Or should I say, "Who Wants to Eat With Me in NYC?"

A new burger place Bill's Bar & Burger (named after yours truly, of course) is opening in NYC tomorrow and I'm looking to head over with camera in hand to check it out!  The have a burger called "The Bobcat" on the menu with NM green chiles and jack cheese.  They also have "Disco Fries".  Anybody up for it?  Send me a PM if you like.

Is this the one in MePa (in case anyone's interested, that's the stupid new shortcut for the meatpacking district that all the bloggers are using now) in the old Hog Pit space?  I say *yawn*.  How many high end burger places can one city maintain? I love burgers, but I'll be thrilled when this trend is over and we start getting a little more creativity in the restaurant scene around here.  

PS- you can get disco fries at every diner in the city.  Just order fries with gravy and cheese.  I've been doing that for 25 years.

It is going into the space vacated by the Hog Pit. It does not seem to be a high end place, a evidenced by the menu:
http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/bills-bar-burger/Bills_Menu_10.12.09_v2.pdf

Billyboy how was it? I hear amazing things from both Adam Kuban (A Hamburger Today) and George Motz (Hamburger America). I'd love to try the Bobcat Burger and see how it compares.

I'd be curious about that milkshake as it's more expensive than the basic burger ($5.95 vs. $5.50)?

David_NYC


It is going into the space vacated by the Hog Pit. It does not seem to be a high end place, a evidenced by the menu:
http://www.brguestrestaurants.com/restaurants/bills-bar-burger/Bills_Menu_10.12.09_v2.pdf

 
That menu looks a little suspicious.  They have $7 shakes and the burgers are only $5.50?  My guess is that they are very, very small.  I'm curious to read Billy's account. 

There had to be a story behind that "Cold Ass Beer". Other blogs report it is just Rolling Rock. Which means it is brewed locally - in the Budweiser plant in Newark, NJ. The name is trademarked - by the restaurant chain that owns Bill's and Wildwood BBQ. I'm doubly curious to read Billyboy's review. Hope the food and value lives up to the world-class professional hype.

You may have to wait a bit longer, folks.  I had every intention of going there on Saturday.  I was taking an acting workshop on the Upper West Side that morning and I was sidetracked by a really good burger with port wine cheese and a bowl of baked beans from Big Nick's Burgers & Pizza and an awesome oatmeal-raisin cookie from Levain Bakery.  Hoping to hit Bill's this week.

Is this a BR Guest restaurant?
 
Sorry did not see the post above Wildwood BBQ mention. My ears are still ringing from Wildwood...and it has been  1 1/2 years.

Roger that.

Doesn't look like a BRG restaurant. When restaurant week or steak month or whatever BRG special menu events roll around I wonder if this place will be exempt from the common appetizer/dessert items found on most of  the menus.
 
They also LOVE to busy up salads as much as possible.

Serious Eats as a quick write-up on Bill's:

The Fat Cat made with caramelized onions, bacon, and cheese, is a most excellent burger, whether you order it on an English muffin or an Arnold bun, though two of these patties on an English muffin is one patty too many.

Uh huh...
 
 http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2009/10/bloggers-gone-berserk.html
 
 

CCinNJ


Uh huh...
 
 http://www.gq.com/blogs/the-q/2009/10/bloggers-gone-berserk.html
 
 

Any restaurant that is part of BRG will be heavy on concept. Any hamburger blend by Pat La Frieda usually inspres "For the love of Pat La Frieda" articles. Most who attend various previews gush about the food.
 
If it was a year in the process to develop this and the final result is what is beng mentioned as a smashed burger (in the positve articles) and the classic burger is on an Arnold bun...they are relying on press and hype. It does not really look like burger perfection.
 
I predict they will amp up the 'add liquor no problem" focus. Wildwood BBQ carries 32 bourbon & 7 rye selections...and had  a raspberry BBQ sauce that could qualify as dessert.
 
 

The last few words from this tidbit on the Village Voice's website:
http://blogs.villagevoice.com/forkintheroad/archives/2009/10/richman_calls_b.php

""Judging a restaurant by the food served at press events is like judging a baseball team by the home runs hit during batting practice," he writes, putting his finger squarely on the problem that afflicts so many members of the food blogging ranks. Coddled by publicists, flattered with free food, and eager to be the first to make their voices heard above the increasing din, bloggers -- as well as a few print journalists -- are all too often tempted by the call of the wild ethical compromise. And while almost none of us can claim to be blameless in this regard, props to Richman for calling (expletives deleted) -- and a mediocre burger a mediocre burger."

I am sure it is with good intentions (as well as a little bit of self-centric motivation) to come out so early and make such statements.  Any restaurant (even those so carefully structured as BRG restaurants) need time to set their footing and work out kinks when it is show time and go time. The hype is for the bloggers audience. Some will run like they are on fire to grab this same experience when they hear such high praise. To have that spotlight straight out of the chute...is a geat deal of pressure. It is good for business to get early crowds (not mobs)...but they now have to live up to the expectations of "possibly" being the best burger in NYC from day 1. The bloggers move on to be smitten by the next best burger in NYC while this place might experience some reality.
 
They also will have to deal with the factor that comes along with how they structure the dining experience. BRG is a master at concepts and complete experience building. The "total" package experience (they get you at the shake). The patrons eyes focus on the cost of the burger and think it is a great deal. It is a great deal for NYC prices. Put it together as a complete experience  lunch for 2 people and it sneaks up.
 
2 Bobcat burgers $13.00
2 premium shakes  $14.00
1 order of Disco fries to split $4.50
1 order of onion rings to split $3.50
 
By the time you figure tax & tip it is  pretty much at $50.00 for a  burger lunch . If we want our own damn french fries and onion rings...very  easy to walk down the street saying...."yikes was that worth it when we coud have been to Peter Luger for the same money?"
 
It better be a really really good burger lunch at that rate.
 
Peter Luger lunch...
 
2 -1/2 lb.  Luger Burgers $18.00 + $3 for both with cheese
add french fries x 2 $4.00
sizzling bacon x 2  $6.00
 
No shake but   coffee ice cream blueberries and maple syrup sounds a little busy anyway.
 
Restaurant math makes me hungry.