Burger Bar

It's shaping up to be the next big tourist trap, but we had to go to Hubert Keller's new Burger Bar inside Macy's to see how their burgers and shakes shook up. Hey, we're locals, we have to keep updated on the lay of the culinary landscape, right?

I started with a nutella shake. Delicious, but overpriced. Given the $1.75 markup for specialty shakes, I think I would have been perfectly happy with a plain chocolate shake. That said, this creamy, thick, beautiful drink with fluffy whipped cream was quite a treat. So much so that I was full halfway through drinking it and could barely take three bites of my very large burger with caramelized onions and blue cheese.

J was there for one reason only: the $12 foie gras option. He wanted to go in case the Burger Bar starts shrinking the foie gras portions or resorting to serving chopped pieces of foie gras like the Las Vegas branch is rumored to do. The foie gras addition made for a very expensive burger, but it was worth it to try once. A huge slab of seared fat is a fantastic addition to a burger. Burger Bar also gets kudos for exceptional fried zucchini and onion rings. The french fries, on the other hand, were good but not great.

A VERY pricey lunch, but enjoyable as long as we didn't stare at the bill. I doubt I'll be a regular, but if I need a snack while shopping I could see myself stopping in for a shake or a side dish. I would go to share a burger or a plate of sliders, but the $2 split plate charge is a negative. Who knows though, maybe they'll stop enforcing that if customers insist. Overall, I think Burger Bar is a nice addition to Union Square.