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P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
I haven't had the latest version of Clarke's burger, but I can tell you way back in the late Seventies, before they cleaned the joint up, it was considered one of the best burgers in town. I got to know the staff as I was a bartender down the street and would often go into Clarke's after my shift ended--they said the burgers were ground prime meat--they were even considered small for the time, but were fantastic and served on a small white paper plate with a slice of raw onion.
On a side note for Clarke fans of that era, the wait staff in the back room had a little routine for customers who were a pain in the ass. They would "86" them, which of course means to cut someone off from drinking. But what they would do to the jerk, would be to add a shot of 100 proof vodka to whatever they were drinking (wine, beer, whatever)--in no time the unsuspecting patron would be smashed and heading for home. And in those days, Clarke's was open to 4am every night and you had lots of people deserving to be "86"'d.
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
I had my wedding reception at the Sidecar (upstairs white tablecloth dining room) and the mini burgers were a crowd favorite - a zillion times better than those dry little meat/bun bombs served anywhere else, as they were just smaller versions of the juicy goodness served downstairs in the pub
i love this burger!
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
@Lippy: True. I think my bun was very mildly toasted. More like, it appeared to have been waved in the direction of a toaster.
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
PJ's burger is good, and would be better if they toasted the bun (which they will do, if asked.) But, as a poster above pointed out, Landmarc's is better, in more or less the same neighborhood on the mid West Side.
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
PJ's one of the best burgers in New York City, no doubt. It may even be the very best!
Of course, hipsters, loonies and gastronomic illiterates will keep flocking to overrated and overpriced burger joints like Pop Burger or the Madison Shack while ignoring the Clarke's.
Good for me! And good for them because that's all they like, paper-thin patties splashed with crap sauce and too much lettuce and tomato.
At PJ's, it's the real stuff.
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
As I "inherited" the tradition of going to P.J Clarke's from my dad, I have to say that is one of the best burgers in my book. Every time in NY(from Sweden, not there that often) I have to go. Still, I wish that I had ordered something else than the home fries last time, a little bit to mushy, little or no onions and quite a bland dish as a whole.
But the simplicity of the burger and the quality of the meat really makes this worthwile.
(and thanks for a great blog)
P. J. Clarke's: A Pub That Doesn't Serve a Pub Burger
I completely agree with this review of PJ Clarke's, which in my opinion doesn't always get the love and praise it deserves (while places that serve burgers not nearly as good, like a certain place near the meatpacking district, for example, often get way more than they deserve). I also think that 6 ounces is the perfect size for a burger, I don't enjoy the challenge of fitting 8-10 ounce burgers into my mouth or (especially) in the case of the latter, finishing them. For me, the cadillac (bacon cheeseburger, american cheese of course) with raw onion is perfection on a bun.
Also, regarding the "obnoxious ex-frat boys become lawyers / finance dudes and their female alter ego squawking career chicks", if they can appreciate this burger, then they can't be that bad.
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I haven't had the latest version of Clarke's burger, but I can tell you way back in the late Seventies, before they cleaned the joint up, it was considered one of the best burgers in town. I got to know the staff as I was a bartender down the street and would often go into Clarke's after my shift ended--they said the burgers were ground prime meat--they were even considered small for the time, but were fantastic and served on a small white paper plate with a slice of raw onion.
On a side note for Clarke fans of that era, the wait staff in the back room had a little routine for customers who were a pain in the ass. They would "86" them, which of course means to cut someone off from drinking. But what they would do to the jerk, would be to add a shot of 100 proof vodka to whatever they were drinking (wine, beer, whatever)--in no time the unsuspecting patron would be smashed and heading for home. And in those days, Clarke's was open to 4am every night and you had lots of people deserving to be "86"'d.