You’re a lucky person, because you have Burger Weekly as a resource when you want to find a great burger that you haven’t tried yet. In essence, I am Burger Weekly, and thus I have one less mode of discovery than you do. Granted, I probably know more people who know where to find great burgers than you do, but the point remains. Sometimes, I even resort to looking on Yelp. I did that when I had a last-minute opening in my schedule this week and needed to find a place in the wasteland of East Midtown with a good burger. Go to Hendriks, the Yelplings said. There’s a great burger there, they assured me. So how is the burger at Hendriks?
Burger Ordered: Black Angus Burger
Taste: It’s not half bad, is the answer to that question. But it’s also not without one crucial flaw. Let’s talk about what’s good first. The burger is topped with aged cheddar cheese and pickles, smoked onion jam, and it sits on a rather hefty bum. On the side are sage and Parmesan-topped fries with ketchup and garlic aioli. There’s a ton going on here. The aioli is powerful, and the cheese, onions, and pickles each carry a very distinguishable flavor. Now the one flaw: In the past, I’ve suggested that when the toppings are dominant, the patty need not be excessively seasoned. At Hendriks, with a burger that is named for the quality of its patty, the meat needed to stand out a bit more.
The Verdict: Between the flavors of the burgers toppings and condiments, and the flavors of the fries and all their toppings and condiments, you’re going to leave Hendriks very full and with very, very stinky breath. It’s an experience worth trying, especially given the dearth of great options in the neighborhood, but bring mints.
Hendriks is located at 557 3rd Avenue in Manhattan, New York.
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