouths.
(Photo: Angela L)
What we love: the milkshakes, the burgers, the milkshakes, Matt the Manager, the milkshakes, the rough-gruff-nicer-than-they-look staff, the milkshakes, the prices, the milkshakes.
What we could live without: limited seating, no reservations, cash only, have we mentioned how much we love the milkshakes???
Burger scale: A+
Price range: $ out of $$$$
Payment method: Cash only
If it's possible to fall in love with a diner at first sight, then we're in love. We can't think of a better place to kick off the Burger Series than to start at Paul's Place.
The kitschy no-frills diner on Second Ave between 7th Street and St Marks Place is charmingly authentic, and if we didn't just wade through pools of alterna-deviant youngsters on St. Marks to get there, we might have thought a freak global-warming twister accidentally brought us to middle-America-pre-fab-dinerland, circa 1950. As long as 1950s pre-fab diners have flat screen TVs, a model train, kewpie dolls, dangling mobiles and nice accomodating managers named Matt, that is. (We love Matt. Why aren't more managers like Matt???)
(Photos: Youngna Park, New York Magazine)
While some may accuse Paul of poor taste when it comes to interior design, few would say the same when it comes to food. Despite its standard diner menu, the restaurant does not turn out standard diner fare -- everything is fresh and solidly good. Think diner food on steroids.
A quick glance at the menu where nothing costs more than $10, and...Wow, Beef Burger Tartare. We'd be hard pressed to find any other diner in the five boroughs that has such confidence in the freshness and quality of its beef that it'd willingly serve its burgers to you uncooked with a raw egg cracked over it. For less than the cost of an arm and a leg, nonetheless.
Burgers at Paul's? Done just the way burgers should be done. We passed on the Tartare, however. We were too busy sucking down milkshakes.
Would we go back to Paul's again? Why yes, we sure as hell would.
What we love: the milkshakes, the burgers, the milkshakes, Matt the Manager, the milkshakes, the rough-gruff-nicer-than-they-look staff, the milkshakes, the prices, the milkshakes.What we could live without: limited seating, no reservations, cash only, have we mentioned how much we love the milkshakes???
Burger scale: A+
Price range: $ out of $$$$
Payment method: Cash only
If it's possible to fall in love with a diner at first sight, then we're in love. We can't think of a better place to kick off the Burger Series than to start at Paul's Place.
The kitschy no-frills diner on Second Ave between 7th Street and St Marks Place is charmingly authentic, and if we didn't just wade through pools of alterna-deviant youngsters on St. Marks to get there, we might have thought a freak global-warming twister accidentally brought us to middle-America-pre-fab-dinerland, circa 1950. As long as 1950s pre-fab diners have flat screen TVs, a model train, kewpie dolls, dangling mobiles and nice accomodating managers named Matt, that is. (We love Matt. Why aren't more managers like Matt???)
(Photos: Youngna Park, New York Magazine)
While some may accuse Paul of poor taste when it comes to interior design, few would say the same when it comes to food. Despite its standard diner menu, the restaurant does not turn out standard diner fare -- everything is fresh and solidly good. Think diner food on steroids.
A quick glance at the menu where nothing costs more than $10, and...Wow, Beef Burger Tartare. We'd be hard pressed to find any other diner in the five boroughs that has such confidence in the freshness and quality of its beef that it'd willingly serve its burgers to you uncooked with a raw egg cracked over it. For less than the cost of an arm and a leg, nonetheless.
(Photo: Sara H)
Our juicy 1/2 burgers are cooked to order and served by Paul's very efficient staff. They look silly and oversized, jutting about an half inch out over the bun. A bite, however, quells our internal debate over burger aesthetics.
The burger itself is near perfect although a little crumbly, an indication of 100% pure beef (or turkey if that's your preference) without the fillers that are often used to hold ground meat in patty form. The innocuous bun that brings to mind store-bought 8-packs from childhood family cookouts are suprisingly deliciously buttery. So much so that we throw caution to the wind and eat the entire bun puffy consequences be damned. Heck, we even order ourselves a milkshake. It comes made just the way milkshakes should be made. With ice cream. It's a party in our mouths, and everyone's invited.Burgers at Paul's? Done just the way burgers should be done. We passed on the Tartare, however. We were too busy sucking down milkshakes.
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| Burgers at Pauls |
Would we go back to Paul's again? Why yes, we sure as hell would.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Burger Series 1: Paul's Place
Paul's
131 Second Ave
New York, NY 10003
btwn 7th St and St Mark's Place
212-529-3033
Thursday, June 21
7:30PM to 9:00PM
Round 1: Paul's
The Burger Series commences this Thursday at Paul's. Please RSVP to by Wednesday so we know whether to expect you or not.
If you'll be joining us on Thursday, bring cash. Paul doesn't accept plastic 'cuz he's old skool like that.
Hope to see you there!
What is the Burger Series?
It's a monthly gathering of people with a purpose -- to explore the New York burger scene. Every burger joint in the Big Apple claims to make the best burgers in the city, and we're putting it all to the test. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with using burgers and beers as an excuse to hang out.
131 Second Ave
New York, NY 10003
btwn 7th St and St Mark's Place
212-529-3033
Thursday, June 21
7:30PM to 9:00PM
Round 1: Paul's
The Burger Series commences this Thursday at Paul's. Please RSVP to by Wednesday so we know whether to expect you or not.
If you'll be joining us on Thursday, bring cash. Paul doesn't accept plastic 'cuz he's old skool like that.
Hope to see you there!
What is the Burger Series?
It's a monthly gathering of people with a purpose -- to explore the New York burger scene. Every burger joint in the Big Apple claims to make the best burgers in the city, and we're putting it all to the test. Oh, and there's nothing wrong with using burgers and beers as an excuse to hang out.
Wednesday, June 13, 2007
B U R G E R S !
The invite reads:
Welcome to the Burger Series!
Seems like every burger joint in the Big Apple lays claim to the best burgers in the City. It's
time to put those claims to the test. Welcome to the Burger Series, a bi-monthly gathering where friends use burgers and beers as an excuse to hang out.
The first stop on the Burger Series will be on Thursday, June 21.
Please respond to this email if you're interested in being a part of the Series -- an evite will follow.
Questions or comments?
Why am I getting this? If you're getting this, it's because someone has decided that you would have fun as part of the Burger Series. If you would prefer not to be a part of this project, please email me so you may be taken off the list.
What if I've never heard of the New York Burger scene? That's okay. You can still be a part of it since I've never heard of it either. I just made it up.
Can I invite other people to the Burger Series? You sure can! Forward this on to your friends. Anyone that wants to be added to the distribution list must email me with his/her name, email address and telephone number.
Can I submit restaurants for consideration in the Burger Series? Yes. Any restaurant in the five boroughs accessible by public transportation and can seat parties of four or more will be considered for the series.
Welcome to the Burger Series!
Seems like every burger joint in the Big Apple lays claim to the best burgers in the City. It's
time to put those claims to the test. Welcome to the Burger Series, a bi-monthly gathering where friends use burgers and beers as an excuse to hang out.The first stop on the Burger Series will be on Thursday, June 21.
Please respond to this email if you're interested in being a part of the Series -- an evite will follow.
Questions or comments?
Why am I getting this? If you're getting this, it's because someone has decided that you would have fun as part of the Burger Series. If you would prefer not to be a part of this project, please email me so you may be taken off the list.
What if I've never heard of the New York Burger scene? That's okay. You can still be a part of it since I've never heard of it either. I just made it up.
Can I invite other people to the Burger Series? You sure can! Forward this on to your friends. Anyone that wants to be added to the distribution list must email me with his/her name, email address and telephone number.
Can I submit restaurants for consideration in the Burger Series? Yes. Any restaurant in the five boroughs accessible by public transportation and can seat parties of four or more will be considered for the series.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
the dining series
This is a small experiment.
In the restaurant business, one never knows what sort of diner will be the next to sit down at the table. The payoff of a successful restaurant, however, is worth the occasional wrath of fickle Lady Food & Beverage. Americans are eating out more now than they have ever before, and the trend is expected to continue to grow.
Which brings it back to this little project. This is a series where the participants will sample the supposed "best" of New York restaurants. There are no gourmets, oenos, foodies or chefs in this club. Only everyday people with busy lives that like to eat, drink and hang out. So, here goes nothing...
In the restaurant business, one never knows what sort of diner will be the next to sit down at the table. The payoff of a successful restaurant, however, is worth the occasional wrath of fickle Lady Food & Beverage. Americans are eating out more now than they have ever before, and the trend is expected to continue to grow.
Which brings it back to this little project. This is a series where the participants will sample the supposed "best" of New York restaurants. There are no gourmets, oenos, foodies or chefs in this club. Only everyday people with busy lives that like to eat, drink and hang out. So, here goes nothing...
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