On WGFC’s Burger Pick, we highlight a particular burger that we’ve absolutely fallen in love with and highly suggest you check out. For this edition, we’re taking a look at Salvation Burger‘s Classic Burger.
I’ve heard a lot of differing opinions on April Bloomfield and Ken Friedman’s new burger-themed hot spot. Some patrons scoff at the spiked prices ($17 for a Classic, $25 for their seasonal namesake), while others will fight anyone who denies this location’s top-dog status (seriously Mike, it’s just a burger). I mean, $17 bucks for a glorified Big Mac AND NO FRIES is kind of steep, but that’s because this isn’t an everyday burger joint.
Salvation Burger is one of those gotta-have-it locations that extinguishes inferno-like meatsweats and should be treated as a reward. Are the prices a bit egotistical? Yes, even if a $7 order of fries can be split between 2-3 people (VALUE!). You shouldn’t listen to the haters though – Bloomfield’s burger is worth eating packaged Ramen for the next week you carnivorous addicts.
Being lucky enough to grab a seat at the bar overlooking Bloomfield’s burger production line, it’s easy to understand why these beauties are attracting so much attention. Each chef in the kitchen has a particular job (testing the meat temps, roasting ramps, assembling burgers), and no burger leaves the kitchen without a stamp of approval. One of the greasy behemoths was sliding apart ever-so slowly, and a chef was quick to re-adjust the glistening calorie-bomb before it hit a patron’s table. With such meticulous care being shown for the little things, Salvation Burger preaches execution, not over-exaggeration – and it shows.
I know it might be sacrilegious not to recommend a restaurant’s namesake burger, but for my money, you’re coming to Salvation Burger for the “Classic.” The “Salvation” changes with the seasons, boasting hen-of-the-wood mushrooms and smoked blue cheese one month, then ramp butter and Taleggio cheese the next – all of which garnish a patty big enough to attract its own gravitational field. Trust me, I’m all for going big or going home, but there’s something about Bloomfield’s McDonald’s-inspired Classic that makes it a no-brainer choice for any burger fans. If you’re like me, you’re going for the Classic no matter what.
Classic Burger (housemade american cheese, special sauce & pickles).
The Bun: A bakery fresh, house-made sesame seed bun that’s tough enough to withstand a sloppy, runny, geyser of flavor. Baking buns in-house is almost like showing off when they’re this good.
The Meat: No Pat LaFrieda here! Bloomfield is importing whole cows from a quaint farm in Albany, NY, and letting her butchers mix together cuts from all over the cow. These are what the Classic’s two thinner patties are made from, which drip with succulent burger goodness. If I ever saw that false burger God Ronald McDonald walking the streets of NYC, I’d slap him with one of Bloomfield’s burgers, and still eat the damn thing, now covered in clown makeup – it’s that good.
The Add-Ons: Housemade American cheese. Housemade Special Sauce. Housemade Pickles. Yes, Salvation Burger is just straight-up making everything on the premises, because everything tastes better homemade. Would you rather have warm, fresh baked cookies from Grandma’s special recipe, or some generic Toll House tube cookies you can get anywhere? Apply that concept to the condiments at Salvation Burger. Melty American cheese blankets drape over two beefy patties, pickles provide a crispy bite and you’ll be licking Bloomfield’s special sauce off any surface (or body part) it oozed onto.
The Result: A “Classic” that lives up to its name. This is everything you want a Big Mac to be, applied to a restaurant experience that’s worth the hefty check soon to come. But you’ll be in a happy food coma anyway, lulled to sleep by April Bloomfield’s latest burger creation. The price won’t hit you until later.
There are cheaper burger options elsewhere in New York City, many of which demand their own articles, but Salvation Burger is certainly a destination for all hamburger aficionados to check out (at least once). Just know the trouble you’re getting your wallet into, and then down a “Classic” while making it rain singles on the tables around you.*
*Please do not throw money in or around Salvation Burger. It will not be appreciated/tolerated.