Minetta Tavern - Black Label Burger, The Experience (New York City)

Minetta Tavern

Burgers, whether it's from In N Out (My HS job, wh00t wh00t!!) or La Grande Orange here in Pasadena, I'll always love eating it. When Sam Kim raved about Minetta Tavern and its $26 Black Label Burger, I knew it was a place I had to visit.

A few things to note. To get a reservation here was hard as hell. Think Per Se, but harder (at least for us) and Le Bernardin, so my expectation ran high as the visit approached. Also, don't expect ANY lighting in the dining room, or anywhere in the restaurant. It's probably the worst lit dining experience I had, thus I wasn't too pleased with how the pictures turned out. Hey, at the end, it's all about the food, right? Let's go to that!

Bread Service

As we ordered, bread service with a slab of salted butter was given to our table. The bread was warm and tasty, though I was saving room for the main event.

Roasted Bone Marrow - with baguette soldiers and shallot confit

In addition to the burgers, my friends Dan, Wendy and I decided to share an order of roasted bone marrow. Who could say no to rich fatty goodness?? The rich marrow complimented the baguette served, and the shallot confit added a nice sharpness to the flavor. A wonderful start to our meal!

Minetta Burger - with cheddar and caramelized onions

First, we started with the Minetta Burger, which at $16 is not a cheap burger itself. The meat was juicy and flavorful, and the cheddar added a nice creamy texture to the burger. However, as Dan summed it up, "the meat was juicy and the burger was as good as any of those in that price range, but the black label puts it to shame..." So, really, if you visit Minetta Tavern, you should look into getting.....

Black Label Burger - selection of prime dry-aged beef cuts with caramelized onions and pommes frites

.....the Black Label Burger. First of all, the Black Label is comprised of 4 different types of meats: a blend of a dry aged rib eye, NY Strip, skirt steak, and brisket. To say the Black Label was a pretty good burger is an understatement. I'm more than confident in saying it's the best burger I've EVER had to date. You don't need to add cheese (it's offered) to it. In fact, you don't need to even put the lettuce and tomatoes that accompanied the burger. Enjoy this at its pure meaty state and enjoy the flavors of the burger. The patty was simply fantastic, it's really that good! The pictures probably don't show how good the Black Label Burger really was. The pomme frites were tasty, but you order this for the burger. So go and get it!! I know I'm going to make a return visit on my next visit to New York City

A burger may just simply be a burger to most out there, as I'll agree with that statement probably 99% of the time. However, the Black Label Burger is really something. Chefs Riad Nasr and Lee Hanson really made something good at Minetta Tavern and most of New York knows about it now, as evidenced by its hard to get reservations. So if you're one of the lucky ones, check out Minetta Tavern, as there are a few other star items on the menu, including its $104 Cote de Boeuf which I heard was magnificient! But remember, get the Black Label Burger, it was a memorable experience.

Note: Check out this link for more detailed insights of the Black Label Burger.

Minetta Tavern
113 MacDougal Street
New York, NY 10012-1201
(212) 475-3850
Official Website