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Categories: Burgers, Breakfast & Brunch [Edit]
Neighborhoods: Theater District, Hell's Kitchen8th Ave-42nd St (A, C, E, 1, 2, 3, S, 7, N, Q, R, W)
Mon-Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat-Sun. 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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The best damn burger in New York. Period.
Go for the Original 5 Napkin Burger and you will see what I mean. The combination of cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary aioli and the bun with the juicy and flavorful meat will make you a firm believer.
Enjoy it with a few pints of their Five Napkin Brew "Nut Brown Ale" and you will be set for the night. You'll be slightly crammed in at your table on a weekend...but it is well worth it!
The 5 Napkin Burger gives you everything you want in a burger: moist meat topped with warm melted, salty cheese, special sauce, and caramelized onions all resting on a toasted bun.
It was a good burger, and their special brews and rosemary-scented fried that accompanied it were pretty good too. I liked the "Winter Warmer and Nut Brown Lager; they were perfect for the Fall night I was there, and to be honest, I liked them more than the burger.
I also like that this place is not touristy - New Yorkers go there. I did not see one "I heart NY" sweatshirt or cheesy baseball cap. A huge plus.
I would definitely go back to 5 Napkin if I was in the area, but I would not make a special trip for it. (It has nothing on the Spotted Pig.)
5 Napkin is the BEST PLACE TO GET A BURGER IN MANHATTAN. There, I said it. I stand behind it too. Everything about my experience there was above and beyond a typical restaurant.
Let's start with the beginning. We started with a trio (that's tuna, yellowtail, and salmon) sushi roll. It had jalapeño and avocado on there too. It was just dreamy. We also had an order of the spinach and artichoke dip, which comes with endive for dipping. The cool crunch of the endive is a great compliment for the warm and cheesy dip.
Up next came the burger. I had the Original 5 Napkin, which is 10 oz. of oozing, juicy beef, with onions and a rosemary alioi. It also comes with cheese but I passed on it. The name 5 Napkins is perfect for this restaurant. I cut my burger in half and tons of juice and alioi came out. The smell was intoxicating. To keep myself from spilling all over my going-out clothes, I ended up eating it with a fork. It's so soft you don't even need the knife. The fries that came with it are thin like McDonald's fries but better. They are piping hot and covered with just the right amount of salt. I dipped them in the extra alioi. I never would think to put rosemary on my burger, but I'm glad that the crazy chefs came up with the idea. We also split the smores milkshake, which we sucked down at an embarrassing speed.
The service alone could get the 5 star rating. Both the waiters and bartenders were knowledgeable, friendly, fast, and attentive. The plates were cleared quickly, and not in a way that made me feel rushed. Just looking around the restaurant, I could see how efficient it was. The manager, Ross, came over and was incredibly kind. He didn't just run from table to table, he genuinely wanted to make sure our table was happy (our table was very happy).
Bottom line: there is a huge difference between going out for a burger and the experience of dining out. 5 Napkin takes the line between the two and uses it at a starting point. The cooks in the kitchen have been described as "mad scientists," but I would argue that they are more like evil geniuses, tuned into my subconsicious and serving me foods that I didn't know I wanted all along. Burgers and sushi? A few weeks ago I would have called you crazy. Now I know that I have always wanted to mix the two and just didn't know where to go. The exact words of my friend when we left the 5 Napkin: "I can't wait to bring everyone I know here!" My thoughts exactly.
really? people love this place? why?
i ordered the original.
the blend seemed like 80/20 chuck. if you're going to charge $14 for a chuck burger make it a 70/30 at the very least for the right fatty mouth feel. most of that unctuousness i always look for actually came from the comte, which is a surprisingly great, if not a little goopy, burger cheese especially when coupled with the caramelized onions. the rosemary aoil, which was properly apportioned, added a really nice herbal quality to each bite. and the soft white bun was decent as was the burger to bun ratio. but the beef was not great...at all. i hit a couple of gristle spots throughout the burger and the whole really seemed just this side of a chain (chili's, applebee's, etc) burger.
the fries were nice and crispy fast food style. they served Sarnac root beer which is the perfect accompaniment to a burger and fries.
i do have to mention the "Deep Fried Pickles & Pastrami" appetizer. i'm from the south so when i see "fried pickles" on a menu i'm expecting dill spears or hamburger chips breaded and fried and served on a plate. this was: a wad of low grade pastrami with a paper thin slice of pickle wrapped around it, fried, then served atop a really amateurish sauerkraut and smears of dijon. HUGE FAIL. HUGE!
AND they only gave me 1 napkin....fucking liars.
Located in Hell's Kitchen, but just steps from Times Square, 5 Napkin Burger's clientele appears to be primarily tourists, who had the telltale plus size waist lines and the suburban "I'm in the city for the weekend, check out my Louis Vuitton handbag" dress up look. Sadly, I thought this was a local neighborhood burger joint, not a spillover room for the Hard Rock Cafe.
Reminiscent of a white tiled butcher shop, with faux meat hooks hanging overhead and dozens of Edison style light bulbs dangling from the maze of metal railings, 5 Napkin Burger is certainly a hot spot, although not a establishment that you would want to bring grandma to, not because her dentures will pop out when she takes a bite of any of the burger offerings, but more due to the rather intense noise level, both from customers and the sound system alike.
The final burger verdict? Our burgers were just ok, certainly no better than other overrun tourist restaurants such as the Times Square Hard Rock Cafe, where we could have come home with a souvenir, oh so 80's logo t-shirt which one would not be caught dead in, unless of course you're from Singapore, where owning a Hard Rock Cafe Sacramento t-shirt makes you the envy of all your island neighbors.
In addition to the obvious burger options, there are other, more unusual menu items to be found in his hamburger joint, such as sushi and taquitos.
I found my caveman roots at 5 Napkin Burger. I mean, put four hungry shameless women at one table there's bound to be some type of carnal instinct to emerge.
And of course we couldn't just have 10ozs of pure beef. Gotta have a few starters to wet the palette - all that cleaning and mending to the cave is hard work! So we ordered the fried pickles and the spinach/artichoke dip and they both vanished within about 4 minutes. What a wonderful surprise the pastrami was with the pickles, and placating our veggie friend (oh, the horror!) the dip with, dare I say, vegetables by way of endives was delectable - perfectly cheesy.
My 5 Napkin Burger original arrived and the affect in my face turned to, "Go away. Don't talk to me. I'm eating." *grunt, chew, grunt, elbow, slurp, grunt, (snap of the pant's button), grunt* Every delicious morsel devoured like a rabid wolf and proudly vanished before the other feral cavewomen's meals accompanying me. Bows of adornment and pride from them; I am the winning eater!
Have you ever seen ravenous hyenas politely share a carcass? Exactly. Neither do 4 primitively mannered females at a table attacking one espresso brownie sundae. Oh yes. There is ALWAYS room for dessert. At one point we were drawing a crowd peering through the window, laughing at our passionate display of greed. *grunt elbows grab grunt shrieks grunt curse spoon fight grunt*
Yeah, no need to go out and make the kill yourselves. 5 Napkin will serve up your meat cooked perfectly your way and deliver it right to you. Maybe this means I don't have to find a caveman partner of my own...
The perfect after-the-show, I'm in NY and want to bullshit with friends kind of place.
Burgers are yummy. Especially good is the lamb one.
Surprisingly, the fries are only so-so.
In five words or less: Pricey Instant Food Coma Burger.
This place makes a gratifying hamburger and offers a fine beer selection (Allagash White in the summer, I heart you), no doubt. But be prepared to wait for a table and pay some recession-UNfriendly prices.
Yes, the burgers are prodigious and oh-so-greasy-good, but they'll also run you $15. Manhattan or not, that's pretty steep for a big and well-cooked, but otherwise straightforward burger made with relatively unremarkable ingredients (I had the cheddar bacon), served in a crowded restaurant and at a cramped table to boot. A friend seemed to enjoy his Mac and Cheese (leek cream? intriuging!) and we had a great time due to a big group of old and new friends, but after paying over $30 for a burger and two beers, I'm not really itching to come back.
One of the BEST burgers in New York. Although 9th Ave is full of delicious finds and great watering holes, this place brings burgers to a new level. Hey, they mean it when they say 5 napkin. Get ready for so many flavors when you take your first bite. I started with the original, it was awesome.
Try the mixed drinks too if you are hitting this place after work with friends, celebrating with friends, or recovering for a Sunday brunch from your Saturday night libations. I had the Manhattan, wow this drink packs a punch. We were so full I could not try a dessert, but I had to have the ginger beer float, YUMMMMMMY!
Keep it comin guys, I will be back as much as I can.
Perfect place for a burger and beer with the boys, as long as the boys aren't burger connoisseurs... The flavorings and accouterments (yeah - bet you never thought you'd see that word used in a review of a burger place) disguise a curious meat. Whether it was frozen and cooked in additional fat I'll probably never know, but it was good and juicy. Not the best burger in NYC though. Its waaaay down the list. I've had better at JG Melon or Goodburger. The burger place on the west side greenway in the 70s serves better burgers in the summer.
My GF had a tuna burger which was a little stringy in places. I had the "legendary" Five Napkin Burger which carried a really strong rosemary flavor with an overpowering Gruyere cheese. My distended stomach is still trying to work out what to do with it - in a good way. Fries were adequate.
The imported beers are excellent with everything from IPAs, and English nut brown ales to oatmeal stouts and lots of amber and light beer also.
Ambiance on a Sunday afternoon was families, couples and a few groups of friends hanging out to grab burgers without football being on. Music was great with Fools Gold by The Stone Roses and Step into my Office by Belle and Sebastien both played in the 45 minutes we were there.
Service was adequate considering they were busy and the food did arrive promptly even though the drinks took 20 minutes. We were in no rush so not sure what relevant point I'm making on this eating experience. Sitting on the sidewalk next to the Lincoln Tunnel traffic is probably not an option, and seating inside is pleasant.
Perhaps that's it; I'd heard great things about Five Napkin Burger and I went in looking to be proven wrong. Its a four star good at best and no more. When busy and service is slow I can see that dropping to a three.
You don't know what an AWESOME burger is till you go to 5 Napkin. The lamb burger is my favorite and hands down, its the best lamb burger I have ever had. The overflowing melted cheese is like the cherry on the cake and the fries are sauteed to perfection.
I like the hustle and bustle of the restaurant which kind of goes with the food. I only wish it was open till late - On the several nights that I visit Zanzibar right across the road, I sadly look at 5 napkin and wish I could go home satisfied with my favorite lamb burger! Sigh, they also don't do home delivery.
Their burgers were so hearty I couldn't finish it. Definitely tasty and the bowl of fries that came along with it was just as good.
Definitely be hungry when you go to this place.
Hands down, one of the best veggie burgers in the city. They don't list what's in it, but I'm guessing beets (because it's bright red), lentils, carrots and some sort of seed (sunflower?). Most importantly, it's damn good and a nice change from normal veggie burgers - not smoky, dry or oddly chewy. I usually get mine with some Gruyere cheese and raw onion which goes great with the 5 napkin sauce (tasted a bit like thousand island). The fries that come with it are nicely crunchy and not too greasy, though they usually need some salt. If you have any room left, I recommend the brownie sundae - the sweet ice cream and brownie with the salty peanuts is heavenly. It's great for sharing after a huge meal.
The place itself has a nice atmosphere, and the service is pretty good. There can be a long wait, even on weekdays, so I'd recommend making a reservation.
Great place if you're looking for a change from the standard veggie burger, either as a sandwich or over a salad. Enjoy!
So...this restaurant was introduced to me as " the best burger place in NYC" - well...I disagree about "the best"..
pros:
-while waiting to be seated they give you a small beeper-like thing that makes some noise when your table is ready
-friendly staff
-lots of space
-pleasant atmosphere
cons:
-small portions
-the meat in burgers is strange....it's juicy though but makes it difficult to eat without having this greasy juice all over you...
-the french fries tastes the same as in KFC
Erik K. is right - the place is ripe for a letdown.
BUT, the burgers are LEGIT. I got the classic and damn it was good - perfect ratio of cheese to toppings to sauce to meat to bun. It was cooked to order, unlike most places that send their burgers out too rare (seriously, I wanted it medium well, and I meant it!)
The beer selections are great, the servers were nice and didn't try to upsell me on anything and we had a good meal.
It's not the best burger in NYC and it's not the best value, but for what I was looking for, I was very pleased by 5 Napkin.
BTW, it is a damn shame that the aggregate star rating of this place equals that of Rare Bar & Grill (which is a travesty). I am giving it a 5 to hopefully push the overall rating up a bit...but it's really a 4. Cool?
I walked into 5 napkin thinking about how much of a letdown this place was going to be. Certain signs were there: a 15 minute wait despite having a reservation; the urban bistro decor, and burgers all over $11.
Plus I decided to be healthy and order a turkey burger.
BUT, with one bite of the $12 turkey burger, my preconceptions shattered. This became the juiciest, most flavorful turkey burger I had ever had. The thick turkey patty was not the thin, dry, cardboard-tasting puck that turkey burgers usually are. No ketchup was necessary as the burger was perfectly complemented by melted mozzarella and spicy tomato sauce. PLUS the burger came with a small bowl of crispy, salty, not too greasy french fries. All of a sudden, $12 didn't look like that much of a ripoff. And now, I have 5 napkin's cheddar-bacon burger on my sights.
By passed this place on our way to Lime Jungle from the HELL that is 42nd Street but was intercepted by the tempting smells of 5 Napkin Burger and settled shop for Friday nights dinner here.
I'm glad we did! We had ordered the buffalo wings and deep fried pickles with roast beef and saurkraut... YUM-O! The deep fried pickles were a little bit fancy than we had anticipated because we had come off of a Oktoberfest high.. but it was an interesting taste jumping for joy in our mouths. My friend and I shared the 5 Napkin Burger (medium) and the other got the rib burger WHICH WAS GINORMOUS.
Uhm... 5 Napkin Burger is greater than Shake Shack Burger. Yes, I said it b!tches! The meat is plentiful not stingy like shake shack. The only other place that I've been to where the burger patty is over 2" thick is Queen's finest Jackson Hole and they've achieved to make their burgers uneatable because it is so big and DRY. 5 Napkin Burger patties are thick, juicy, and extremely flavorful with a nice crust. Yes, it is a little messy with all of its juicy fineness... Loves it!
Shake Shack, you're going down with your ever so ridiculous long lines that I swear is really what makes your burgers even taste "good".
Oh, and the pickles here are out of this world. It has an extra sweetness to it that I am oh so craving right now on a lazy Saturday.
We completely did NOT enjoy the tater tots here. Hello, if you'er going to be serving knishes then just say they are mini knishes.... don't toy with our childhood memories of school yard tater tots that only Big Daddy's in Union Square serves. Boo on the mini knishes trying to play us like fools as TATER TOTS.
The interior is really beautiful with exposed pipes and cool chalkboards with stuff written all over. The burgers are quite juicy, not necessarily needing five napkins, but nothing too special. The fries were quite delish.
But mainly, I just want to comment on how JUDE LAW WAS SITTING DIAGNALLY FROM ME. It was amazing. He and his son were sharing onion rings.
No one was really freaking out as much as I was, which is so typically touristy of me. But I accept it.
whatever you eat, do not order the 5 napkin original burger!
i never knew what people meant when they'd say "the meat tastes gamey" until i came here.
first of all, i was extremely excited to eat here since i've seen pics of the original burger and had been dreaming of this night for months. i ordered the deep-fried pickles & pastrami, smores milkshake, the original 5 napkin burger and tater tots.
the deep-fried pickles & pastrami were tasty, though not memorable.
my milkshake was thick and chocolately and had a giant roasted marshmallow on top, though once the marshmallow was gone, it tasted like a regular chocolate milkshake, which i didn't mind as i managed to finish it all.
but now on to the burger. when i bit into the burger, the first thing i thought was wow they overloaded it with the aioli as it was oozing out of the sides and was too overpowering. however, it was not overpowering enough - as my burger tasted like i was eating the raw flesh of a cow! i kid you not, it was down right gross, which my friend confirmed after i told him to take a bite and he agreed with this conclusion.
fortunately, he ordered a massively large burger - which tasted like a fresh made big mac (and not gamey at all), so i got to share that :)
the tater tots are not the frozen kind, they are homemade with creamy mashed potatoes inside - and were really good.
i gave this place 3 stars for the deep-fried pickles & pastrami, tater tots, milkshake and the burger my friend had - my burger, sadly, went uneaten.
i'm glad i finally ate here, but it's definitely a place i won't revisit.
Sometimes, all you feel like eating is a good burger with fries and a cold beer.
I'm not a meat eater, so I had the veggie burger, and it was REALLY good. The burger was huge, the bun was perfect, and the toppings, including the lettuce, tomato, pickles, and aoili, paired perfectly with the burger. I was told that the original 5 Napkin Burger was "the best in the city," which is a pretty serious statement! What made the experience even better was that the fries were perfectly crispy and salty, and the 5 Napkin brew beer was really, surprisingly tasty. They have lots of beer choices, and all but 4 of them are bottled.
Yes, the burger is a little pricey. But, if you're looking for a nice night out and don't mind dropping a few extra bucks for the atmosphere of an energetic restaurant, and a meal that is prepared with care and that tastes great, then you'll really enjoy 5 Napkin Burger.
After a day being cooped up at home due to rain, we were looking forward to leaving the apartment for some burgers and fries. My friends had such polarizing reviews of 5 Napkin that I had to go try it for myself.
I started off with a frozen strawberry mojito which was really delicious. They used plenty of fresh strawberries and mint. As other reviewers have mentioned, they have a very extensive beer list, and my boyfriend chose the Stone IPA which he seemed to like.
The fried pickles and pastrami appetizer was delicious! I love pickles and anything fried, so the meat was just bonus. They were very nicely plated, perhaps maybe the guy that handles the sushi plating also does the pickles? On a side note, I find the sushi on the menu very wtf.
I decided on the Original 5 Napkin burger instantaneously. My boyfriend wanted the Prime Rib burger but they had already run out of it by 8pm, so he settled on the cheddar bacon burger. They were both really juicy, big, perfectly medium rare, and delicious! I thought the original with the awesome rosemary aioli was better than the bacon (too salty), but they were both really good burgers. Two minor complaints: 1) A little too greasy; 2) The bun was too soft to eat the burger neatly but I guess they call it 5 Napkin for a reason!
The fries were entirely skippable, being a tad stale and brown. However, the tater tots were excellent. They were basically like little pillows of fried, rosemary infused, mashed potatoes.
Service was excellent. I would definitely come again!
Ohhhh yes. I'm in a happy burgerlicious coma right now. The "5 Napkin Original Burger" is in a class of its own; the rosemary aioli, garlicky comte, gruyere, and sauteed onions on top of dripping ground chuck make this burger unique. The buttered bun is tasty, substantial enough to withstand the grease but airy enough to not take up too much real estate in each bite. This is not your everyday burger; it's a special gourmet treat when you want to splurge on something different.
The fries are nothing special but they're just right for this burger: light, crispy, not guilt-inducing if you can't finish them after housing the pretty epic burger. Followed another yelper's suggestion and had a 5 Napkin Nut Brown Lager with my burger: just right.
Service is friendly and super fast, probably to keep the tables on heavy rotation in this busy and smallish place.
Boyfriend and I high-fived for this one. Burger WIN!
What is an All American burger? I had never really thought about it much. Like most Americans, I have had my fair share of burgers at fast food restaurants and backyard barbecues. I have enjoyed all types of toppings from bacon, guacamole, mushrooms, various cheeses and dozens of others.
I recently befriended an Italian couple who were visiting the U.S. for the first time. They had a very defined concept of the All American burger, but were disappointed when they could not seem to locate it. They had ordered burgers at a few fast food restaurants and had been greatly disappointed. They had also tried a few "gourmet" burgers which seemed to be anything but American. They were convinced that the All American burger was a myth or tall tale along the lines of Paul Bunyon.
After some research, I hoped that we would find the missing burger at 5 Napkin Burger in Manhattan. While I am not sure that we discovered the "All American" burger, I did have one of the best burgers that I have ever eaten. The Original 5 Napkin Original has gruyere cheese, caramelized onions, and rosemary aoili on a white roll. The burger was juicy with a beautiful combination of flavors. It is certainly in a class by itself. My Italian friends loved it. They took photos of the burger, the table, the waiter and the entire restaurant. (Five Napkin's butcher shop decor is very interesting.)
There was a downside to this journey down burger lane. The shoestring fries were adequate, but a little disappointing. We had to upgrade to the Tuscan fries which were much better. Also, the burgers are quite pricey. These are special occasion burgers only. I am also not sure why sushi is such a large part of the menu. I did not sample the sushi selection, but it did surprise me to see it on the menu.
I have decided that the All American burger is just as diverse as the American people. It does not have to conform to any particular formula. However, it does have to taste good!
Visit http://www.bromography... for more
I've only had the "original" burger but I don't know why I'd stray from a proven winner. I think the aioli makes it unique and especially good. Is it the best burger in the city? I don't know, but it's not a bad burger or even a mediocre burger.
The fries are nothing to write home about, but they are good.
The service was a bit slow and the server forgot my dining partner's drink. It was only after 10 minutes and 1 reminder did she bring the drink.
Quite possibly the best hamburger in New York. I had the original and it was awesome. The meat tasted fantastic without feeling too greasy (like Shake Shack). The cheese and caramelized onions tasted heavenly and the bun....oh so yummy.
What's up with the lack of french fry love here? These little guys didn't look so special, but they held their own. They were crunchy, perfectly salted and completely addicting.
Also - although there's an extensive BOTTLED beer selection, the only beer worth getting there is their house Nut Brown Ale. Oh - and I got a bite of the veggie burger, too and, despite usually hating those things - this one actually tasted pretty good!
Sometimes I just want to have a good burger and I don't want to eat it in a divey place or in some fancy restaurant where burger is not the main focus. 5 Napkin is great because it celebrates the burger in all of its glory with options like tuna, lamb, beef, turkey and veggie burger. I ordered a lamb burger, which came as a generous, delectably juicy hunk of goodness topped with a dollop of tahini sauce on a soft bun. The interior of the restaurant is basked in the warm glow of several naked incandescent light bulbs. The top shelf of the bar is lined entirely with Maker's Mark bottles. Everything from the food to the decor is about keeping it simple but excellent.
WOW! Sooooo goood, I think I've wet my pants in excitement.
I got the "Original" and it was definitely something to talk about, but my mouth was filled with so much beef I could hardly speak a word. The burger is BIG and comes with sauteed onions, cheese and a tasty rosemary aioli sauce that I drenched all over my burger and a side of fires. Its a sloppy burger to hold, so expect to have napkins ready or you'll end up looking like a newborn with baby food all over you face! I ordered for takeout and the bun was pretty soggy by the time I got it back to my office, but I'll definitely come back and sit down to really enjoy it fresh from the kitchen.
I would suggest before taking your first bite to make sure they have a defibrillator on hand....just in case, but I think a heart attack just might be worth it.
The burger is SUPER PRICEY and it kinda made my chest hurt after seeing the bill..$15! I think it wouldn't hurt to come down $5. That being said, a star was taken away.
The LAAAWWD realized he hadn't written a burgacious* review in what amounts to the lifetime of Methusela (i.e., 969 years)
THE QUEST FOR BURGACIOUSNESS**: CHAPTER 8
GENESIS: 1.8
8. And on the fourteenth DAYYYYYYyyyyYYY .... the LAWWD was aimlessly wandering the streets of HAYALLZ-ZZ-zzz-zzz Kitchenzzz-zz (i.e, which refers to the kitchen part of the very underworld to which Satan was banished for all eternity, only, I mean, fer sarriouus, the guy has GOT TO EAT AT SOME POINT, does he NOT? I mean, we know he's the devil and shtuff but it's hard to do all those dirty devilish deeds on an empty stomach, CAN I GET A WITNESS?!?) when he created an establishment known as FIVE NAPKIN BURGER.
The LAWWD tasted what's known as the "Original 5 Napkin" burguesa, (of his own invention, of course); that it tasted good. DAYUM good, in fact, as to be considered completely and utterly BURGACIOUS*. YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. And it was morning, and it was evening on that burgacious* fourteenth day.
To wit, the Original 5 Napkin Burger:
"10oz. fresh ground chuck, comte cheese, caramelized onions, rosemary aioli, soft white roll."
He ET it (yes, ET). It was juicy. It was savory. IT WAS PERFECTLY PREPARED AND BURGACIOUS*
THe LAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWD then pulled out a large bag of SPLEEF-a-toriousness, rolled HIZSEFF a LARGE FATTY, smoked it up righteously and started working on the REST of the menu.
When the LAAWWWWWD recovered from his semi-comatose CANNABIS-INDUCED STUPOR, he read over his handiwork and realized that in his state of utter STONED EUPHORIA and MUNCHIES that he'd made the biggest STONER menu on the face of the PLANET, and in addition to BURGUESA PERFECTION, it included things like, for instance (hold your breath now), SUSHI.
W
T
Faaahk?
*THUD* (that would be the sound of the LAAWWWD fainting at the thought of his own sheer stupidity).
The LAAAWWWWWD wondered to himself aloud "Um, WHAT THE HAYALLLLZZZ-zzz-ZZZ (same location, different room) wuz I THINKING??? I must have been stoned. Yeah, that's it."
Fortunately for him, anyone with A BRAIN ignored that part of the menu and went STRAIGHT for the ORIGINAL FIVE NAPKIN BURGUESA, the aforementioned burger for which the restaurant was so-named/monikered/designated, etcetera an' whathaveyou. Etcetera.
GOOOOOOOOOO to FIVE NAPKIN BURGER, commands the LAAAWWWWWWD. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEAT the ORIGINAL FIVE NAPKIN BURGER, commands the LAWWWWWWWWWWD.
You will LIKE IT.
As an aside, the LAAWWWWD is wondering who all these silly humans are who actually ate something OTHER than a FREAKIN" BURGER at this establishment and proceeded to give it less than five stars. Youzez iz looozerz.
FIVE NAPKINS=FIVE STARS.
Yes. So sayeth the LAAWWWWWD.
*burgacious: (pron: ber-gay-shus) adjective: 1. An audacious burger. 2. A burg of the gods. 3. Ambrosia, in burger form. 4. Don't ask stupid questions. 5. Accept it and move on. 6. I'm serious. 7. Again. 8. AND AGAIN.
**burgaciousness (pron: ber-gay-shus-ness) noun (from adj): 1. The state of being burgacious. 2. Don't ask, just get on down to FIVE NAPKIN. 3 Eat. 4. Enjoy. 5. AND IGNORE THE SUSHI. GEESH. He was STONED, I tell you, STONED.
Maybe it was too hyped up for me. Although all the reviews were right on, juicy burger, thick patty, tasty meat, caramelized onion, melted cheese, all that is true. Yes, yes yes. But I prefer my burger charred more and seasoned better. They need some salt and black pepper in the burger meat.
I did like the tator tots that had rosemary inside, every time I cracked one open, I smelled rosemary. Also, I feel weird going to a burger place that also have Vietnamese spring roll on their menu.
Best burger in NYC??? I think not.
Most overpriced and MEATY burger in NYC...yeah maybe. The patty on their burgers are about an inch thick. That would be great if the meat were tasty, but it was just bland and sort of gross. The bun and cheese were great, but their burger is a MESS.
They do have a bar and a decent selection of beers, but service was slow and the burger was disappointing.
By the way, if you sit in a booth by the window - WATCH OUT FOR THE PIPES going up to the ceiling. They are HOT and will burn you (or your jacket) if you accidentally touch them.
Burgers and fries here are very good. The original burger is the way to go here and the rosemary aioli is a delicious twist. I would suggest getting the aioli on the side though, otherwise its overwhelming and messy.
I'm going to preface this by saying that I eat burgers at least 3x a week. Each time, there's at least a quarter of the burger that just won't fit in my stomach any more. So, to start, it's important to say that I finished every last bit of my burger. I'm currently a Chicagoan (who is in NYC about twice a month) so the size was not HUGE in comparison to the portions I'm used to on a daily basis - which means it was the perfect size for me.
After strolling around Hell's Kitchen and Midtown for a good hour - we decided on this place because the person I was with had been there several times and swore it was delicious. I'm good with a default burger meal any day so I agreed but with skepticism for how GOOD the burgers are considering I'm not just a small girl who doesn't know the difference - I'm a small girl who eats burgers and eats them often. I started off the meal by the bar with a Harpoon off the tap. I wanted to try the 5 Napkin Brew but the bartender told us there were tap issues. Love Harpoon so it was refreshing. The hostess said the table would be 25 minutes - but it was barely 15 minutes before she came over to seat us.
Food: 5Napkin Original Burger - a bit on the greasy side but at least it's the grease that insures a tasty burger. The cheese and aioli together worked to make a gooey yummy mess. Caramelized onions - also delish. The fries were the skinny Mickey D type. Fries were just fries. I probably was able to gulf down that entire burger b/c I didn't fill up too much on the fries - since they were just that. Fries.
Atmosphere: Had that bistro feel inside. Not pub-like... if it was I would have expected a flatter less juicy burger but probably the same fries.. It was exactly the atmosphere I was shooting for so it was good. The same late 20-something and 30something crowd I usually end up in.
I'd go again. But not before going out... I don't think I'd be able to not NOT finish the entire thing - which gave me major food coma afterwards - so that'd be a bad idea before a night out.
I found the staff to be so unbelievably rude in this restaurant I cannot even comment on the food. Whilst i was out with some of my girlfriends we ordered some sushi for our starters and some wine, we were planning on having burgers for our main course (spending quite a substantial amount of money so we expect good service). When the waitress was bringing us some more wine as we were tucking into our main course she knocked over my glass onto my lap and all over my dinner....her words to me then were not sorry but 'do you know where the restroom is" as i sat there my suit ruined with wine and my dinner a sloppy mess. I had to point out that there was wine all over my burger to which she sighed 'il see about getting you another one'...still no apology....then she cam back saying that she was getting me another burger and said it in a way as if she was doing me a big favour...i told her that an apology would go a lot further than another burger, to which again she did not apologize but promptly told me that 'she didn't do it on purpose'.....imagine!!
I asked for the manager who was just as rude and slapped down another glass of wine at the table...the most shocking thing about it all was when the bill came they tried to charge me for 2 burgers (despite the fact that one was taken away untouched and swimming in a glass of wine) and 3 glasses of wine, the one i had to start plus the one spilt on me (of which i did not get a drop, my suit reaped those benefits) plus the one the manager has rudely shoved on the table in an effort to pacify me....obviously i argued this with them and ended up only paying for what i ate and drank but the fact that i had to do that and that they didnt think it right to give me a complimentary glass of wine or something after having a whole glass spilt on me makes me never want to return to this place and angry i spent any money there at all!!!
When an out-of-town friend wanted to go to 5 Napkin Burger, I felt obligated to take advantage of management's generosity and try the restaurant again (full disclosure: management offered me a gift card when I complained about my last visit. Our table had been swarming with cockroaches). I was pleasantly surprised.
I entered the booth table with trepidation, but there were no bugs to be seen. Service was excellent; our waitress magically appeared even before we knew we needed her. A huge improvement over my first visit!
I find the burgers very greasy and difficult to eat. I guess I'm more of a bare-bones burger type of person.
The tator tots, though, are awesome. They're cylinders of deep-fried mashed potatoes.
In conclusion, I guess I don't hate the restaurant. And I have to give them props for recognizing and fixing their shortcomings.
This place would have been decent if cockroaches hadn't been crawling up the wall next to our table.… Read more »
As a vegetarian, it's definitely something of an oxymoron for me to head to a burger joint. But what's a girl to do when the rest of her party is a burger aficionado? At least they have a veggie burger on the menu! And I must say, it is not the tried and true Gardenburger-type of veggie burger--which is a bigtime bonus! This veggie burger is made out of interesting mystery ingredients, which I suspect might be a combination of radishes and mushrooms and who knows what else??? The texture and flavor were very good, although slathering anything in a fattening sauce is sure to do the trick. What I didn't like about the burger was its redness. Trust me when I say that a vegetarian doesn't want to stare at a rare/red burger as they are eating it. It's just weird. But I do thank you for having it on the menu, 5 Napkin Burger!!!!
Everything else we had was very good, which of course included the original burger, a salad, and the ultra-gooey fresh cheesy artichoke dip appetizer---seriously the best I've had yet.
We really liked our server, but there was a disconnect when I tried to order another beer. It never came, and it took him a good 20 minutes to notice. By this time, I didn't want it anymore.
In any event, we ordered dessert--the brownie sundae---and it barely lasted a minute! I can still see other patrons laughing with us. Picture four ladies fighting to get their fair share of the chocolate-y goodness, and you have the idea.
Unfortunately, I suffered from a bigtime stomachache later, and I have to attribute it to the food. This tends to happen to me when all food is cooked together, such as things generally served in greasy spoons.
Your average burger fan should love this place, but I am a-ok with trying something new next time.
When I tasted this burger, I was overwhelmed. I was considering naming it the tastiest burger I've ever had. But alas, it didn't have staying power. I was tired of it by the end. It was too fatty, the bun too greasy, the cheese too thick. Maybe I should have split it.
Our waiter was nice, and the rest of the menu looked enticing. Probably won't make it back, but that's only because I reside in Atlanta.
We happened to come across 5 Napkin Burger while wandering the streets of New York as hungry as could be! We were seated in a booth and were waited on very quickly. Cocktails were ordered (of course!) and upon receiving my citrus-vodka something or other, had I sipped it a few more times, I would have been drunk! This is only reason I did not give 5 stars. The cocktail was way too strong for my liking, and usually I can't even taste the alcohol in my drinks.
However! I ordered the veggie burger with house sauce, B&B pickles and fries. It was absolutely delicious!!! For anyone that does not eat meat, this burger was filling, yet didn't leave me feeling as though I ate a plate of sawdust. I would definitely recommend this place!
Very different and mixed crowd, from moms with kids, lone diners reading the paper, and a few business people...I felt very comfortable here and would most certainly return!
The menu offers quite a variety....
It was yummy but nothing remarkable. I've certainly had a better burger before. Definitely overpriced. The place has a fun vibe, good service, and is "on par" but I likely will not return.
Looking for food when your hungry can get you into trouble, but 5 Napkin Burger was an awesome find. Staying at the Westin Time Square, this place was in walking distance, and being from LA I had a 'thank you god' moment.
The waitstaff was absolutely amazing from the moment we walked in from the wrong door (yes, we were hungry and retarded). We got there a moment before the rush so we didn't have a wait time at all!
I started with the fried pickles and they were delicious! Listening to the waiter, I ordered Original 5 Napkin burger, and let me tell you...I was not disappointed at all.
The burger was fantastically juicy and flavorful. The onions were perfectly caramelized (none of that slightly raw crap) and the rosemary aioli...to die for. You know food is good when you don't even talk to the other people around and wolf it down.
I'm definitely glad to have stumbled across this place! I definitely will come back the next time I'm in NYC!
THE BEST BURGER on Planet Earth. Period. The End. The original is the THE BEST BURGER on Planet Earth. Period. Go, sit, indulge. I could have eaten two......
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: Italian
Neighborhood: Theater District
Neighborhood: Theater District
Category: Breakfast & Brunch
Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen
Category: American (Traditional)
Neighborhood: Hell's Kitchen
Category: Italian
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