Burger Joint

We can find Burger Joint in Manhattan, New York, just a short distance away from Fifth Avenue and Central Park.

However, that being said, it's not easy to find, as it's situated inside the reception of the luxury hotel, Le Parker Meridien. Unless you know where you have to go, and despite seeing the neon burger menu, you will not end up believing that you have found it until you are literally inside ordering your burger.

I'm sure you will be asking how I know about this place? Well, it's thanks to a TV programme called "Callejeros Viajeros: Nueva York" ["Street Travellers: New York", in English], in which they went on a route of the best things that the city has to offer, dividing them into the cheapest and the most expensive (where to stay, the best burgers, public transport, etc. ).

Normally, you will have to queue to be seated. I have been there twice over a period of a few years and I've had to queue both times, but you won't have to wait too long. Whilst you're in the queue, you won't be able to see the interior of the burger bar, but once inside, it will seem like you have suddenly been transported to an entirely different place.

In terms of size, the eatery is neither small nor large. It's quite dark, with wooden tables, painted walls and a small counter, topped off with an aroma of smoke and grease and some background music. Burger Joint is not at all what someone would expect to find upon entering this hotel; although you know where you are meant to be going, you soon forget upon setting foot inside.

Due to its success, they have opened another branch of Burger Joint in New York, situated in Greenwich Village, and in other states throughout the country too. However, you will also find branches in South Korea, Dubai, and right here in Spain...

The menu at this eatery is limited, but you won't need anything else to ensure that you have a good meal:

• Burger: normal, cheeseburger, double cheeseburger - with lettuce, tomato, onion, ketchup and mustard



• Fries: served in one size only
• Drinks: you can choose between soft drinks, water, wine, beer or milkshakes (I tried the vanilla milkshake and it is really good)
• Dessert: brownie

You can order either at the counter or, if you're lucky enough to find a table, you can order from there and they will bring your food over to you once it is ready. The difference between these is the price: if they serve you at your table, you have to pay a tip, which isn't an amount that's determined by you, the customer, but is instead a fixed percentage of the bill at 18% or 20%. The bill came to $50 for three burgers, three portions of fries and three Cokes - absolute madness. I don't remember paying that much money the first time that I went, but you can tell that, as they have become more famous, they have made their burgers smaller and bumped the prices up.

Tipping is something strange that I have had the misfortune of living with since I moved to the United States. I don't typically go to expensive restaurants, and when I do, the service ranges from acceptable to unfriendly. Waiting staff happily take advantage of the fact that you are a tourist and making sure you know that you "have to" pay it, even explicitly specifying so when they bring your bill over to you. As was the case here, the waiter was friendly, but not overly much, and the only thing that he did for us was see if we wanted another burger and bring over our order to us, which somehow came at an additional cost of $3. At other places, it's a good way of being sure as to whether the service is good or not, but in cases like these, I really don't understand the logic behind them...

On the other hand, you can buy a Burger Joint souvenir t-shirt for $25, although I highly doubt that many people do so. You can also see the t-shirt hung up on the wall, which is also full of paintings. The funny thing about it is that there is a sign that says "if you paint on my walls, I will paint on yours", which I think refers to when there is no more space to paint on a particular wall.

In my honest opinion, if it hadn't been for the price, I would say that this place is good for having a different dining experience and for enjoying some tasty burgers (that's not at all to say that they are the best) with good music. I also think that they have used some good marketing strategies for the fact that it is hidden, but I personally wouldn't think about going back for a third time, as it's not worth the money. However, for those of you who have never been before, I would recommend going at least once, as it's much better than going to McDonalds - that way, you can do something that you wouldn't ordinarily do.

Burger Joint's opening hours are as follows: Sunday to Thursday, 11am - 11:30pm, and Friday and Saturday, 11am to midnight.