Sunday, February 27, 2011
Paul’s Da Burger Joint @9:30 pm
East Village
Live from New York, it’s Cheeseburger Saturday Night! Starring Paul’s Da Burger Joint and featuring the ready for prime beef player, Marty Wombacher. Ladies and gentlemen...Paul’s Da Burger Joint!
Okay, it's a little chilly out, but I thought I'd walk over to Paul's, so here we go, out into the night.
Here's Union Square Park. Even though it's cold out, there's still some people hanging out here. When the weather gets warmer, this place is packed on a Saturday night.
99 miles to philly. This place has great cheesesteak sandwiches. I'll have to stop in and get one soon, it's been a while since I've been here.
Here's Julian who was getting ready to make some deliveries on this chilly Saturday night.
And here we are at Paul's. I've been here in the past a few times, but I have to give credit to MAD commenter Tim "Clacky" Clack for suggesting the place. He took a picture of the place when he was here last year and sent it to me and suggested I go here on a Cheeseburger Saturday Night. Thanks for the suggestion, Clacky and I suggest you all check out Tim's entertaining blog, Tales From the Bunt's Side.
We'll see about that!
Now that's a burger Wimpy would be proud of.
Wow, the place is packed, not a table to be had and there's a line out the door.
But I spy a seat at the counter, let's go snag it.
There's two cooks working the burger grill and they are really busy. Here's one...
And here's the other. I'm not even going to try to get their name's, it'll be enough of a challenge to place an order up here. I've sat at the counter before in here and when it's crowded it's tough to get your order in. There's just one guy who'll take it and he's running the cash register, answering the phone and ignoring everyone at the counter. It's kind of a sport to get your order in.
The burgers are steam cooked at the grill here by placing metal pans over the ground sirloin.
I was seated next to this sign. I made sure not to cross the line, there was only one waitress on duty and she didn't seem to be in a very good mood.
And some orders are up. So far I've been here five minutes and haven't gotten the register guy's attention.
Finally I made eye contact with the register guy and screamed out, "Give me a Soul Burger, medium with cheddar cheese and an order of onion rings and a Budweiser."
Here's some of the other burgers up on the wall. There's 20 different varieties to be had here.
It's too jammed to do any meet and greet photos in here. Here's the view from my counter stool.
Knick knacks and signs hang above the tables on the wall.
There's plenty of attitude in here, the register man said I couldn't take his picture and that he'd charge me a dollar for everyone I took in here. I'm hoping he was kidding, or this could be a big bill.
One of the cook's takes an order, I'm tired just watching these guys.
Some buns waiting to be burgerized.
And look, it's Elvis! Sorry Elvis, I didn't see a fried peanut butter and banana sandwich on the menu.
Condiments!
And here's the burger and onion rings. Whenever I've ordered from the counter here, I've never gotten the burger I order. I ordered the Soul Burger, but just got a plain burger. I'm not going to send it back though, because I'm starving and don't want to wait for another one. I just loaded this one up with mustard and it was delicious without any toppings. So all is well.
Walking home I came across a protest at the Continental Bar. The owner has been accused of racial bigotry by not allowing certain people through the door. His defense is a dress code that isn't visible anywhere at the bar. You can read more about it at the fine EV Grieve blog.
I have to admit while I was there, everyone in line got admitted. Of course the only people I saw in line were what appeared to be white bridge and tunnel yobbos.
This gentleman was taking photos for the Liberation News.
His name's Eddie and the fact that it says, "5 Shots of Anything," at the top of this photo is a happy accident. I'd like to say I framed it that way, but I just lucked out as usual. Goodnight everybody and see you tomorrow after dark.
Review
In the last couple years there’s been an explosion of burger joints opening up in New York City. Paul’s has beat them all by a couple of decades. Owner Paul Koval opened the doors to Paul’s Palace in 1989. The name has changed since then, but everything else remains the same. Your eyeballs get assaulted before your taste buds do in this burger emporium. Kitch and kaboodle hang from the walls and ceilings, intermingling with signs reminding you that they’re not Burger King. The tables are covered with red and black checkered table cloths and there’s a pot of pickles at every one. There’s also counter seating up front, where you can watch the kitchen and the burger cookers in action. If you do sit at the counter and it’s busy, prepare to be aggressive when you order, or you might be sitting there till closing time and never get served.
While Paul’s boast’s that it’s home to the “best burger in NYC,” there’s a lot more to the menu than just burgers. There’s 24 hot and cold sandwiches on the menu including: Italian Sausage Hero, served with pepper and onions; Tuna Melt; Chicken Filet and a Fried Egg Sandwich. Also on the extensive menu are Chopped Steak, Turkey and Fried Chicken platters and 16 varieties of omelettes.
Now, onto the signature dish, Paul’s burgers. They have 20 different kinds of burgers including: a Bacon Cheeseburger, Monterey Jack Cheeseburger, Mushroom Burger and a Soul Burger which is a bacon burger cheeseburger with ham and fried onions. I ordered the Soul Burger, but ended up with just a plain burger and while I can’t say it’s the absolute best burger I’ve had in New York, it’s right up there at the top of the list. Expect some attitude when you come in here from the staff, but remember, it’s all done in good humor...most of the time.
Paul’s Da Burger Joint
131 Second Ave. (Near St. Marks Place)
212-529-3033
Further reading: New York Magazine, Village Voice, BCNY and Grub Street.
21 Comments
Reader Comments (21)
Good Looking Burger!
You can almost smell the burgers and onions cooking in those photos.
I do think the absence of color helps.
(Oops, that is not a reference to The Continental by any means)
Great work Daddio.
I hope the food is good, cause yeah I doubt that is a place I would go. I could never be aggressive placing an order so I would go hungry.
Burger Nazis, really?
A side note on your side note. I've only been in the Continental once. I was accompanied by 3 African-Americans. Go figure.
I miss Seinfeld.
@"Boris:" Regarding your Continental reference: Ha ha ha! Good one, Daddio!
@cp: They're not Nazi-like in there, the attitude is done mostly in good humor. When was it that you went to the Continental. I went back in the days when they had live music and it was a good club. From what I've read in too many reviews to be wrong, it's now changed into a bit of a frat boy woo hoo place that no longer has live music. I can't say one way or the other because I haven't been there in over 15 years.
@kari: http://twe.ly/KiL.
Yummmy. The burger looks good. As to the racial bigotry thing- what's the story there? Are people just picketing or are they doing anything?
@MAD Went about 4 years ago I think. It was pretty late at night, I was surprised; no live music, no cover. {I was always under the impression it was an over-hyped, overpriced NY/NJ suburb trap.) A surreal night with a lot of free tequila, but not an After Hours type night. With everyone in the neighborhood trying to stay in the black with the rising rents during a recession, who knows what anyplace is like from day to day. Everything is cute and perky till things go tits up.
LOL, should have said "continue making money", not "stay in the black" in this instance.
I swear it wasn't as busy at 2pm on a tuesday. I had the blue cheese cheese burger with bacon...for breakfast. I remember it being a bit intense but I just took that for New York humour. Man, my gut aches just thinking about that place. Thanks for the bunt plug! (ha ha ha bunt plug) It's been a bit slow over there this week due to having to work and needing to sleep in.
Continental was just across the road from Paul's? We walked past it a few times but was never compelled to go in. Sometimes I just get a vibe for places...theres plenty of pubs here that have that same vibe.
@SuzRocks: It's just picketing, they've had about three protests there. If you read the EV Grieve link it pretty much tells the whole story.
@cp: Ha ha ha! A poor choice of words indeed!
@Clacky of Bunt's Downunder: I've had several styles of burgers there and my favorite is the Soul Burger, which I got on a night I ordered a bacon cheeseburger! The Continental was a great punk rock bar in the '90's, but like cp said, things change, sometimes for the worse.
As a white bar and stool yabbo, I love a delicious burger after many cold ones. This place would be on my list. I always make it a point to check out burger joints in other cities. Here in Milwaukee, Food wars had a competition between my favorite.....Sobelmans and a new place called A.J. Bombers. Checked out Bombers and thought it was good but not better than Sobelmans. Recent finds while traveling were the Edgefield Grill in Nashville and Port of Call in New Orleans! Cheers!
@Professor Dungpie: I just checked out Sobelmans website and holy shitballs does that look like a good burger. My goal this year is to get to Milwaukee for a weekend, if so, that place will definitely be on the list. Cheers!
http://www.milwaukeesbestburgers.com/
Yummmmmmmmy. Nothing is better than a great cheeseburger!
The Soul Burger looks like it would of been really good. Next time. The Continental was a place that I would of liked you visiting on 365, but after you told me about the racist attitude there, the hell with it. That sign,, 5 shots for ten bucks is bs,, because there is a place here that has a four for one all day happy hour and the shot glasses are so small that all four in a glass gives you a regular drink, nothing more. Sometimes a good bar without a happy hour will pour more booze in one drink without all the hoopla, and for less than ten dollars. Is Michael Richards a silent owner? Just a little humor.
@Meleah: I always love CSN!
@Al: Yeah, that's when I first starting seeing all the complaints online. When a bar gets that many complaints at different sites from different people, the odds are something's going on. You're back on as my co-pilot tonight, read all about it tomorrow!
Looks like a nice place and a good burger, even though you didn't order that one. LOL! I read some online reviews and people seem mixed about this place. Some love it and some hate it. If a chef at Momfuku picked it as her favorite burger joint (per the Grub Street link) I think it must be pretty good.
its making me hungry just reading your blog!
lucky all the burgers seem pretty tasty at this place so i guess it doesn't really matter that they get your order wrong!
Cheers Marty!
MAD....in a way that's a bitch you didn't get the "burger" you requested...so much for "do our best to satisfy all customers and make everyone feel at home"...i see paul's offer a "chilly" topping...got the image of a burger topped w/ crushed ice...
I must be free
My fake I.D.
Freeeeeees me
Gotta do a few things
To make my life complete
Gotta live my life
Out on the street
The difference between us
Is not very far
Cruising for burgers
In daddy's new car
My phony freedom card
Brings to me
Instantly
ECSTASY
rr
@Barfly:I hear you about the Grub Street review.
@Claire Bear: Cheers to you! Thanks for chiming in!
@rr: Great FZ lyrics!
Mmm...burgers. I just made my maiden voyage to a local burger and bar joint last night. O'Reilly's is the name, awesome is their game. I'm supposed to go back soon and I'll send you some photos. For the record, I had the mushroom and onion cheeseburger and it was delicious.
@Biff: Sounds good, looking forward to seeing the photos!