NYC: Barney Greengrass

After my last post on Zingerman's Deli in Ann Arbor, I thought it would be only fitting to do a post on Barney Greengrass - The Sturgeon King, my favorite New York City deli. My husband Ethan and I have been going here for a while now and we always take our out-of-town guests here. Of course there's 2nd Avenue Deli, Katz's Deli, Carnegie Deli, etc...the list goes on.

A few things to know when you come here to eat. Be prepared to order quickly. Save the conversation until after you've given your order. My favorite is the hot pastrami with coleslaw on rye. Unlike other deli's oversized sandwiches, Barney Greengrass sandwiches are reasonably sized for an average American (wink to Lexanonymous). If you come on a weekend, you definitely have to order the latkes since it's only available on the weekends. The Latkes come with sour cream and apple sauce - a true taste of heaven. Ethan often orders one of the triple decker sandwiches. On this day, he ordered the pastrami and tongue with coleslaw on rye. The sturgeon is also great, a bit expensive, but something really good to try while you're here...I mean, he is the "King". On this visit, Cecilia (Ethan's sister) ordered the cheese blintze with jam. I had a little taste and it was great.

Latkes with a dolup of applesauce and sour cream

Hot Pastrami with Coleslaw

Triple Decker: Pastrami and Tongue with Coleslaw

Cheese Blintz with Jam

Pick up a black and white cookie before you leave!  It's not the oversized ones you usually see, but a great little sweetness to linger in you mouth as you walk out the door.  

Barney Greengrass (map)

541 Amsterdam Ave (bet. 86th & 87th)

New York, NY 10024

NYC: Shake Shack (Upper West Side)

I've been dying to try Shake Shack for  years!  I have no idea what's taken me so long to go, I mean, the main midtown location isn't too far away from my office...maybe it's the wait, maybe the hype.  Well, I have to say that it is definitely worth all the hype.  Ethan and I finally checked it out tonight for dinner and I was in heaven!  I can't wait to go back again.

Let me start with what makes this place so good...to me.  I'm obsessed with burgers.  It's my biggest weakness and if there's only one thing I could eat for the rest of my life, it would be a bacon cheeseburger.  Anyway, the Shake Shack burger not only uses really good quality ingredients but it has the perfect bun to meat ratio.  I was pretty happy that they use American cheese for their burger - it's my favorite choice of cheese for burgers.  It's not overpowering, or greasy, but creamy and melts just perfectly.  I (being the piggy that I am) ordered the Double ShackBurger (American cheese, lettuce, tomato and Shack sauce).  Ethan ordered the same thing but with a single patty.  I think the next time I go, and I'm starving, I'll get two Singles.  The fries come separately, but what's a burger without fries?  And what's a burger and fries without a shake?  I ordered a strawberry shake and Ethan ordered a chocolate malt.  He wasn't that impressed with the malt since he said he couldn't taste much of the malt powder.  Mine was excellent, no complaints from me.

This past Summer when we were in Colorado, we went to a burger joint called Lark Burger which was also really good.  They were actually comparable tasting burgers.  The size is a bit deceiving (both the LarkBurger and the ShakeBurger), but with the fries AND shake, it's quite filling.  A great recommendation from my brother.  The next time we're out there, I MUST get another LarkBurger.

Single ShackBurger on the Left and Double on the Right

ShackBurger - Double

Yummmm...mmmm...mmmm

Strawberry Milkshake

Shake Shack (map)

366 Columbus Avenue (at 77th Street)
646-747-8770