Dining Out, Dinner, Lunch, Manhattan, Street Truck, Upper East Side, YorkvilleKerry Alaric CheeseboroMarch 12, 2011beef, blt, bone, bun, burger, burgers, caramelized, cheese, coleslaw, duck, duck fat, fat, fried, friends, fries, goburger, Gruyere, guests, lettuce, marrow, melted, nyc, onion, onions, roll, salmon, tomato, tomatoes, YorkvilleComment

Stop By Go Burger

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A FRIEND OF A FRIEND who follows PHUDE alerted me through Facebook some several months ago that the fine folks behind the chain of BLT restaurants (Prime, Steak, Burger) were planning to turn their very popular burger-slinging street truck into an actual "brick & mortar" joint right here by us on the Upper East Side of Manhattan.

Within that time and now, I had a job that required me to walk past this new Go Burger iteration through many phases of construction, luring me into the hope that one day, I might not just pass by, but be able to stop in and check it out.

As it turns out, not only do I no longer have the job that required that to walk past this spot every day, but, cruelly, it has since officially opened, only days since I only needed to travel across my studio apartment floor to go to work.

Still curious, though, I took upon myself this early Saturday afternoon—with some pleasant weather as further inspiration—to walk the ten blocks down 2nd Avenue to finally sample the wares at Go Burger, arriving at its doorfront shortly past noon, thinking I could beat any crowds the spot might have generated in its recent birth.

Suffice it to say I was somewhat surprised to find the place abuzz with diners—many whole families or young neighborhood couples—so much so that customers were being told that there would be half hour waits for tables.

Luckily, I did find one empty and available stool at the bar (under a bright enough light that I could take some decent flashless food photos!), and set up shop in that last bar space, allowing me to still get a basic lay of the land, which included this funky little ceiling....

I had already checked the menu online, and had a pretty good idea of what I would order, though I was tempted to change my order when I saw the Burger Special Of The Week.

I am a newly realized fan on bone marrow, and admit I was duly tempted to try it. But personal protocol dictates that any first burger I sample at a restaurant has to be tested—and tasted on the burger alone, pretty much.

So I order my intended, one of their CLASSIC 100% Angus beef burgers, with the extras of Gruyere cheese and caramelized onions. They only come with coleslaw, so I ordered a side some fancified duck fat-fried french fries as well. It all looked very good when it came out.

My burger was very, very good, with a tasty juicy interior with a crumbly exterior with a respectable amount of crispiness on its edges. The warm, just slightly-tasted bun was airy and held up well under the burger's clear-running liquid, with cool crisp lettuce and thinly sliced tomatoes supporting the sandwich nicely without overwhelming its taste or architecture. My addition of the aromatic, melty, gooey Gruyere cheese and the sweetened subtle pungency of the caramelized onions proudly upped the flavor and kick of the burger without drowning out the star singer that was this Angus beef.

The duck fat fries were likewise tasty, although I really didn't get any real hint of the bird's slight but heady gaminess to tell if it elevated the potato (the yummy ranch-like dressing served on the side only added to hiding any notion of the duck fat's richness). The coleslaw was nice, but nothing more. (If I hadn't taken a picture of it, I wouldn't have remembered it.)

Dave and Howard, the two friendly and fun gentlemen who were first seated to my left at the bar, were happily enjoying a wonderfully looking and fresh smelling Cobb salad, which they claim to enjoy on a regular basis. After they cleared their plates and their tab, they were replaced by two attractive and fun ladies, Lauren and Leslie. As Lauren and Leslie pressed our bartender into divulging what the scene at Go Burger was like at night, they ordered a classic burger and a salmon burger, respectively, gleefully diving into both as soon as the food arrived at the bar (Leslie more entertainingly so).

They seemed to be thoroughly enjoying their repasts as well as I paid and got up to walk my way back home—only a ten minute walk from my apartment—gratefully appreciative with the knowledge that Go Burger is no longer a place I could only walk by, but, now, can also walk into.

Bun Apple Tea!

.kac.

Kerry Alaric Cheeseboro