November 27, 2011

Live, from New York, it’s Saturday Night Cheeseburger. Tonight’s host is the Burger Joint in the Le Parker Meridien Hotel and featuring the Ready For Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher.

And we're off. It's a nice night out, kind of warm for this time of year.

Down into the subway we go.

And through the miracle of the internet you're spared a subway ride that included sitting across from a pudgy, older woman, with a blue birthmark on the side of her face the size of a swollen half dollar, here we are at the corner of 56th and 6th. It was hard not to stare at it that blue birthmark and I was tempted to go lick it and see if it tasted like blueberry, but l wisely chose to stay put. And now here we are, let's go get a cheeseburger.

I think it's just across the street.

And here it is...

Le Parker Meridien Hotel.

Supposedly the place is here in the lobby, somewhat hidden, kind of like a speakeasy.

I read that it's hidden behind the brown curtains and there's two people headed down a hallway, let's go check it out.

I see a burger sign, this must be it.

Holy shitballs, there's a line at this time of night and it's packed in here. I'd bail out, but I don't know of any other spots in this part of town, so we'll tough it out. Hopefully the burger will be worth it.

The walls are paneled and there's all kinds of posters and pictures hung on them. I like the Ramones poster!

Here's the menu, it's simple and to the point, I don't need it though, as I already know what I want.

She took my order and I spy a seat at a nearby communal table, so I rushed over before someone else got it.

Here's the view from my seat at the crowded table. The line is now out the door, kind of crazy.

Wooden booths line the walls of this tiny place.

It's dark in here with the only light coming from these oversized dangling bulbs.

Along with the pictures and posters, graffiti covers the walls in here. It kind of reminds me of the Mars Bar!

Finally my name is called, which is good, because my claustrophobia is starting to kick in.

Here's the burger, it looks okay, but I was expecting something a little more. The bun's not even toasted and the onions aren't fried.

The fries are a little limp and greasy.

The burger's okay, but a little bland. Not worth waiting in line for and then sitting squashed at a communal table of tourists. Oh well, you can't win them all. See you tomorrow after dark.

My Meal
I got the cheeseburger with onions, french fries and a whole pickle. I was anxious to try the pickle because I had seen a photo of one and it’s a huge pickle. So after waiting in line, squeezing in a seat at a communal table of tourists and then waiting another twenty minutes my name was called. There was my cheeseburger and fries, but no pickle. I told a woman behind the counter I ordered a pickle and she told me I didn’t. By this time, the crowd and the smell of grease in the place was kind of getting to me, so I didn’t argue and went to eat my burger and fries. I had read so many great things about their cheeseburger, I was anxious to try it. After a bite of the burger, I wasn’t too impressed. The bun was a little on the stale side and the burger itself was kind of bland. The mustard they have is a little generic and the fries were kind of greasy and limp. It was okay, but I’ve had better meals, and it’s not the most comfortable place to enjoy a Saturday night dinner.

Cheeseburger Rating
Two Wimpy’s. Maybe I went in with too high of expectations, but it was a little disappointing, not horrible, but nothing spectacular. Maybe I was just there on an off night, but it’s not a place I would recommend, especially if there’s a line there.

Burger Joint
Le Parker Meridien
119 W. 56th St. (Near 6th Ave.)
212-708-7414

Further reading: Midtown Lunch, food smackdown and New York Journal.

It's just that demon life has got me in its sway.

(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)

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Bonus Chillmaster Photo’s From Shawn Chittle!
Shawn sent in a couple of photos of The Chillmaster and I from Friday’s Chillmaster Dance Party. Great shots, Shawn! Thanks for sending them in.

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Bonus Photo from Bobby Williams!
New York photographer and EV Grieve contibutor, Bobby Williams sent in this spectacular shot from Tompkins Square Park in the East Village. Great photo, Bobby, thanks so much!