The Experience: I’m a huge sucker for a burger outing with historical significance, and my Sunday brunch at ABC Kitchen was chock full of it. Three years ago, I finished graduate school and was treated to the cheeseburger at ABC Kitchen for the first time. It was tremendous and went a long way to inspire the creation of Burger Weekly. Last year, my mother came to visit New York to attend BurgerVersary 100. This year, I flew my mom in for Mother’s Day and combined the two occasions for a delightful meal back at ABC Carpet and Home’s original eatery.
Burger Ordered: Akaushi Cheeseburger
The Taste: The Akaushi (a breed of wagyu cattle) patty is topped with herbed mayo and pickled jalapenos. My years’-old sense memory of the burger brought a prickly feeling to my tongue, recalling the heat from the jalapenos. However, this time around the jalapenos were quite mild. At first I thought that perhaps something new in the pickling process reduced the heat, but research revealed that not all jalapenos are created equal, and the growing conditions determine how spicy they are. Even without the pulse-pounding heat, they were still a tasty addition to the burger. The mayo was the most distinct flavor on this burger, its meeting with my tongue being a welcome reunion. The beef itself was every bit as good as I remembered, as was the one of a kind grated Bloomsday cheese from Cato Corner. The burger was grilled perfectly, making it moist without being messy, so even though it didn’t need to be sturdy, the sesame seed bun still tasted amazing. The food blog 24 Dollar Burger is named after this hamburger, and it’s worth every penny.
The Verdict: At two dollars less than the famed Minetta Tavern Black Label Burger, I feel that the burger at ABC Kitchen is worthy of nearly as much attention when the topic of expensive gourmet burgers in New York City comes to the fore. If you haven’t had it yet, put this one on your list.
ABC Kitchen is located at 35 East 18th Street in Manhattan, New York.
