Best Burgers - Astoria, NY
The hamburger is part of American culture and there's considerable debate as to where it originated. Many foodies and culinary historians make a compelling case for both Germany and the good old USA as the birthplace of the beloved hamburger. According to some experts, including the folks at White Castle, a food vendor by the name of Otto Kuase invented the first burger sandwich around 1891. Otto had his business in, where else, but Hamburg Germany. Otto's beef patty was fried up in butter. Sounds quite tasty but not very healthy. Besides local residents, German merchant ship sailors patronized the Kuase foodstand. Their favorite item on Otto's menu was, of course, the round ground beef patty on bread. These sailors are credited with introducing the hamburger to America, particularly New York City, which had a significant German population.
Some theories have been floated around that the hamburger was "invented" by as many as three or four cooks independent of each other. At the turn of the century, Louis Lassen, owner of Louis Lunch Wagon in New Haven, Connecticut, may have been the first food vendor in America to serve his customers beef patty sandwich. The story goes that, on a very busy day, Louis ran out of steaks for his off-the-charts popular steak sandwich. It was lunch hour and a line of hungry workers were impatiently waiting for food. In a pinch, Louis got a huge mound of ground up beef ready, formed the meat into individual patties and threw them on the grill. These patties were not served on buns, but between two slices of toast. The reaction from Louis's customers was positive and the next day, they came back for more.
Some of our best inventions have been born, accidentally, from circumstance. Kudos to whoever did invent what is, probably, the best hot sandwich on earth!
The beautiful thing about about the hamburger is that it can stand alone or serve as a "canvas" for a chef's creativity and imagination. These Astoria burger places are not to be missed.
Bareburger | Organic & All-Natural Burgers, NYC
No matter which neighborhood that you call home in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan, there's sure to be a Bareburger close by.
From an Astoria neighborhood favorite that re-invented the hamburger, Bareburger has grown into a culinary trend with 18 locations and counting. The Bareburger buzz knows no limits and this out-of-the-box restaurant chain is poised to make an impact on the national stage. With an outpost in the heart of cheesesteak country (Philadelphia), Bareburger will soon be opening locations in Miami's glamorous South Beach as well as Montclair, New Jersey.
Not bad at all for a trio of childhood friends from Astoria, who started out in the business just wanting to make a better burger and create a welcoming ambiance in which everyone could enjoy their creations. The colorful Bareburger logo stands for great food that is sourced responsibly and prepared with integrity and respect for our environment.
Bareburger's chefs work exclusively with organic and all-natural ingredients. They purchase their produce from local farms that don't use pesticides or any form of genetic modification. You will be happy to know that all of the meats served at Bareburger are free range, pasture raised as well as antibiotic and hormone free. Bareburger's food not only tastes good, it's better for you. And isn't that how we should strive to eat, all the time?
The good folks at Bareburger have built their reputation on a wide variety of out-of-this-world hamburgers. Tired of the same old beef burgers that you can get at hundreds of cafes and restaurants all over town? Then dig into six delicious ounces of adventurous and tasty options like their signature Bison burger, wild boar, Elk, lamb or ostrich. You may also choose from Bareburger's unbeatable buttermilk fried chicken burger, black bean burger, jerk chicken, mushroom or their farmer's veggie burger, which is certified Vegan. And you thought that Bareburger catered only to carnivores. Not so at all.
Yes, you can get a salad here and you will be absolutely delighted by the harvest that appears on your plate. Selections include a gluten-free poached pear salad with goat cheese crumbles, the light and delightful walnut apple salad or pickled beets with goat cheese. There is also an anything but traditional iceberg wedge that is decorated with onion rings and Wisconsin blue cheese. Burgers, whether they are traditional or esoteric like the ostrich option, are great. But you don't want to eat them all the time. Well, Bareburger's kitchen has got you covered. Some of the most popular items on the menu are the Bare Sandwiches.
Customer favorites include the brisket with sweet apple-grilled onions and Carolina cole slaw, the Hass avocado bacon chicken sandwich and their signature chick-n-pickle. This mound of goodness on a brioche bun consists of a buttermilk fried chicken breast, dill pickle chips, lettuce, organic olive oil white balsamic dressing and mayo.
More than likely, you already know how good lunch or dinner at Bareburger can be. And if you don't, do yourself a favor and try them out. Did you know however, that Bareburger also does a really nice savory brunch? Available only on weekends, from time of opening until 3 PM, your Bareburger breakfast (as they call brunch) is served with sweet potato parsley wedges, a fruit cup, 8-grain toast, juice and your choice of coffee or tea. Bareburger's hot beverage selections, by the way, are fair trade. Weekend breakfast highlights include the carrot cake French toast as well as fried chicken with waffles. They also do a fork tender brisket and fried egg sandwich which is topped off with sharp cheddar.
Shake up your brunch routine with a bare milk shake. Bear shakes have that classic, soda fountain taste and creamy consistency. But they are made with better-for-you ingredients such as blue marble organic ice cream, organic milk and organic fruit.
Whether you eat at their original Astoria locations or at the new restaurant on Vernon Blvd. in Long Island City, Bareburger is a great place to take the whole family. Kids are more than welcome here. They even have a special "cubby" menu for children. Quality control is extremely important to the owners. The food is consistent at every location, as is the care with which the chefs prepare your order. Standards have to be not only met but exceeded.
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Location and Hours
For All locations and hours visit Bareburger online at: http://www.bareburger.com/
Burger Club - Astoria, NY
At Burger Club, their love and passion for comfort food led the owners to create a burger menu that is second to none, not just in Astoria, but throughout New York City. Each and every burger is made from the custom blend of beef supplied to Burger Club by the maestro of butchers, Pat La Frieda. It doesn't get any better than that. Fresh rolls are baked daily from a local bakery. Add to that a killer casual but very cool atmosphere, and you've got it made.
You could easily eat here many days in a row and enjoy a different burger every time. Yes, a classic cheeseburger is available, but get adventurous and take advantage of the chef's creativity. A great place to start would be with the Firehouse Burger. Have plenty of ice water on hand, to put out the flames. This burger is topped with a whole roasted jalapeno, a blend of Colby and Monterey Jack cheese, onion strings, bacon, Buffalo sauce and Siracha chili sauce. Their stuffed burger is topped with an Italianate blend of smoked Mozzarella, crispy Prosciutto and basil pesto. For those who love their BBQ, Burger Club presents the Carolina Burger. You could serve this anywhere in the Carolinas and they would never guess it was made by a New Yorker. That's how authentic and tasty it is. The burger is topped with slow-cooked pulled pork (yeah, get your meat on) Pepper Jack cheese and housemade real cole slaw. When you finish up the Carolina, you'll be speaking with a southern drawl.
In most places, you will wisely avoid ordering a Turkey Burger. It's usually dry and tasteless. At Burger Club, their Turkey Burger is a revelation. Their Turkey Burger (which could stand up on its own thanks to Pat La Freida's blend) is crowded by layer upon layer of Swiss cheese, Holland roasted peppers, sauteed mushrooms and crispy with a capital "C" onion strings.
Besides their burgers, the team at Burger Club has come up with several comfort food signature dishes, including Mac N Cheese and their innovative classic dish: a sizzling hot skillet filled with hand-cut French fries, beef short rib and cheddar cheese. This dish must be eaten at the restaurant in order to enjoy the presentation. What's a good burger missing at run-of-the-mill burger joints? A great shake to go with it. Hey, they knew what they were doing back in the fabulous '50s, a time when a hamburger, fries and a milkshake was the classic American meal at the local dinner. Burger Club will mix you up a chocolate or vanilla shake as well as unique creations, such as banana-chocolate or a peanut butter-banana and melted whopper. Call The Fonz, Happy Days are here again!
Location and Hours
32-02 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
(718) 777-7788
www.burger-club.com
Hours:
Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM-11:30 PM
Friday 11:30 AM-12 PM
Saturday 11 AM-12 PM
Sunday 11 AM-11:30 PM
Fatty's Cafe - Astoria, NY
When it comes to great food and drink, served up in a convivial atmosphere, Fatty's cafe is the place to be. For almost 12 years, Fatty's has been an important part of the Astoria scene. It's the kind of neighborly, family-friendly place that is usually found in a small town. And that is so appropriate, since Astoria has a tight-knit community feel. You never know just what you'll find at Fatty's. There's always something fun going on. There's live music on tap during Sunday sessions. During the Astoria Arts Festival each fall, Fatty's plays host to an exhibition of paintings by local artists such as Jonathon Lindsay.
Fatty's is famous for their killer cocktail menu. Just check out The Quench Thy Thirst section of their menu. The personal Sangria is a made just for you: a glass full of fresh fruit, brandy and wine. The Hipster Apocalypse contains three different rums, pernod, almond liquer, grenadine, pineapple, lime and guava. When you drink, you've gotta eat. Case closed. And there's nothing better to chow down on than the fantastic food at Fatty's. There's some nice entree action going on here, but let's give props to the house's signature burgers. Try the Chorizo Burger. It's a winner with ground pork, seasoned with cayenne, paprika and garlic. Your top-rate toppings are a Poblano pepper, mayo, lettuce and tomato. The Chorizo is served with sweet potato fries, for that sweet 'n' spicy kick. The BIFIB is a black angus burger with tomatoes, onions, and Fatty's special sauce. For just an extra $1.50, you can get your burger "yard style" with jerk spices, cheddar cheese and Anejo rum ketchup.
Do some good in the world (and do yourself a solid) by ordering the Charity Burger (angus beef with avocado, sprouts, garlic Aioli, mixed greens and choice of cheese). A portion of the price charged goes to helping those in need. The decor at Fatty's tends to be tropical in theme. There's even a way cool fishtank on the premises. The cafe lightning is subdued and the walls are painted a very relaxing turquoise shade. One very important item that's not on the menu but is obvious from the moment you walk in is the genuine friendliness of the staff and the owner. That kind of customer service is why Fatty's Cafe is regarded by so many Astoria residents as their home away from home.
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Location and Hours
45-17 28th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
(718)267-7071
www.fattysastoria.com
Hours:
Mon-Thur 2 PM-11 PM
Friday 2 PM-12 AM
Saturday 11 AM-12 AM
Sunday 11 AM-10 PM
Petey's Burger - Astoria,NY
When Astoria resident Peter Karelekas was attending college in Southern California, back in the '80s, he enjoyed eating burgers done Sunny Socal Style. The freshness of the burgers and condiment/topping combinations really impressed Pete. After returning to New York, Pete re-created these West Coast burgers for family and friends. Eventually, Petey went into business with his brother George and thus Petey's Burger was born. At Petey's Burger it's all about freshness and dedicated customer service from their cooks, cashiers and managers.
Their Motto is "Petey's Burger...a fresh touch on an old favorite." The Petey's team then lives up to this promise. The focus is solely on burgers, fries and shakes. There's nothing fancy going on at Petey's, just the best burgers you can get, in a clean, welcoming environment. The cooks at Petey's make everything from scratch. Nothing is processed, frozen or prepackaged. Doing things old school isn't a marketing slogan; it's a way of life at Petey's Burger.
Burgers available include the triple cheese, the Petey Melt, cajun fire and the classic Socal Burger. Shakes are thick and frosty, available at a very reasonable $4.50. Pair a shake up with your burger or order a value combo from the menu. All combos are served with fries and a drink. You can make a meal out of Petey's outrageous California fries, covered in a special sauce with grilled onions and cheese. By the way, good, old-fashioned real American cheese rules here. The lettuce and plump tomatoes are farmer's market fresh.
The actors and surfers out Santa Monica way can keep their IN-N-OUT burger franchise. Astoria and LIC are lucky to have Petey and George Karalekas flipping burgers for them. Petey's Burgers is fast food but doesn't taste like it. And Petey's offers the convenience of delivery, so do not hesitate to give them a call.
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Location and Hours
30-17 30th Avenue
Astoria, NY 11102
(718) 267-6300
Hours:
Mon-Sun: 11 AM - 11 PM
AND
46-46 Vernon Blvd. LIC, NY 11101
(718) 937-4040
Butcher Bar - Astoria, NY
The team behind Butcher Bar brought a new concept in dining to Astoria several years ago. A restaurant with its very own butcher shop on the premises. Owner Matthew Katakis discovered this concept while on a trip to Morocco. There's no better way to give your customers the freshest, most choice cuts of meat. But Matthew, who is never satisfied by anything less than the absolute best, wanted to take things one step further. He wanted to connect his customers to the source of their food: small, local sustainable farms that raise their animals in a humane fashion. The meat that Butcher Bars customers eat is 100% grass fed, without any hormones or antibiotics. This approach was particularly important to Kathy Castro, who heads up operations for Butcher Bar.
Kathy had previously worked with Mattew as the manager of the super successful Pita Pan. Kathy was fired up over Matthew's idea to open a locally sourced restaurant and butcher shop in the neighborhood they loved. Helping Astoria families to eat more healthy was very personal as far as Kathy was concerned. As a teacher, prior to the restaurant business, Kathy had always been concerned about her young student's poor eating habits and lack of nutritional education. Processed fast food was contributing to the obesity of youngsters everywhere, not just in Astoria. At Butcher Bar you can feel good about the meat and vegetables that are on your plate. If you prefer, you can even purchase a specific cut of meat in the butcher shop area, then take the meat home and cook it.
In a very short time span, Butcher Bar established itself as the epicenter of smoked BBQ in Queens. You can order everything from brisket to chicken and turkey to pulled pork. What may be less known is just how good Butcher Bar's burgers are. Chef/butcher Orlando Sanchez does wonders with fresh baked bread and a meat patty. His crazy good turkey burger is comprised of fresh ground turkey breast, sharp Cheddar, sauteed onions, sauteed tomatoes, mayo and cranberry sauce. Chef Orlando's chili cheese burger is the classic 6oz. special meat blend topped off with chili, onions and what else but cheddar. The veggie burger is anything but bland. You've got black beans, fresco guacamole, lettuce, tomato, red onions and just the right amount of mayo.
Chef Orlando and the team specialize in off-site catering. Their entire menu is at your disposal for whatever party or special event you have in mind. They will even come over to your house and roast a whole animal. That will get your guests talking as well as coming back for seconds and thirds. There's a new, fun way to get your body the protein it requires.
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Location and Hours
37-10 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11105
(718) 606-8140
butcherbar.com
Hours:
Mon-Thur 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Fri-Sat 11:30 AM - 12 PM
Sunday 11:30 AM - 11 PM
Katch - Astoria, NY
It feels good to watch your favorite team play on one of Katch's 60 flatscreen TV's. The bar is spacious with plenty of room for everybody. The booths are cozy and the craft beer selections are endless. Not to mention Katch's premium cocktail menu, which features some really unique mixes like the Katch 22, a blend of a traditional cosmopolitan with pomegrande and angry orchard hard cider. Regulars also know that when they're planning an evening out at Katch, it's best to bring your appetite.
There's no way you want miss out on the boneless wings, ribs, mini-brats in a blanket or Jumbo German Pretzel with beer mustard and Guinness cheese sauce. Katch's kitchen also turns out some pretty nifty burgers that are definitely worth your attention. These delights on a bun all have their very own personalized Katch twist to them. The triple-decker cheezy mac will make your head spin and your tongue wag. Your handmade angus beef patty is topped with Guinness macaroni 'n' cheese, bacon, more American cheese and red hot Aioli on brioche bread. The BBQ burger gives you a sweet coffee-rubbed burger patty with smoked gouda cheese, bacon, homemade pickles, red onions and tangy BBQ sauce. The Three Little Piggies are pork patties with pancotta, pepperoni, havarti cheese, pineapple, slaw and smoked apple aioli. Hands down, the best sliders ever.
Wednesdays are Burger and Brew nights at Katch. From 3 PM to Midnight, you can get any burger with any brew for a very special price. And don't forget to add a side of tater tots!
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Location and Hours
31-19 Newtown Avenue, Astoria NY 11102
(718) 777-2230
katchastoria.com
Hours:
Mon-Wed 3 PM-1 AM
Thur 3 PM-2 AM
Fri 3 PM-3 AM
Sat 12 PM-3 AM
Sun 12 PM-1 AM
Queens Comfort - Astoria, NY
The fun at Queens Comfort starts long before you are seated at your table. At the door, the host interacts with customers, telling them some really funny jokes or asking hungry diners to answer the question of the day. The queries range from trivia questions to something silly like, "If you could have a superpower what would it be?"
Music, from classic '80s rock to hip-hop, blares from the loudspeakers and there is usually a movie or episode from an old TV show being projected on one of the walls. There's also a ton of eccentric, colorful random memorabilia decorating the premises. It's no wonder that none other than Guy Fieri feautured Queens Comfort, along with owner Donnie D'Alessio, on an episode of his hit series "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives." After too long of a wait, an Astoria restaurant finally made it on Guy's show.
Queens Comfort has been entertaining and feeding Astoria residents since 2011. After being featured on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives," the restaurant has seen an influx of tourists and hungry customers from Brooklyn and Manhattan. The secret was out. Now, everyone knows where to get comfort food without peer. But if crazy decor and great D.J. was all that Queens Comfort had going for it, the place would have gone out of business long ago.
Donnie D'Alessios' menu makes memories, both you and your tummy, will cherish for a long while.
Blue Plate specials include meatloaf (with Hidden Valley Ranch Dressing) Chicken and Waffles, as well as an "I-Can't-Say-Enough-About-It" bacon scallion mac and cheese.
Queen's Comfort's Burger Stand presents carnivores with choices galore when it comes to ordering a hamburger with personality-plus. All burgers are served on a Challah bun and come with hand-cut fries on a salad.
Donnie's Lunch Burger consists of a beef patty and hash browns topped with a fried egg, bibb lettuce, and sage Aioli. The Sugar Hill is sweet and savory. Pecan-crusted bacon and an all-beef patty just does something good to your mouth. The chef then adds blue cheese, honey, mayo and, for that little extra rush, powdered sugar.
Enter the "Ring of Fire" at your own risk. This burger plays a bunch of spicy flavors off one another. You have batter-fried jalapenos and bell peppers, cheddar cheese with Siracha Aioli. That is a lot of bang for your buck. There's a genuine sense of joy in the air at Queens Comfort. Owner Donnie loves interacting with his customers. Sometimes, one of the wait staff will break into a dance as the music plays in the background.
As Donnie so simply but succinctly says on the Comfort's website, "It's only a matter of time until walk-ins become regulars and regulars become family!"
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Location and Hours
40-09 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11103
(718) 728-2350
queenscomfort.com
Hours:
Mon Closed
Tue 11 AM - 4 PM
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Wed 11 AM - 4 PM
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Thu 11 AM - 4 PM
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Fri 11 AM - 4:00 PM
5:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Sat 10 AM - 4 PM
6 pm - 9:30 PM
Sun 10 AM - 4:00 PM
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