Location: 2190 Frederick Douglass Blvd, New York, NY 10026
Cuisine: American/Burgers
Best Dish: We loved the meaty beef burger but the star of the day was the veggie burger. Not that is takes anything away from the deliciousness of its beefy sister, it just opened up our palettes to the possibility of meatless options. Anything meatless that can be happily gobbled up by self-proclaimed carnivores is worthy of the highest praise.
Overall: A cool easy-going venue for a quick but delicious bite. Feel free to drop by but choose your seat quickly they fill up fast but don’t let that deter you there’s always takeout!
When a fellow foodie says you have to try this burger, you know you’re in for something great. Last week at the insistence of one of our favorite food lovers, we ventured to Harlem’s restaurant row and sampled one of the city’s newest burger joints. Harlem Burger Co. is the brainchild of Harlem resident and owner of Harlem Pizza Co, Alper Uyanik.
The decor is minimal but chic and not unlike the old mom and pop shops of the 80’s and 90’s. The look is simplistic but trendy with an open kitchen, just a few communal tables and a graffiti mural blessing one wall with a hint of color. Guests order food at the counter and meals are served in a recycled paper on metal trays. There’s no need for fine china here, it is a burger joint. Aside from napkins and condiments, what else do you need? A quality burger can be served on just about anything as long as it tastes good and Harlem Burger Co. delivers one of the best burgers in the city.
If you live for the thrill of a big messy burger you can not miss the Westside Cowgirl. This behemoth is topped with bacon, a tempura onion ring, swiss cheese, BBQ sauce, and an over-easy egg. From the first bite to the last, we were in burger heaven. The thick juicy burger and the soft bun held up well despite the overflowing toppings. Even when we made contact with the egg the bun just soaked up all the eggy goodness giving us just a touch of messiness without the nightmare of a soggy bun.
In addition to its beef offerings, Harlem Burger Co. also provides options without red meat. The Veggie Burger is the best we’ve ever had. As burger purists, we typically stay away from meatless options, but this veggie burger was absolutely delicious. The vegetable patty was crisp on the outside with a soft center. The flavor was similar to falafel and topped with hummus and a generous amount of tzatziki. This burger will satisfy your burger cravings and supply a good serving of veggies in one shot.
Another non-red meat option is the “Miso Hungry” fish sandwich which features miso-marinated cod and a delectable Dijon lemon tartar sauce.
We love a good hot dog and Harlem Burger Co. serves up two versions of all beef weiners. We sampled The Company Dog, a sumptuous beefy hot dog topped with hoisin, cilantro crispy pork scallions, and spicy mayo.
No one can resist good wings and Harlem Burger serves up truly delicious wings. The well-seasoned wings are served with blue cheese and a sweet and tangy Cran Chipotle sauce.
As burger places go Harlem Burger Co. is the real deal. This eatery is poised to become one of Harlem’s new favorites. For just a few bucks more than the questionable but familiar fast-food franchises you can treat yourself to something tasty made with real meat and fresh vegetables. More importantly, you can help one of the little guys preserve Harlem’s great tradition of family-owned businesses. Harlem Burger Co. will soon offer wine and beer.
Harlem Burger Co. – 118th & Fredrick Douglass Blvd.
Photos: Margaret Pattillo + XOJOHN