Warren G. Harding is considered by many to be one of the worst presidents this country has ever had, so it struck me as odd that a bar would name themselves for the man. A cursory search of the restaurant’s website shows no mention of the first president whose entire term in office was served during the prohibition era (though to be fair to Harding, he did die before he could see the end of that term). In any event, unlike Warren G., Harding’s has a lot going for it. I’d heard that the burger was pretty good, and since I already knew I liked the drinks, I figured it was worth a try.Burger Ordered: Our Burger
The Taste: I ordered the angus, chuck, and short rib blend patty cooked medium rare, and though it came out still mooing I was happy for every red, juicy bite. And while the burger, served with (discarded) lettuce, tomato, and American cheese was serviceable as presented, I cut up the pickle pictured above and slapped that on the bun, along with a heaping helping of a strong aioli. I wasn’t particularly hungry but I finished the burger remarkably quickly, thanks to a combination of decent flavors and greasy hands.
The Verdict: In a rare move, I ordered this burger with a side salad instead of fries. This turned out to be a great move because the greasy, rare burger was just enough to fill me up without making me explode. Fries would have been overkill. The burger at Harding’s is worth trying, just don’t overkill yourself.
Harding’s is located at 32 East 21st Street in Manhattan, New York.
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