Nespresso Boutique Bar (New York, NY)

Nespresso Boutique Bar
761 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10021
http://www.nespresso.com/

Tiramisu, iced macchiato. Both ordered items were average, but the
ambiance was mellow, nice and hip (though this hipness seems to
primarily attract a post-retirement, Upper East Side crowd). The wait
staff was professional -- knowledgeable about the menu items and eager
to strike up a conversation without being intrusive.

Shorty's 32 (New York, NY)

Shorty's 32
199 Prince Street
New York, NY 10021
(212) 375-8275

Architecture: bun, Cheddar, patty, bun. L&T, red onions, pickles on the side.
Fries with ketchup.

The superstar of this juicy, plump burger was the beef: it was
meticulously grilled, with a luscious pink center. Perfection was
tempered by the relative dryness of the bun which tasted and felt like
dried sponge. The Ice Pick -- an vodka iced tea with a spicy cinnamon
touch and a mint finish -- was majestic and was able to cut through
the beef fat. Manned by Josh Eden, a veteren under Jean-Georges,
Shorty's 32 is definitely a burger star in Gotham City.

Rating: 1 star to the burger.

Audubon Circle (Boston, MA)

Audobon Circle
838 Beacon Street
Boston, MA
(617) 421-1910

Architecture: bun, aged Cheddar, patty, bun. L&T and pickles on the
side. Home fries with BBQ tomato sauce.

This burger was feisty and animated. The bun, well toasted,
encapsulated a cow's worth of bovine madness. The beef was succulent,
with plenty of beefy tones and juices. The Cheddar came to the table
unmelted, but soon melted to yield this mesmerizing, glorious glow.
The fries were excellent, as were the sauce. The only letdown was the
lettuce, which was just a tinge too bitter and not altogether fresh,
in my opinion. Nevertheless, this place was infinitely better than the
better-known uburger down the street, if only for its dedication and
seriousness to food, and a legitimate contender for the best stack in
Boston.

uburger (Boston, MA)

Uburger
636 Beacon Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 536-0448

Architecture: bun, thousand-island dressing, lettuce shreds, tomato
slices, cheese, beef, onions, pickle slices, bun.

The dinner roll was charred nicely, with a tinge of burnt complexity.
The stack was well balanced, though it severely lacked any beefy
taste. When the beefy taste finally emerged, it was almost too peppery
and manufactured.

Tamarind Bay (Cambridge, MA)

Tamarind Bay
75 Winthrop Street
Cambridge, MA 02138-5927
(617) 491-4552

Dishes: Murgh Angar Bedgi (chicken cubes marinated in yogurt and bedgi
chili; not shown); Panner Shola (Indian cheese with green pepper and
onions in red chili and tomato sauce); Achari Jhinga (shrimp cooked in
pickled spices); Mysore Chili Chicken (chicken in curry leaf); bread
basket.

Stella (Boston, MA)

Stella Restaurant
1525 Washington Street
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 247-7747
http://www.bostonstella.com/

Architecture: bun, cheese, bacon, caramelized onions, patty, bun. L&T
on the side.

This was handily one of the best burger I had all year. The beef was
cooked to perfection (medium, with a robust pink in center), with a
hint of peppercorns and charcoal. The buttered brioche was similarly
broiled over open fire, yielding a feisty carb rendition that stood up
to the beef. Washed down with a couple of excellent bloody marys, the
burger at Stella was simply divine, with a good initial bite and a
lingering beefy finish. This is not to be missed.

Rating: 1 star to the burger.

Five Napkin Burger (New York, NY)

Five Napkin Burger
Frnt 1, 630 9th Avenue
New York, NY 10036-4754
(212) 757-2277
http://www.fivenapkinburger.com/

The Original, Lobster Roll Sliders.

Architecture (the Original): bun, rosemary aioli, caramelized onions,
gruyere, patty, bun.

Soft, slightly toasted bun engulfed a massive 10-oz. cow. The
caramelized onion accentuated the glory of the bovine power. The
lobster roll slider was fresh but just a little too refrigerated for
my taste. The whole meal was washed off with a couple of Anchor Steam,
which provided a sweet, almost caramel overtone to the gigantic punch
of the Original. This is one of the better burger joints in the City,
and most definitely a welcoming, regal addition to Hell's Kitchen.