Burgers. Big, messy, juicy burgers. They call out to me in my sleep, and I lick my grease-laden hands when I devour them. There’s nothing quite like a meaty, sloppy, scrumptious slab of meat sandwiched between two carbohydrate-heavy discs. I sure do love me a good burger!
I recently visited Bareburger in Greenwich Village, a restaurant that boasts free-range, grass-fed meats. In addition to the typical beef, turkey and veggie, Bareburger also offered portabella, lamb, elk, bison and ostrich – yum! Also, you get to choose among a brioche bun, multi-grain roll, iceberg lettuce wrap, a wheat flour rap, or a gluten-free tapioca rice bun. I admit I don’t know as much about the beef industry as I can, but I do know a tasty burger when I see one.
Bareburger had a quaint, lively ambiance and friendly staff. After perusing the menu:
…my eating buddies and I decided to start with an appetizer special of fried pickles – hey, that counts as veggies….right?
The pickles were hot out of the fryer, crispy and tangy. Accompanied by a spicy horseradish mayo, these chips made the perfect prelude of the burger goodness to come.
For my burger, I ordered the Bacon Cheese Bareburger (raw milk cheddar, applewood smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato, raw red onion and mayo) with the recommended meat – bison:
The first thing I noticed was that the burger was extremely tall – it required a great deal of vigorous smooshing to get a good bite. The bacon was delicious -I know it goes without saying, but sometimes even bacon has it’s better days; this was one of them. The bison meat was a little less juicy than I’m used to, but I’m not sure if that’s typical of bison meat. In all, a good rendition of the classic bacon cheeseburger.
Eating Buddy #1 ordered the Pesto Red Pepper Burger (smoked mozzarella, roasted red peppers, baby spinach
and bareburger pesto mayo) with beef:
The pesto mayo was absolutely scrumptious, and the baby spinach almost made one feel healthy about eating it….until you got to the smoked mozz. Mmmmmm.
Eating Buddy #2 ordered the Jalapeno Express (first picture), with the recommended elk meet, and pepperjack, romaine lettuce, tomato, raw red onion, jalapeno relish, horseradish mayo and chipotle ketchup. If Buddy’s clean plate was any indication of the burger’s deliciousness, it was indeed a scrumptious meal.
Eating Buddy #3 ordered the Maui Wowie Burger (smoked mozzarella, grilled pineapple, canadian bacon, fried onions, roasted red peppers and ranch dressing) on a brioche bun:
The pineapple added a sweet tang to the this meaty, hearty burger, while the fried onions provided crunchy texture. This one was so fragrant!
At around $10 per burger, Bareburger‘s prices aren’t outrageous for a sit-down meal in the Village. I especially appreciated the variety of burger meats offered, giving me a chance to try something new. During warmer days, the Greenwich Village location even has some nice outdoor seating so you can people-watch while you devour a juicy chunk of meat (or veg). If you’re ever in lower Manhattan, give Bareburger a try!
535 La Guardia Place (btw W. 3rd/Bleecker)
212. 477.8125
