Secret sign in the lobby of the Parker Meridien hotel… where does it lead? To some, straight to the best burgers in NYC. To others, just hype. I’ve never visited because I don’t believe in waiting on line for just about 99% of the things people wait on line for – yes, I am a true New Yorker – but recently, on a stroll through the city, I realized I was nearby and it was 3pm. There was absolutely no line whatsoever, so I walked in and quickly placed my order.
The fries were pretty standard; nothing amazing but not completely awful, either. Really, just a sufficient complement to my burger.
And the burger? Well, the size was about what I like for burgers, no surprises there. It took a bit before they called my name, despite my request of medium-rare.
But the most disappointing thing? My burger was a touch overcooked; I could tell it would have been juicy and delicious had it been cooked properly. As it stood, the burger was a lil dry, and I actually had to resort to dipping a corner in ketchup (I rarely, if ever, put ketchup on my burgers) for each bite. Considering there were very few people in the place, it seemed more than a bit odd that my burger was overcooked. Boo.
Yvo says: I really wish my burger hadn’t been overcooked, so I could understand the hype. But the place was pretty empty and my burger was still overcooked; seems a bit out of wack with everyone else talking about how amazing this place is. I’ll go with: a fine burger if/when it’s cooked properly (as I’ve been informed, my experience was a one-off, but really, why?), but not really worth waiting on a long line (bear in mind, there is hardly anything in this world I believe in waiting on line for, though).
sure, if there’s no line, but best burger in NYC? that’s pushing it a bit
T.C. says
Over-hyped IMO too. I don’t believe it’s the best burger in NYC.
I also went when there was no line that one time to check it out. Not worth waiting forever in the lobby line for.
Gary says
Agree with T.C. here – way over-hyped. At one point, it was inexpensive enough to justify a visit but now it’s just not worth it.
LKP says
I agree–not the best burger in NYC, but if you’re in the neighborhood, worth a stop in. I’m sorry yours was overcooked–maybe they work better under pressure. When I’m there, I usually only have to wait 5-10 minutes, and mine have always been scandalously juicy and greasy and yum. Sorry they let you down this time! 🙁
Witzel says
I’m a sucker for grilled burgers, and this one ranks pretty highly. Good meat, too. I’ve had experiences more like LKP than you. Worth the occasional visit (get there on weekdays no later than noon!), but yeah, $14 for a cheeseburger, fries and a drink?
Nicholas says
It’s definitely hit or miss, I went on 3 different occasions (with varying wait times), and confusingly, it was when they were almost empty that they screwed up my order. This wasn’t just overcooking the patty screwed up, they put in the wrong toppings…
stevenp says
Yup, you’re a true NYer b/c you say “waiting on line” instead of “waiting in line.”
stevenp says
p.s. The burgers I’ve had there were never overcooked. Maybe they get proper cooking times when they’re busier? No time to dawdle on the grill perhaps?
LA Rosen says
The thrill of the burger joint is the adventure of discovering such a dark, rustic joint tucked behind a tall, dark curtain, marked with nothing more than a neon burger, in the midst of the lavish, white marble lobby of Le Parker Meridien. It’s like stepping through a worm hole into another world — where long queues (that move none-the-less) lead to a counter where you can buy a great brownie, order your burger and then, once you’ve received your food, jump on one of the small room-full of tables as others finish and depart. (The whole table turnover system fails to provide seats to food holders when people try to beat the otherwise great system and send others in their party to “stake out a table”, while they wait in line, monopolyzing a table well before they’ve been served and need a place to sit and eat. The burgers are very good, the fries a good accompaniement but not so excellent that you’d crave them or eat too many. That’s good, because that brownie you picked up at the register should be shared for a quick, sweet palate cleanser. It is always a very good burger, and always a fun experience to go here. And you get NONE of the bad service and attitude of Norma’s, their sleek, wealthier cousin restaurant across the lobby.