November 20, 2011
Live, from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Tonight’s host is Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop and featuring the Ready for Prime Beef Player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen, please welcome, Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop!
It's a rare MAD episode where we venture out in the somewhat upsetting daylight. We're headed to legendary Eisenberg's Sandwich Shop and while they're open till 8PM on weeknights, on Saturdays they close at 6PM, so we'll make the sacrifice of heading out when the sun is still shining to have a cheeseburger at this historical New York sandwich eatery.
And here we are, as the sign says, Eisenberg's has been on the block since 1929.
Here's the front of the restaurant which is a narrow, long shotgun space with a classic counter, red stools and tables opposite of it.
There's a dining area in the back.
But I decide to sit at the counter.
And the lovely Tess hands me a menu. Tess has been working here for close to 4 months and told me she loves it here. It's a friendly neighborhood joint for sure.
Pictures of celebrities who have eaten here hang behind the counter...
And there's lots of them on the wall opposite the counter, let's check some of them out.
Here's Spike Lee and owner of Eisneberg's, Josh Konecky.
MIchael Imperioli and Josh.
A purple bespectacled Tim Allen and Josh.
Jim Belushi and Josh...Belushi...hmmm...that makes me think of something...
Cheeseburger, cheeseburger, cheeseburger!
A delicious burger with cheddar cheese, bacon and a really fresh bun.
Super-cute Kelly is manning the front cash register and the bill is paid...
And its out into the night, where it's finally dark out. Hooray! Goodnight and see you tomorrow after dark.
My Meal
I got the Eisenberger, which is a half pound sirloin burger and I got it topped with cheddar cheese and bacon. The burger is grilled over an open flame and was cooked perfectly and served on a bakery fresh bun. A nice, all-American burger, delicious. I got it with onion rings and asked for them extra well done, something that a lot of restaurants and diners just can’t seem to get, but like everything, Eisenberg’s gets it right and they were extra crispy, crunchy and perfect. For my drink I had the chocolate malted which is creamy, smooth and probably the best malted in town.
Eisenberg’s is known for their generous sized sandwiches and there’s over fifty to choose from including: Hot Pastrami, Tuna Salad, Meatloaf and Fried Salami or Bologna. There’s also burgers, soups, eggs and omelettes available on the menu. Beverages include: Egg Cream, Malted, Lime Rickey and an Arnold Palmer. Full breakfast meals and platters are served Monday through Friday till 11 am.
Cheeseburger Rating
Three Wimpy’s—a great burger!
Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop
174 Fifth Avenue (Near 22nd St.)
212-675-5096
Further reading: Jeremiah’s Vanishing New York, Midtown Lunch and Roadfood.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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Bonus Photo Album By Gene Rubbico!
Two thirds of the BBC, Gene and Smoopy were in town last weekend and Gene took some great photos. Check them out here: Gene's New York Photo Album.
25 Comments
Reader Comments (25)
I would have ordered the rueben but thats just me. Looks delish!
This is true NY,,,,long and narrow, I've seen so many old diners like this in movies and glad some are still intact. Gene and Smoopy took some pictures for the ages, and I want to thank them now for sharing these wonderful shots with us. I would be willing to bet that anyone who has never been to New York during the holidays and see's these would absolutely want to go. The show, the ice rink, the Christmas decorations,,,it looks magical, then Rolf's, what can I say,,,,just great.
love the long narrow bar and the red stools. odd that they close so early on a saturday. where is the picture of you and the owner?
@FooManChew: All the sandwiches are delicious in here, but it was Saturday, so I had to go with the cheeseburger and it's not a bad way to go at all. The onion rings and malted were great too!
@Al: Eisenberg's is an old-school joint for sure, it's like stepping back in time walking in there. And Gene's photos are great, nice shots of New York during the holly days!
@Green Monkey: Josh wasn't there last night, maybe some day my picture will be on the wall, then my life would be complete!
OK I ate out today and got immediately hungry after seeing the burger!
pretty cool place:)
Just a great spot. The pastrami is to die for. Do they still serve Egg Creams?
Even though I didn't get to munch on that awesome looking burger, I would give it an extra wimpy for Old School New York. Those onion rings look deadly. Party!
Russian book store ?
Spike Lee is a douche ...
@Gidget: It's a great and legendary place!
@Jason: Yeah, they still have egg creams and they make the top of most egg cream lists. I had a chocolate malted and it was great too!
@Clacky: You need to stop in here next time, great old school place.
@GENE: Yeah, that's a Russian book store, I need to check that out one of these days.
Mmmmmm! I've always wanted to go here but have still never been. Thank you for reminding me to get my arse over there. The burger and the shop look super amazing! Yum!
I'm not Joshing you. They have a picture of Jim, and have you piss in the John. Complete Belushit.
Half tuna salad, half egg salad on rye with a lime rickey, for me. Someday I'll order something different at Eisenberg's
@Lindsay: You definitely should try it out, you'll love it!
@csp: That’s just toilet talk!
@Ned Sparks: Hey, when you got a good thing going, why stop it? I love the Lime Rickey's in there too!
I want to go to New York and get a cheeseburger...I'm starvin like Marvin
Eisenberg’s Sandwich Shop looks like a real classic...hoistin' one to MAD for venturin' out in daylight...hoistin' one to GENE and smoopy for puttin' up sum great shots...
If the melting pot exists, the cheeseburger may well be its most palpable product; to take a bite of it is to take a bite of history...
~Elizabeth Rozin, Primal Cheeseburger
rr
@tehennessey: Well then get out here, Marvin Gardens!
@rr: It's a true classic NYC joint. Great quote, as always!
I'm so glad you went to Eisenberg's for a Cheeseburger Saturday Night. It's great, isn't it? Very busy lunch crowd, but I always try to get for the counter or a front table.
One of these decades....I want to go to coney island....and yankee stadium
@onemorefoldedsunset: I love Eisenberg's, a great slice of what New York used to be.
@tehennessey: Come out next summer and hopefully Ruby's will still be alive on the boardwalk.
@MAD: I'm yet to meet a bidet that anything nice to say.
* ^has
@csp: I agree, they're all toilet tongues!
I like my burgers well done, and that one looks great. Nice that they got the rings the way you like them too. Great pics Gene!
Hmmm...my comment got eaten, it seems. Anyway-never fear-soon it will be dark at 4!
@kari: The onion rings were perfect and it was a great burger!
@Britta: That happens sometimes here, try restarting your computer and clearing your cache, that usually fixes it. And I'm looking forward to the darkness at 4!