For most burger connoisseurs, there's not much enthusiasm for formerly frozen fast food burgers, and $30 bistro burgers dressed with foie gras or the aioli du jour somehow seem to miss the point. True burger bliss lies somewhere in between. Thankfully, the Burger Joint at Le Parker Meridien provides a happy medium, achieving the ideal balance of simplicity with fresh, quality ingredients and a backyard taste. From the elegant lobby of the four-star hotel, just look for the small, neon burger light on the wall. You'll pass through a dark hallway and some black curtains before running smack dab into the line. (Despite the lack of signage and its unlikely location, the line will attest that this is no longer a secret among Midtown burger enthusiasts.) The limited décor approximates a '70s dive of sorts, with red vinyl booths, wood paneling, various knickknacks (see Louie Anderson and Rudy Giuliani bobblehead dolls above the counter) and burgers that come wrapped in white paper. Thin, crispy fries come in a brown bag. The small but thick burgers come cooked to order, and toppings consist of lettuce, tomato, ketchup, pickles, mayo and mustard. For everything, just say "the works" to keep the line moving - signs threaten that you will be skipped if you're not ready to order. Wash it all down with a thick milk shake or a pitcher of Sam Adams poured in clear plastic cups among friends. If there are no seats, a short walk to Central Park is a fine alternative. Beer available. Serving lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri-Sat.
Where the Locals Eat rating
Best Burgers in NYC
Top 100 Restaurant, New York City
"The paper-wrapped burger is fat and juicy. ... But the best thing about this nondescript, booth-lined hole-in-the-wall is its quasi-clandestine location off the lobby of Le Parker Meridien, one of the ritziest hotels in midtown."
—New York magazine
"Kitsch and chichi mingle at this tiny, hidden spot in the posh Parker Meridien. It's a perfectly re-created burger emporium circa 1972, down to the "wood" paneling, vinyl booths and iconic ingredients such as Heinz ketchup and Arnold's buns."
—Time Out New York
"I went at 2 p.m., to avoid the lunch crush. I nonetheless waited more than 10 minutes to reach the head of the line but only another five minutes for the burgers themselves, which were made to order. And warm. And enjoyable, make no mistake. Just not a euphoric brush with burger transcendence."
– Frank Bruni, The New York Times, March 26, 2006
How others rate Burger Joint
New York magazine
Critics' Pick
Zagat 2009
23 food rating (very good to excellent)