In high end dining, restaurants seem to enjoy peaceful coexistence. In fact, many of today’s greatest chefs in New York City are friends and enjoy dining at each other’s restaurants. However in the world of fast food or chain restaurants, the relationship and competition are always described as wars.
When certain restaurants are only found at certain parts of the country, you end up with something like the burger wars: In and Out, 5 Guys and Shake Shack.
Meanwhile, one up and coming chain has been expanding under the radar: 5 Napkins Burger. With a more formal (and I say that very lightly) approach than traditional burger joints, and a less burger-centric menu (gasp! it includes sushi rolls), one might dismiss 5 Napkins as a restaurant that’s stuck between McDonalds and a Friday’s or Applebee’s. However, once you have a burger, you’ll realize that these guys are serious about their beef and bun creations.
The first time I tried 5 Napkins burger was over a year ago, when I caught a glimpse of the restaurant on a magazine. Conjuring the image of a juicy, flavorful burger, I hopped onto OpenTable to grab a reservation. The ceilings adorned with meat hooks was a very memorable touch, and I loved the energy and buzz at the restaurant. However I remember even more clearly my immediate cringe at the sight of sushi on the menu. The burger impressed that day.
Assemble your burger, one easy step!
Tuscan fries have great flavor.
It’ll take a few more years before we know if 5 Napkins will expand into a household burger destination, but for now, it’s a worthy alternative to the crowds at Shake Shack when you got burger on your mind.
Go ahead, bite into it.
5 Napkins Burger
35-01 36th Street (Astoria Reservation)
Astoria , NY 11106
2315 Broadway (Upper West Side Reservation)
New York, NY 10024
630 9th Avenue (Hells Kitchen Reservation)
New York, NY 10036
