This post is dedicated to everybody on the East Coast affected by Hurricane Sandy. I hope you are safe and whatever damage you may have sustained was minimal. To find out how you can help, visit NYC Service. Thanks to BareBurger for also doing their part to help.
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8/10
Following a harrowing experience with Hurricane Sandy and 3 days with no power, water or cell service in my apartment and reports that it could take another 3+ days to restore service in Lower Manhattan, I finally fled to stay with family in an area not quite so affected.
During those almost 3 days of no power and no water, all I did was hallucinate about what hot food sounded good at the moment. Coffee…tea…my mom’s cooking…Indian food…pizza…soup…pasta and of course a big fat juicy BURGER!! So as soon as I got to my family’s place and showered, I jumped on Yelp to see what was nearby.
Turns out, there is a BareBurger in Forest Hills just a few blocks away. I’d seen the chain in the city before and wanted to try it, so what better occasion than the first meal living like a refugee for 3 days.(Side note: for those of you who have followed this blog for a while, you know that I’m on the eternal quest for the best burger… read all my burger reviews here) I got the beef burger, ‘Classic’ style (no cheese) and my dad got the elk burger, also ‘Classic’ (no cheese). The first bite was like Christmas, birthday and winning the lotto all at once.
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| BareBurger beef burger ‘classic’ on a brioche bun: heaven. |
After the rush of the the first bite of the warm meal subsided, I realized that outside of the circumstances, this was actually a delicious burger.
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| How I spent much of my post-Hurricane Sandy days: Candle-lit and bored. |
Their meat is all grass-fed, organic and all-natural (they probably make the cows do yoga too) and their ‘Special Sauce’ is just divine.
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| BareBurger elk burger ‘classic’ on a brioche bun. Survey says: tastes just like beef. |
I really like that they allow you to design your burger to your specifications – their menu is wide and varied with meat options like elk, lamb, bison, boar and even ostrich! BareBurger topping styles range from ‘The Classic’ with onions, tomato and lettuce to the more exotic ‘Maui Wowie’ with smoked mozzarella, pineapples, Canadian bacon and ranch dressing. You can choose between a number of bun styles but really when brioche is an option why consider anything else.
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| Cross section of a BareBurger: anatomy of a delicious burger! |
Besides great burgers, BareBurger actually makes pretty mean french fries and onion rings…
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| BareBurger fries and onion rings: crunch, crispy and fried to perfection! |
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I’ll be back to BareBurger, hurricane or no hurricane! I’d love to try the other more exotic meats.
BareBurger (various locations)
71-49 Austin Street
Forest Hills, NY 11375
www.bareburger.com/
Amazing what a 3 day break from warm food does to to a Manhattanite!!
Here is what you wrote “The first bite was like Christmas, birthday and winning the lotto all at once.” WOW… I must say you are very animated in your descriptions and passionate about your food, it makes me want to go out and get a burger now.
Although, after eating the worst food I’ve ever had in my life in an Israeli place last night, I can’t even think of eating for a while.
Exotic meats?? Should I be concerned for my safety?!!!! :”(
PJJ
Wow! I wish we had a BareBurger in Tucson! There is nothing like the ‘perfect burger’ and I find your quest admirable! I am glad you are safe after Sandy – our friends in lower Manhattan got their electricity back yesterday and were so excited to shower! I am sure they cooked a really big meal afterwards. ~David
Thank you David! Yep I’m in lower Manhattan and just got power back yesterday, and still no hot water for a few days but I can’t complain, some folks lost their houses! Take care, Ahu