#44 – ALL AMERICAN WITH CHEESE at SMASHBURGER

For the third year in a row, I’m going to attempt to eat every single item on Time Out New York’s annual 100 Best Dishes list. In no particular order, here’s my take on their Top 100. Let the gluttony continue…

WTF?!? Time Out New York included a fast food chain on their Top 100 list!?! Really? And it’s not even a New York based chain, like Shake Shack or Gray’s Papaya. Those I could handle and would completely understand. But this is a chain that originated in Denver and is now slowly expanding across New York. Sure, the food is technically cooked in New York, but so are the Big Macs at McDonald’s and the BBQ Chicken Pizzas at California Pizza Kitchen. But they shouldn’t really be included in the Best Dishes in New York. Should they?

Well I don’t think so. To me, the Top 100 Dishes in New York should be distinctly and uniquely New York. Either that or this better be one mind-blowing burger.

And many people think this burger is just that. I’m not a big fan of fast food in general, so it felt very strange walking into Smashburger in Fort Greene, just around the corner from Five Guys and Brooklyn’s new Shake Shack.

I ignored all the cheery, well-trained smiles and questions and ordered the All American Burger with a side of the sweet potato fries. I took my number and hoped nobody I knew would walk by.

It’s a decent burger. Juicy is the word that comes to mind, as the butter and fat are quickly absorbed into the bun. I just thought it could use a bit more seasoning and char. It looks smaller than it is since it’s smashed to order. Aside from the juicy grease and the Kraft-like American cheese slice (I guess that is indeed all American), I didn’t think the burger had a whole lot of flavor. I say this as the juices stained my face.

The guys next to me were going crazy over the burger. So perhaps I’m in the minority. It’s a fine burger, but if I’m going to pick one of the fast food chains (from my limited experience), I’d go with Five Guys. But even that Washington DC based chain would not make my Top 100 of NY Dishes.

Would Smashburger’s All American Burger with Cheese make my Top 100 of the year? Although the burger is juicy and fresh enough to earn it a 7 out of 10, this is not a New York based company and I find it ludicrous to include it on this list.