The best burger in NoMad
Where is the best burger in NoMad? With over twenty thousand restaurants in NYC, finding the perfect, mouthwatering burger can be a bit daunting. Not ones to shy away from a difficult – or delicious – task, the NOMAD Magazine team took to the street for a burger crawl.
The end goal: taste-testing the best of the best in every corner of the centrally located neighborhood. From eateries serving vegan, plant-based substitutes to those touting 100% organic beef patties, here is our review of the best, must-try burger spots in NoMad.
Hole In The Wall
37 West 24th Street
holeinthewallnyc.com
It was a busy Tuesday and I knew one thing for sure, I needed a substantial lunch to keep me going. With a few after-hour work events, the day was going to be a long one. I made my way to Hole In The Wall, an Aussie cafe and cocktail spot with a narrow front bar that opens up into a spacious and bright dining area. After placing my order to go, the staff escorted me to the bar where I waited for what turned out to be exactly what I had been hoping for: A thick, juicy burger perfectly balanced by add- ons of lettuce, tomato, cheddar, and aioli on a classic sesame bun. The fries were cooked to crispy perfection.
Hole In The Wall has four locations around the city. The menu offers three burgers — including an impossible burger and a GF option — along with a variety of brunch staples. From the Parched Hospitality Group, also purveyors of The Sentry NYC, a favorite NoMad cocktail bar, it was no surprise to discover that Hole In The Wall is an ideal mix of delicious food and inspired decor. While on this particular day I opted for takeout, I made a mental note to dine-in next time.
Overall rating: Definitely worth a repeat visit. It’s an absolute must-try in NYC. My lunch was both satisfying and perfectly prepared. Not to mention the entire staff — from the host to the servers — was extremely kind. Coming in at just under $20, it’s certainly a proper meal with healthy portion sizes to match. Weekday happy hour from 4pm to 7pm.
Sophia Strawser
La Pecora Bianca
1133 Broadway
lapecorabianca.com
La Pecora Bianca, a vibrant restaurant in the heart of NoMad, is best known for its house-made pastas, unique salads, and robust wine assortment — it is most definitely not a typical go-to burger spot. But when Nicole Parker King, founder of Jet Set Candy, alerted us to the LPB burger on the lunch and dinner menu, we knew we needed to give it a try.
Grilled to absolute perfection, the LPB is served on a lightly grilled sesame seed bun with fontina cheese, Calabrian aioli, and homemade bread and butter pickles that are an absolute delight. Thinly sliced and pickled with mustard seeds and onions, they add just the right amount of tanginess to balance out the flavors of the mild, slightly nutty cheese and creamy aioli. Accompanied by parmesan potato wedges, the innovative LPB burger is a testament to the restaurant’s claim that Italian is a way of life.
Overall rating: The $24 burger is a must-try menu item, one I would order again and again. Note to chef — if you ever decide to jar and sell those pickles, I’m all in!
Karen Giberson
The Little Ned
1179 Broadway
thened.com
Tucked in around the corner from The Ned hotel, Little Ned on 28th Street is a charming cocktail lounge with a 1920s vibe. Serving a mix of lite fare and signature cocktails,
it is a cozy and intimate spot for gathering friends, colleagues, or meeting someone new. My friend Judy Zander, president of accessories for Rachel Ray, and I settled into a couple of comfy chairs and took a look at the menu — pages of creative cocktails, top tier wines, beers and ciders, and an eclectic mix of appetizers and bar staples. Knowing we were there to sample The Ned Burger, we bypassed other options and put our order in.
Featuring white cheddar, tomato, lettuce and pickles, The Ned Burger was absolutely delicious. It arrived on a lightly toasted brioche bun and was seasoned with a favorable sauce that did not overwhelm the taste of the beef patty. Our favorite part — and the most unusual twist — was the fried tomato on top of the bun. The breaded texture added unexpected crunch, and the warmth of the tomato was a great compliment to the burger. Served with a perfectly portioned side of fries, The Ned Burger did not disappoint.
Overall rating: A near perfect burger that was both exceptionally good and satisfying. At $30, this was one of the most expensive burgers we tried, but the ambiance of the room and the extensive drink options (including a few “mocktails”) made it worth the splurge. I will be back for another one of these soon!
Karen Giberson
PLNT Burger
1147 Broadway
plntburger.com
When my friend Jay Lakhani, founder of Deepa Gurnani, and I set out for one of our routine strategizing meetings — which typically involve grabbing a burger for dinner — we decided to forgo our usual spot and try something new. In the spirit of discovering NoMad, we found ourselves at PLNT Burger, where the fast food style assortment of vegan burgers, fries, nuggets, and shakes gave us more than enough options to choose from.
It can be tricky to find a good veggie burger — they can be mushy or have an odd texture or after taste. Not so at PLNT Burger, where the chef-crafted veggie patty has been elevated to a master class in clean eating. We ordered on a touch screen and opted for the Actual Veggies Burger, which was a gluten free, soy free, nut free, and vegan patty. (They are also non-GMO, have no saturated fats, preservatives, fillers, or additives and are 100% IKC Kosher and Halal.) The burger was customizable with a variety of add- ons — including guacamole, crispy onions, grilled jalapeños, and a spicy seasoning that was delicious. You can opt to forgo the bun entirely or substitute the roll for a chard wrap. And while we witnessed a steady stream of takeout orders, there was also ample seating inside.
Overall rating: Wow, was it good! The freshly prepared patty was flavorful, and our fries were delicious. The food arrived quickly and at the perfect temperature, looking very much like the photographed version we saw on the touch screen when we ordered. Burgers start at $8.69, fries at $4.19, and drinks at $2.79.
Karen Giberson
Shake Shack
Madison Square Park
shakeshack.com
I distinctly remember my first Shake Shack experience. I was a college freshman, new to New York City. My friends and I secured a table outside the now-famous and original Shake Shack location in Madison Square Park. We were in the middle of the semester, midterms were piling up, and stress was at an all-time high. I wasn’t sure how to quiet my mind so I could just enjoy the moment — and then I took my first bite. The burger was perfectly balanced between meat, cheese, and bun, and the taste was somehow remarkably eyes-rolling-to-the-back-of-your-head memorable. I set down the burger, hands happily drenched in signature sauce, and turned my attention to the fries. I’d heard people talking about the crinkle cut fries in reverent tones around campus; students were jokingly calling them “crack fries.” I started to chew, letting the salt and fry do their magic. I knew I was going to be an addict before I even swallowed.
As I dumped out the remaining crumbs of my fries, I dipped them in the last bits of sauce clinging to my burger wrapper — anything to make the moment last. I knew I’d be back, maybe for a quick stop between classes, an easy work day lunch, or a casual, summertime date. Because way back when, on that very first visit during my freshman year of college, I learned something important: there’s always a reason for Shake Shack.
Sophia Strawser
The Smith
1150 Broadway
thesmithrestaurant.com
New York loves The Smith — for brunch with friends, a dinner date, or anytime good food and fun are on the agenda. The restaurant popped up in 2007, first in the East Village and then adding three more locations in Manhattan, one in DC, and one in Chicago. Each location showcases black and white tile, expansive dining rooms, and an iconic mouth-watering burger. Because The Smith is an American bistro it not only feels imperative for it to have a burger on the menu but to have one that is top notch. I decided to find out for myself if its burger had what it takes to top our “Best Burgers in NoMad” list. I popped into The Smith on a Monday for lunch and within minutes was tucked away at the bar. Soon my order was in, my club soda was poured, and less than ten minutes later I had a beautiful, hearty burger in front of me.
On first impression this burger had me intrigued. The perfectly cooked patty was topped with crispy onion rings, pickles, lettuce, cheddar cheese, and a signature sauce that I ended up dreaming about for weeks. What I loved most about this burger was how perfectly the flavors were balanced. Usually the pickles are slipping out the back of the bun and my hands are dripping with sauce, but somehow The Smith packaged this cheeseburger in such a way that every bite contained every flavor.
Overall rating: A classic, hits-the-spot burger in a portion size that matches the $26 price tag. There is also an option to forgo the bun and add mixed greens for a lighter, protein-focused lunch. Try it for yourself on 27th and Broadway in NoMad.
Sophia Strawser
Upland
345 Park Avenue
uplandnyc.com
Acclaimed restauranteur Stephen Starr opened Upland in 2014 and it quickly became a New York City hot spot. The location is a favorite of VIPs including President Obama, Anthony Bourdain, and Bono, to name a few. The menu has many California-inspired options, including pizzas, pastas, and small plates — but the star item is the hamburger. Because the Upland burger is included on nearly every “Best NY Burger” list, we had to give it a try!
Unable to leave the office on the day of our planned visit, we decided to order in. The burgers arrived expertly packaged and topped with a tiny California state flag. First impression: this is a serious hamburger consisting of colorfully stacked layers tucked between a sesame seed bun. Good thing we were hungry.
Double grass-fed beef burger patties are covered with melted American cheese and accented with a unique sauce and a generous serving of shredded lettuce, sliced tomatoes, fresh avocado, and topped with peppadews. Instead of being overwhelming, the ingredients complimented each other in a delicious and nearly inspirational way. As a bonus, the burger comes with a side of perfectly cooked thin and crispy bistro fries.
Overall rating: Bring your appetite — the $28 burger masterpiece is worth every calorie. Also, keep in mind that the address is a bit deceiving; the entrance is actually on 26th Street.
Karen Giberson
With all of these delicious choices, if you’re looking for the best burger in NoMad, you may have hard time deciding which is your absolute. favorite.