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@NYC Food Guy The French dip sandwich is also worth trying. I thought it was basil in the slaw but I could be wrong. I recommend the Black Label plain on a bun and that would be my choice right now for burger to eat, but I could happily eat Shake Shack or even Joe Jr and be satisfied. Let's eat a burger in early March.

I don't know if I'd send a hamburger back--at that point, I don't trust the cook. I'd just tell the waiter/tress and have her take it off the check. For example--I ordered the four miniburgers at Chili's that were supposed to be topped with apple smoked bacon, cheese and onions. Sounds good--everyone's doing "sliders" these days. What I ended up with was a DRIED out hamburger patty that was cut into four pieces with a little cheese on one of them. No bacon, no onions--what the he11? When I brought it to the waitress' attention, she didn't seem all that surprised--I guess they were out of mini-burger and were making do. No, I don't want to order something else--it will only be the same quality as the crap the cook already sent out. If the restaurant, whether it's a chain or not, LOSES money because they don't get a chance to "try again", they will make sure the food goes out right the first time! Most of the time, if you send something back what you get isn't all that much better, but you eat it anyway, pay for it anyway just to get out of the restaurant.

Houston's burger is very good, nice and buttery. Not the best burger in the city but they should be given full credit for grinding their own meat (which the review sites), cooking to order, and using an interesting fresh baked roll. A bit pricey but still relatively good value given the ingredients.

If you are eating at Houstons order the ribs and coleslaw. Best two items on the menu (exlcuding spinach artichoke dip which is outstanding).

@Nick,
I can only agree with one point of your analysis of Houston's burger and that's the fact that when you break it down to the burger, cheese, bun trinity, the bun is definitely the dominant flavor amidst consistently sweaty cheddar and beef whose flavor invariably takes a back seat.

When all is said and done though you have to consider the scope Houston's amidst the NY Dining scene. Houston's is a chain and as an NYC food lover I'm loathe to admit I love Houston's. I can honestly say I've eaten there over 50 times and never been disappointed. And among chain restaurants, Houston's burger is the best. Personally, I remove all the ingredients, adding Houston's honey-infused ketchup on top and leaving only the cabbage/hickory sauce on the bottom. I think the cabbage and hickory sauce provide the balancing factors to the sweet bun and ketchup. The smokiness and slight spice of the hickory combined with the neutralizing nature of the cabbage diffuse what could be an overly sweet situation. I've had the burger without the sauce and cabbage and the resulting trinity of beef, cheese, bun just isn't as tasty without the two "spurious, and frankly curious" ingredients.

As far as bang for your buck goes, I agree, Houston's does not deliver. But if you're feeling lazy one night and want rest easy knowing you can have a meal that's consistently delicious, I always think of Houston's.

I recommend bringing a friend and going for the spinach artichoke dip, a $5 side salad, the burger/rib split and finishing it all off with the warm 5-nut brownie sundae, which is incredible. When all is said and done, you've provided a great review. Motz taught you well.

Check out my Houston's reviews here.

Have you had the burger at Brooklyn Diner? It's another burger that completely corrupts the sanctity of the trinity and definitely destroys and bang for your buck-ness, but it is another burger that has never disappointed and one of my favorites.

Nick, If you had to say, what's the best burger being served in the city right now? How about in Brooklyn? What's the best burger you've ever had?

@ Robyn

Yay! Glad you tried it and it worked out for you. Last night I received a cheeseburger medium well I had ordered medium rare--I really did not enjoy it and gave the restaurant low marks. Perhaps I'll go there one more time and see if it's any better when cooked correctly.

@ Drakmyth

You have absolutely got to be a troll, or did not read any pages on this site.

I was at Palm Too last week and they had calorie counst on the back of the menu.

Hmmm...avocado on a burger sounds like it has potential but it teeters on the knife's edge of possibility. It could either go to a whole new level of burger paradise or crash and burn under a heap of charred beef.

Say it ain't so Nick... Avocado slices on a burger are one of the greatest taste combos ever!!

just called and the voicemail outgoing message says estimated reopening is "sometime the week of February 3 to 8."

@drmoze, that is the main reason I do not send my burgers back.

My question to everyone is: which establishment would you think would spit on your burger? a chain restaurant, a diner/restaurant , a fancy pants place?

You know what, I just realized you must be an internet n00b to be getting your panties up in such a bunch, and as much as I hate the meme, you Godwinned this thread. Great job.

What ever dude. QQ