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Burger on Smith
Category: Restaurants Burgers Burgers [Edit]
209 Smith Street(between Butler St & Baltic St)
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Neighborhoods: Cobble Hill, Gowanus
(718) 694-2277
- Nearest Transit:
-
Bergen St (F, G)
Carroll St (F, G)
Hoyt - Schermerhorn Sts (A, C, G)
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Drive-Thru:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
40 reviews for Burger on Smith
40 reviews in English
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Review from Matt P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/26/2012
There are 6 million burger joints in this city & more seem to be opening by the week. But Burger on Smith is a worthy addition to the neighborhood, not only for their great burgers but b/c the space is HUGE!! It's a luxury you don't often see in NYC restaurants. So it's great for groups-- even though I've only ever gone with my boyfriend (but we've been a lot already).
We love the Left Coast burger (avocado, Gruyere, roasted tomatoes), though nothing has ever disappointed us. (Also good is the Harissa Explains It All chicken sandwich.) The best are the fries though. There's something about them that make them taste SO GOOD. I think it's the oil they use-- they use unfiltered rice bran oil to fry their french fries in. Look, I have no idea what exactly that is but it makes the fries taste AWESOME. They remind me of the fries I used to get on the boardwalk at the Jersey shore when I was a kid. But I'm sure "rice bran" equates to it being healthier. So I'm all for it.
The only downside is that they have kind of weird hours. We've tried to go a few times for brunch only to find them closed on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. Strange. Unless they've fixed that, it seems like they're missing out on a bunch of potential revenue. -
Review from Lauren G.
5/19/2012 2 photos
absolutely amazing. and my expectations were high, because i had wanted to try the trademark burger ever since it became award winning a few years back.
KEEP IN MIND, ok...that within that time period, the time period of waiting to eat this burger, i became a god damned vegetarian.
burger on smith is the first beef burger i've had in almost two years. now, i'm a vegetarian, i'm not an idiot*. i know that burgers still taste amazing. and since all the meat at burger on smith is grass fed, free range, local, sustainable, organic, and homemade--all that good stuff!!-- i decided to make an exception and finally try the burger i have wanted to eat for like, literally years now.
this cheeseburger was well worth the wait. in a nutshell, one of the best burgers i have ever had. my order- the trademark burger. it was 7 ounces of beef, cheddar, fresh tomato, bibb lettuce, horseradish-chive aioli, and portuguese muffin.** my friend had the friday night, and i was drooling over that as well, and my other friend had the special burger of the day and to be honest i forget what that was.
i also ate some extremely hot chicken wings. i thought i was trying the medium, but i was a trooper and accidently ate the hot and i pulled it off. granted, my mouth was on fire and the wings were super saucey and i try to be dainty and ladylike when i eat, but they were still really good.
the parsley and garlic fries were also delicious, and so was my jalapeno margarita. i could have thrown back several more of those, but, alas. maybe another time.
i so wish i lived closer, but burger on smith is OUTSTANDING and i intend to make this place a destination eating spot for me as often and as soon as possible.
*questionable.
**where the hell can i find these?? -
Review from Sarah G.
Updated - 4/30/2012
Still awesome burgers.
The portions are a bit bigger than Moo Burger for about the same price. They are now serving wine - by the glass and by the bottle!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/11/2012
This place makes some killer burgers. Walked right in on Friday night (their second weekend) and… Read more »
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Review from Kait K.
New York, NY
5/24/2012
I went here with the Scoutmob coupon and got $15 off our order. The burgers were very good and were actually cooked the way we requested (no pink in my medium well!). The seasoned fries were absolutely to die for. We went around 6:30 on a Wednesday and service was a teeny bit slow - they could probably use one more server. We will definitely be going back.
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Review from Cole P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/19/2012
I only went there because I had a ScoutMob coupon - I wasn't really even in the mood for a burger. But oh my goodness, these are so, so much more than burgers. It was heaven in my mouth. Great outdoor seating, friendly staff, good bar selection rounded out a perfect dinner. Try the Nutty Professor or the Turkish - crazy good.
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Review from Shu Jin S.
New York, NY
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I've walked past this place more times than I can count and always said,"This place looks good, we should try it." Today, I finally did.
Started our meal with the roasted artichoke and meyer lemon aioli and it was to die for. The Left Coast burger was also quite tasty and the spiced fries were killer. The one thing I noticed was how I didn't feel like I had a burger. You know what I mean. I felt full, but not stuffed and didn't have that 'omg, why did I just do that' feeling either. Bonus!
This is also the first time I've been able to redeem a Scoutmob deal - 50% off your bill! -
Review from Troy K.
Brooklyn, NY
4/24/2012
So it seems that the perfect burger is one of the new pursuits of many NYC restaurants. I have seen several new burger places open over the past several months (5 guys seems to be multiplying like rabbits) and with that in mind I decided to see where Burger on Smith falls on the burger-spectrum (this is an actual thing...kinda like the visible light spectrum but more juicy).
The first you'll probably notice is the abundance of seating this place has and, based upon every time I've walked by, usually most are empty. I was lured into this place as I saw on their sign outside that they had a happy hour burger and beer special for $12 and it was only through asking the waiter that I found out that the special was only for cheeseburgers, none of their specialty burgers, and your choice of the absolute cheapest beers on the menu.
Wanting more than a simple cheeseburger, I opted out of the special (if you can call it that) and got the specialty burger called the West Coast (or something like that). A little known secret is that I will order anything with avocado on it. I ordered the burger rare and upgraded my beer selection to a Six Point since I wasn't getting the special.
The burger arrived with a lackluster patch of coleslaw and a very sad looking pickle. "Fair enough" I thought, "after all...I came here for a burger, not vegetables!" I took the first bite into the burger, juices running down my fingers and to my great dismay the meat was cooked solid the entire way through. This was more like a medium well burger than a rare, bloody burger that I was expecting. This was the major downfall that a place that specializes in burgers can't get that right. I finished the plate, out of hunger, and paid my larger than originally anticipated bill without the intention of going back again and I don't think I would sleep well at night if I told you to try it for yourself.
Other notes: The staff I interacted with were very nice and cordial. They were easily the highlight of the entire experience. -
Review from Stewart P.
Brooklyn, NY
5/20/2012
Extremely disappointed. Staff was pleasant...but waiting almost 90 minutes for a simple burger?! Simply unacceptable...I don't care how busy you are. (Oh...and when they finally delivered...it was the wrong order.) So sad...I really wanted to like the place.
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Review from Andrew T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/25/2012
Between this place, Moo Burger, Shake Shack, and 2-8-2 Burger (and others) there is a real surplus of burgers in the area, but that's OK in this case since Burger on Smith is a solid addition...
I had "The First Date" - an onion-y and garlic-y mess, and I loved it. Really good quality meat and delicious toppings.. All of their burgers looked great and you can tell they put some real thought behind the flavor combinations... their vegetarian patty was also good (though really, a vegetarian patty? I don't quite get it...)
The baked potato fries were also delicious, fries + bacon = culinary genius.
So why only 3 stars when the food is so great? It's a little pricey. Between the burgers and fries you're looking at $35-40 w/ tax and tip. Having said that I'm sure I"ll find some excuse to come back and try the other burgers... and I'm definitely intrigued by their wings....
**Also - they have a "happy hour" Cheeseburger + Beer for $12 which looks like a great deal. -
Review from Chrissie S.
Oakland Gardens, Queens, NY
4/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Full disclosure: I know the partial owner of Burger on Smith but I do promise to give an honest review of the restaurant and everything that I tried. Yelp's honor.
We started with the roasted artichokes which were pretty good and glad to see that this was a healthier alternative as a starter. Though it was hard to avoid the decadent dips that came with, one that was meyer lemon aioli and the other which was shallot cardamom butter.
We also shared the tomato basil soup which was delicious. It had a really rich cheese taste. I also liked the tiny bits of I what I think was crispy garlic and fresh cracked pepper which gave the soup an extra bite.
For drinks, we were dying to try the $9 milkshake to see what the hype was about since it was so $$$. Was the vanilla milk shake good? Yes. Was it the best I ever had? No. Was it worth $9? No. I would skip the shakes.
My burger came out perfectly medium rare though they were a bit heavy with the salt and pepper seasoning. I had the Left Coast and the hubby had the Friday Night burger, both which came with some fresh coleslaw and a half sour pickle. I am not a fan of the half sour at all but the burgers were great! I esp. liked my Left Coast because avocado goes great with anything.
Fries have to be ordered separately as well and they were crispy, light and airy and not soggy/greasy. Something about the oil they use to fry them up that keeps them that way.
I have to say that the decor was very nice. The restaurant itself is dimly lit but I loved the little details they put into this place. The crate covered walls and the monkey chandelier was a sight to see. I would love to sit in the family dining table that was bar height right in the middle of the restaurant too. Also, there are all these little nooks that you can be seated for an intimate dinner.
If you're into gourmet burgers, this is the place to go. Though it is pricey, everything tasted very fresh and they use top notch ingredients including the meat from the butcher down the block. -
Review from Justin L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/17/2012
Like
The space
And the beer-
Burger happy
Hour for 12. Bar Tabac tastes better. -
Review from Anna K.
Brooklyn, NY
5/22/2012 1 Check-in Here
This place is great, and actually has quite a few options outside of the traditional burger fare (try the chicken sandwich!). The left-coast burger is outstanding, as are the garlic and parsley fries. You can definitely expect not only wholesome, quality ingredients but also great service. This place is new in the neighborhood but it's really worth checking out. They have a full bar (but only bottled beer), and their seasonal drinks change regularly and are fantastic. They add great ingredients too, including lots of house-made items like crystallized ginger (!).
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Review from Moxxy C.
New York, NY
5/6/2012
I came for Sunday lunch with a couple friends, and might I say a delicious outing it was.
Our order started with the housemade pickled vegetables, which were to die for; this side had pickled cauliflower, fennel, green beans, spring onions and celery to name a few of the veggies in this dish, well worth the $5.00 we spent on it.
For the main dish, I ordered the left coast beef burger (with gruyere, avocado, arugula, garlic aioli) and added a fried egg on top for $2.00. When our plates came to the table, a housemade pickle and hefty helping of housemade coleslaw came along with it. I must admit- this was by far the best burger I've had in ages. The burger was cooked to perfection and the pickle was sensational (they should seriously consider bottling those pickles and selling them). The other 2 in my party got the Friday Night beef burger (with fried egg, caramelized onions, oven roasted tomato, arugula, truffle vinaigrette, house bun). One subbed the beef burger for the veggie patty, whom proclaimed this was the best veggie burger they'd ever had.
After we paced ourselves with our dishes, we finished off our lunch with Picklebacks - a shot of whiskey chased by housemade pickle juice/brine. What a fantastic drink. If I could've handled more than one, I would've.
Needless to say, I'll definitely be back. -
Review from Bill T.
Björk-tacular!
Why do I characterize Burger on Smith that way? Because the night I was there it was oh so quiet.*
Seriously, staff outnumbered diners on a Tuesday night and I felt kind of bad. Some bad, generic R & B was pumping through the speakers and "Unstoppable"**, a terrible movie with Denzel Washington was showing on the TV behind the bar.
It's clear this place is still getting it's sea legs but I am going to give it another try and you should stop by as well.
Short review: Worth another shot, food is decent, service tries hard. Hopefully will find its way. A very positive three stars.
And for those with longer attention spans, the unabridged review:
On the plus side, everyone who works there is super nice. They really want the diners to enjoy their meals. Also, the space is beautiful. I love the design, from the front room, to the dining area, the bar, the restrooms...the attention to detail is astonishing. Truly gorgeous.
They only had bottled beers, although a semi-decent selection. However, the guy who helped me said the tap system should be installed within a week so with tap beers on hand, that will definitely up the ante.
The food was fine. Didn't blow me away, though. Had the traditional burger, which was pretty good. Very juicy and the tomato was great and I loved the horseradish aioli, but other than that, it was just okay. The baked potato fries sounded better in concept than reality. Maybe the spicy fries would be better.
The layout is weird. There was no cash register behind the bar so the server had to go to the host stand, which is located kind of in the middle of the restaurant. Just kind of bizarre as there was often nobody behind the spacious bar.
Service tried hard but was a little uneven. Even though there were not many customers, the various servers seemed unsure of who was waiting on whom, which led to at least four customers sitting there for a long time without anyone checking on them.
I think these issues are minor and will get ironed out. When the tap beer comes online, I'm going to try this again because I can see the potential. Then I can have a proper burger and a draft and maybe bump this up to four stars.
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* here's the Spike Jonze-directed video for Bjork's "It's Oh So Quiet" http://youtu.be/TEC4nZ...
**"Unstoppable"? I say unwatchable! -
Review from Lana V.
2/13/2012 ROTD 5/2/2012
At a time when new burger places are popping up all over the place I didn't think there was a need for yet another such restaurant. I was wrong.
On a Saturday night my friends and I wanted some simple comfort food, burgers (veggie in my case) and fries. We headed to the the neighborhood burger hot spot Moo Burger and were turned off by the long line and wait for a table. Their burgers are good but they're not THAT good. So we headed to Smith and discovered Burger on Smith. What a pleasant surprise! The new restaurant was nearly empty, had tons of space and some delicious burgers. With a varied menu that offered some amazing burger varieties like lamb, rainbow trout and veggie burgers with quinoa and avocado (yum!) as well as spicy and garlic fries, there was something for everyone. The only thing I stopped myself from ordering was a milkshake which while I'm sure is delicious, cost a whopping $9.
I'd definitely return to Burger on Smith. -
Review from Colleen K.
Brooklyn, NY
2/14/2012 1 Check-in Here
It is a rare time in Brooklyn that I disagree with almost all the reviews. (That was common in Baton Rouge, as evidenced in such reviews as my list of places I went multiple times that I wouldn't have if I wasn't living there for three years). At a burger place, when I opt for the chicken on a list of burger options, I expect a chicken *burger*, not a grilled piece of chicken on a bun with burger toppings on it. Okay, maybe it's not fair to judge based on that, maybe I should have asked what format my bird would arrive in. But also, our wait was too long, and the very nice server comped two beers to make up for it. But furthermore, the appetizer came at the same time as the meal after requesting it come first, and in addition to not being what I expected, my sando was nothing special, nor was my husband's burger, nor were the buffalo wings app.
With Moo Burger, Shake Shack, Smash Burger, Two 8 Two, etc. nearby, this place is right in the burger corridor of Brooklyn. The chicken burgers at Moo Burger are a world apart in taste and a only few blocks away, so Burger on Smith is going to have to do better than this if they want to make it.Listed in: Ex-Vegetarian Times
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Review from Keavy L.
Brooklyn, NY
2/6/2012 3 photos
Both my husband and I are vegetarian, so we are always cautious when trying out new places - especially burger joints! We were, however, pleased to discover they have a good amount veggie options.
We both got The Nutty Professor which is completely vegan. I was SO excited to find out that they actually make their own patties instead of using a frozen MorningStar one like 67 Burger and Soda. It made all the difference in the world. I was told afterwards that you can add toppings like cheese, mayo, or even a fried egg to it and will will definitely be doing that next time.
Possibly the coolest thing about this place though is that they get green chilies shipped in from Hatch New Mexico! Having a husband from Albuquerque I've grown to become addicted to the stuff and crave it after every time we visit. It's amazing that there's a place we can now get access to it on any given evening! Now, if we could just get Burger on Smith to put green chili cheese fries on the menu I would be in heaven. -
Review from Alison G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/27/2012 2 photos
The food here is good enough, but the prices are a little steep. I had the veggie burger and it was good, but for $12 it really ought to come with something more than the tiny cup of cole slaw on the side. We also ordered the spiced fries which were tasty and in a nice-sized portion, so $5 seemed reasonable for that. But two people getting burgers, sharing an order of fries, and ordering nothing to drink for $32? Seems nuts. I get it that these are "special" burgers but they ain't that special.
Considering the size of this place (it's gigantic!) and the fact that they serve almost nothing but burgers, I have a hard time imagining they'll last very long. Especially when you consider that the burger renaissance already seems to be over-saturating the neighborhood (Two 8 Two Burger, Shake Shack, 5 Guys, Mooburger, etc. It's out of control!!) -
Review from Peter D.
Full disclosure: I was invited to the friends & family soft opening of Burger on Smith, because I know one of the fine gentlemen behind the venture. As such, my meal was discounted to the tune of 40%. I can assure you, however, that neither this discount nor my deep and heartfelt affection for this beautiful, sexy man has any bearing on this review. Because I'd never lie to you, as you are my true friend.
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Burger on Smith is the new joint that took over the space on the corner of Smith & Baltic. You know the one, entirely encased in glass, that will be amazing when it opens up along with the warm weather. The space itself is much bigger than I previously thought, with lots of booths inside past the greenhouse/atrium-type thingie, a horseshoe bar, and I believe a bar downstairs as well.
The menu is full of tasty-sounding items like Movie Theater Nachos, an artichoke that looked incredible on nearby tables, and wings I will certainly return for. There's also a chicken sandwich on the menu called the Harissa Explains It All (references to early 90s Nickelodeon are always crowd-pleasers, in my experience). However, when you walk into a place with "burger" right there in the name, you better get yourself a burger. It's common sense. It's why you get pickles and olives at Pickles & Olives, meatballs at The Meatball Shop, and so on and so forth.
Seeing as how it was our first visit, we each opted to try one of their house combos. One of us got the Friday Night (beef, fried egg, caramelized onions, oven roasted tomato, arugla, truffle vinaigrette on the house bun) and the other, the First Date (beef, cheddar, fresh onions, pickled onions, caramelized onions, arugula, garlic aioli on the house bun). Beef is definitely a good call, because it's coming from my favorite meat shop, Paisanos, down the street.
Now, believe me when I tell you that the people in this kitchen know burgers. They are burger experts, or burgersmiths,* if you will. Both my lady and I were given burgers that were cooked perfectly to order, well-seasoned and juicy; every bite was a delight and I shed a tear when they were all gone.
And although the flavor combinations were excellent (I give the slight edge to the First Date, despite the runny egg on the other), I think next time around I'm going to go with the DIY burger, because maybe I want a lamb burger on a Portuguese muffin, with Taleggio, yogurt aioli, serrano peppers and apple relish. What I'm trying to say there is that they have endless, wonderful options that you can combine to your heart's content.
Now, as with any brand-new establishment, there are a few service kinks to get out. I'm certainly not going to dock them for it because that would be churlish, to say the least. But our server did need a little more practice (or any) with his iPhone pad, and he wasn't as familiar with the menu as I'm sure he'll be next time around.
Also, we did order the Baked Potato Fries (deliciously crispy hand-cut fries with chives, creme fraiche and crumbled bacon on top), but they were embarrassingly naked when they arrived with our burgers. Thankfully, our waiter let us keep the ordinary fries. Unfortunately, when the correct order arrived they were so addictive and salty and fantastic that we were forced to stuff entirely too many of them into our faces until we felt ill. But that's really on us, rather than the waiter.
Basically, if you like burgers and you live anywhere near Smith, rejoice.
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*Get it? This place is called Burger on Smith. It's a play on words. -
Review from Joey S.
2/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
After reading relatively good reviews, I was pretty disappointed with Burger on Smith. I came here for a birthday party two nights ago and the food just wasn't good at all. More than that, it was pretty damn overpriced. 14 bucks for a burger with an egg on it? Come on. The beers were not cheap either. I ordered the Friday Night (beef, fried egg, caramelized onions, oven roasted tomato) and it was pretty bland. I am not sure exactly what was off taste-wise, but I just didn't enjoy it. The beef was nothing special and the toppings really didn't work all that well together for some reason. I also love caramelized onions and there were like only two tiny ones on the burger.
I also ordered nachos and garlic fries like a fatty. They both sucked. The fries came out cold, overcooked, and way too garlicy. And the nachos, well lets just say I have made better nachos myself, using Kraft singles and a microwave. All this and a beer was like 40-50 bucks, which I don't mind paying when the food is good, but this fell way short of the mark.
The one nice thing I have to say about Burger on Smith is that the interior decor is really cool and the building is spacious. There were like 25 of us that they fit pretty comfortably. Also, there is this cool sunroom/ patio area in front that looks like a good spot to eat on a sunny day. The service was relatively good too, but none of that could make up for the lackluster grub at Burger on Smith. -
Review from Neil B.
2/5/2012
After reading Peter D's review, we had to try Burger on Smith. And I will start by saying that we were not disappointed!
Being the day before the Super Bowl, we opted for wings to begin. Because one of us does not like spice, we ordered 6 wings mild. What arrived were 12 extra spicy wings. Both our waiter, Leo, and our other waiter from China whose name I did not catch, were very apologetic and told us to keep the first wings while they brought us the 6 mild ones we had ordered. Being the spice eater, I had no problem finding a home for the spicy ones!
But it was for hamburgers we came and it was hamburgers that made our dinner special. Being our first visit, we took Peter D's advice and built our own burger combos. I chose a medium rare with cheddar and caramelized onions while the GF went with feta done medium. Both arrived cooked to order and both were delicious. They had run out of House Buns so we both went with the Portuguese muffins which turned out to be excellent.
One interesting thing was that the waitstaff uses iPod touches to record the orders, so at first glance when you arrive, it looks like they are all blowing off their jobs and texting!
We put the tab on a credit card but had to ask our waiter for our customer copy (still working out the start up kinks?).
While I have no idea why an animal that eats grass does not taste like salad, we will be back again soon for the excellent food and friendly service! -
Review from Peter D.
Philadelphia, PA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Very fast service and a delicious burger. My only complaint is that the people at the desk charged me extra for "The Landmark" despite not adding the ingredients promised (such as the arugula, and garlic aioli). This was a minor issue as all four of the burgers I ordered for take-out were promised to be ready in 25 minutes and indeed they were. The place looks really nice and will definitely get business in the summer with that awesome patio and the great location at Baltic and Smith.
The quality of the beef and the Portuguese muffin were excellent. I really enjoyed it cooked medium-well and I'm sure it would be as good medium-rare. Grade A, Grass-fed is the way to go these days!
I'd definitely recommend it and this will probably be the go-to burger spot for BoCoCa (I hate calling it that) residents.
Heads up, they do take credit! -
Review from Lori S.
The Strip, Las Vegas, NV
4/7/2012
This place is so good. I could definitely get addicted to the garlic and parsley fries and the atmosphere was perfect.
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Review from Amanda T.
Brooklyn, NY
4/12/2012
With all these new burger joints popping up all over the neighborhood my friend decided to put together a Burger Crawl to try them all out. Of the 6 places we went (no I didn't eat 6 burgers, we were in teams so we weren't complete glutons) Burger on Smith rated high on all marks. The meat was cooked to perfection, the toppings were creative and the music was also amazing. We were singing the entire time.Our waiter looked scared when we first walked in, a group of 13 can do that, but he was really nice and asked us about our journey that ended at Burger on Smith. He must have told the chef because the chef came out to ask us about the burger crawl. The chef was really nice and very happy to here that his place had our top rating. I cant wait to go back and eat an entire burger and enjoy a Genesee Cream Ale.
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Review from Noam P.
Brooklyn, NY
4/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
This is what a burger joint should be like. The decor was excellent. Dim lighting with wooden floors and concrete tables. I really liked it. My server was on top of it. He came at just the right times to take our orders, answer questions and check in on us. To me what makes a great burger is the toppings and bun and it seems Burger on Smith agrees. There are four bun selections and the toppings were traditional with a twist. The burger comes with fresh coleslaw with little or possibly no mayonnaise. I couldnt tell. One order of fries was plenty for my friend and I. She ordered the Lamb burger and I ordered the First date burger. Both were delicious. We ended the night with cookie sandwich ice cream. The cookie by itself was not that great but when paired with the vanilla ice cream and carmel was divine. At the end of the night our bill was a surprising 46 bucks! I cant wait to come back here.
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Review from Anna K.
3/19/2012
If there weren't a half a dozen new burger places opening up in this neighborhood, I would most likely give these guys 5 stars. Alas, I have to compare them to some really incredible burger spots. I had their traditional burger and it was cooked to a near perfect medium rare and the meat tasted very fresh. The bun was a Portuguese muffin, which was a bit soft for my taste, but that's a personal preference. If you like soft burgers all around, you will likely enjoy this. The hand-cut fries were good and so was the artichoke appetizer. The place is split into two levels. The inside has cozy booths, which were HUGE and the outside is surrounded by glass walls. Once the weather is just a tad warmer, that will be a great area to sit. Service was good and I was particularly impressed that the waitress was taking our order on what looked like an iTouch. Overall, solid burger joint!
Listed in: Mmmm Burger!
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Review from Wendy G.
Brooklyn, NY
3/24/2012
Color me bewildered by all the positive reviews here. We had a bad experience opening week, waiting over an hour to receive a botched order. Beyond opening-week kinks, the prices were poor - $12-$14 each for burgers that were also undersized, and came with nothing but a tablespoon of poorly dressed cole slaw. We decided not to return. But, breathless reviews continued to ping my neighborhood listserv, so we gave it a second try. Mistake. Again our order was botched, and out of 4 dishes we ordered - nachos, 2 burgers, and an order of fries - not one item was genuinely good.
Despite their huge staff, and friendly servers, the food again took forever, and when it arrived, it was again wrong. Instead of The Harissa Explains It All chicken sandwich I'd ordered, I got a fish sandwich. I sent it back and got a comp'ed beer for the trouble and further wait. The Harissa sandwich itself has nice ingredients, and is a combination that *sounds* good, yet fails to come together. My partner ordered a "Left Coast" burger, but instead received a "The Traditional" burger, which came on a Portugese muffin with cheese and allegedly aoili. He kept his wrong order and ate it, but found it bland. The muffin bun is actually slightly sweet, and is like sandwiching a burger patty between two smallish pancakes. Neither the flavors nor the textures really work together. And, the "slaw" served with each sandwich in a tiny paper cup is simply shredded cabbage tossed with mild vinegar - underseasoned and disappointing.
We also ordered the spicy fries. I bet you think these were spicy. Surprise!!! "Spicy" here means nutmeg and cinnamon (guessing), not peppery or even zesty. I don't think any pepper was actually used, that we could tell, or any salt. And, there is no salt or pepper on the tables. We got some salt on request, but still the fries were underseasoned, and not very good.
We had also gotten an appetizer, the "Move Theater Nachos." These are served with a cheese sauce described as "electric orange" but which is gritty and seems powder-based. Not good, and the price was off at $10, when it has no meat or even beans.
There are clearly some thought-out food concepts and ideas going on here, plus fresh, quality ingredients including meat sourced from an excellent butcher up the street. But it's just not coming together, and even if they manage to tweak the food, the prices are too high. -
Review from Nina B.
Brooklyn, NY
3/14/2012
Walked in here on a whim, nearly walked out again when my partner-in-crime saw the prices. After I placated him (read: glared at him until he stopped whining), we settled down in the wonderful semi-outdoor section in front, which is this place's main selling point (especially now that spring has apparently arrived and it seems a sin to sit inside - I'm not sure how attractive this glass-encased section will be in the boiling summer heat...) The decor and ambience is spot-on (sort of brushed-steel-and-wood) and the indoor part also looks very classy. The service was perfectly amiable.
We ordered fountain sodas and both tasted kind of funky, and not in a good way. Burger-wise, he went for the "First Date" and I, being both vegetarian and a grad student, couldn't resist the "Nutty Professor." When we realized you had to pay extra for chips, we politely declined to order any (at this point, my cheap hackles also went up - really, $12 for a burger and you have to pay extra for chips?!!! My partner nodded along to this rant, proud that I was finally getting into the spirit of things). When the food arrived however, he became an instant convert, claiming that it was probably one of the best burgers he'd ever had (words like "moist" and "excellent quality meat" were floated) and worth the price. I, on the other hand, sinked deeper into my sulk - you'd think that at a fancy burger place, they could finally come up with a veg patty that didn't taste like burnt sawdust, but apparently not. It was rendered highly edible by the toppings, which were excellent (we both swooned over the pickles), but still, I expected much better. -
Review from Ariane S.
Brooklyn, NY
2/11/2012
What a great spot! Delicious burgers....I actually got the lamb burger and it was so delish! I will definitely be back and work my way down the menu. Waiters were very nice and the location is awesome.
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Review from Elizabeth N.
Brooklyn, NY
2/23/2012
Really enjoyed the happy hour burger special (burger + beer for $12). Good service, huge space. A fun new option on Smith Street!
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Review from Jen Q.
Brooklyn, NY
3/2/2012
Ate here last week with my roomie, post happy hour on a Friday. No one must know about it yet because we were one of maybe 4 tables in the whole restaurant (felt bad for the servers.) Seriously folks, the line at MooBurger is absurd with this tasty option around the corner! Yea, the prices are just a tad high for Brooklyn (fairly standard for Manhattan by comparison,) but the ambiance was great, our sandwiches were way tasty and the garlic fries were fantastic so it was well worth it in my opinion. Will definitely eat here again!
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Review from Ruth L.
Brooklyn, NY
4/20/2012
Perfect burger, perfect bartender, inexpensive and wonderful atmosphere.
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Review from An O.
Brooklyn, NY
2/25/2012
Love this place... stopped in by accident... bartender made an amazing gin-citrus-y drink for me... huge fan of the fries and horseradish-chive aioli.
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Review from Deb C.
Glastonbury, CT
2/11/2012
I give this place 4.5 stars b/c the burgers are great. Juicy and dripping with flavor. The staff is very nice. The portugese buns adds a definite twist to it. They gave me the wrong fries, but corrected it and allowed me to keep the wrong order, which was good also. Needless to say, I was stuff. My companion ordered the Veggie burger and was amazed at the freshness it had. The decor was great. I would definitely go back again.
Who would've thought grass fed meat would be that tasty?! -
Review from Steven S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/14/2012
I came here on a recent Sunday afternoon, requested super rare and my burger was perfectly prepared. Of course the place was pretty quiet so I assume the Kitchen had my full attention. Came here with friends on a Friday night, the place was pretty busy, requested the same burger, super rare, and it came back medium. Same complaint from a friend. It is all I ask of a decent burger place. Cook it the way I want it. Otherwise, I might as well go to 5 guys.
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Review from Ann H.
Brooklyn, NY
1/29/2012
Went there before a movie at Cobble Hill Cinema and had a First Date and a Market Salad. I had no idea that a burger could be so good--although the onions, blue cheese and garlic aoli made me totally unkissable. The sauce made it for me, ordered double on that. I also had a chocolate shake, which was probably a bit much before the movie, but whatever, I skipped the Junior Mints. Plan on heading there more, but hopefully will not need a new pair of pants. Also, if anyone can tell me where to get that monkey chandelier from behind the bar...I'd appreciated it I guess that'd be my only critique--needs more monkeys.
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Review from S G.
Brooklyn, NY
2/8/2012
This was a disappointing experience. It wasn't bad, per se, but it definitely was not good. To start the food was served a bit on the cold side. And, when you are paying $12-14 for a burger - it should come with fries! The server was delightful, but not enough to make up for the food, which is what you are paying for at a restaurant. I will not be rushing back there, which makes me sad, because I like the convenience of a good burger a few blocks away, but for now, I'll stick to The Wing Bar or try out Moo Burger.
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Review from Sophie S.
Brooklyn, NY
3/15/2012
one word: YUM!
as a careful eater and someone with multiple food intolerances and sensitivities i was more than pleased to dine at Burger on Smith. what gets any better than a carefully crafted, freshly ground beef patty with a delicious helping of caramelized onions? and who needs an overly processed gluten free "bun" when the fresh meat speaks for itself? definitely go for the cucumber/green bean salad too -- what a fresh pairing between bites of savory beef!
this place is inventive, intentional, and most importantly the food is FRESH, organic, ethical and delicious.
gluten free, soy free, dairy free delight! -
Review from Danielle C.
Brooklyn, NY
2/25/2012
AMAZING burgers! Burger on Smith is the best new burger place in the Cobble Hill/ Carroll Gardens area. I love two8two and Moo burger but Burger on Smith is hands down my favorite. We went last night around 8:30pm and were seated right away. They have a full bar and a great beer selection. They have a lot of different types of burgers on the menu as well as a build it yourself section. I ordered the turkey burger (which was super flavorful) topped with American cheese, garlic aioli and caramelized onions on the house bun- amazing! My boyfriend ordered a medium rare beef burger on the house bun, with both cheddar and taleggio cheese and garlic aioli. It was INSANE. I was kinda jealous that I didn't get that one. We ordered the garlic and parsley fries which are huge (3-4 people could easily share them). They get their meat from a local shop and the ingredients used are top notch. Our waiter was super helpful and very nice which just topped off a really great meal. We will be back there next week!
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Review from hey d.
New York, NY
2/9/2012
So many burger places within a 3 block radius - this is one of the ones I'd recommend. The Land of Enchantment burger was delicious. The combination of pepper, beef, cheddar, and onion was just so good. It's just the right amount of kick. My only qualm is the price. For $12-13 I would expect the burger to come with fries.
