Stepping onto Seventh Avenue in Chelsea, I was immediately drawn in by a chalkboard sign outside Peter McManus Cafe. This wasn’t just any bar; established in 1936, Peter McManus is a New York City institution, renowned as one of the oldest and finest Irish bars in the city. While I knew it for its classic Irish pub ambiance and comforting dishes like corned beef and cabbage, especially around St. Patrick’s Day, this sign boldly proclaimed something different: “Best Burger In Town.”
Intrigued, I initially kept walking, thoughts of countless “best burger” claims swirling in my mind. Could this unassuming Irish bar truly house the ultimate burger experience amidst a city overflowing with gourmet options? Yet, a sense of hopeful anticipation lingered. What if this was it? What if Peter McManus Cafe held the key to the city’s best burger, saving us all from the endless quest?
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A warmly lit facade of Peter McManus Cafe, a historic Irish bar in Chelsea, New York City, inviting patrons into its classic ambiance.
Days later, curiosity got the better of me, and I found myself walking through the bustling barroom of Peter McManus Cafe. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with the cheerful chatter of patrons. Venturing further, I entered the quieter dining room, a space steeped in history and character. Oil portraits and Irish memorabilia adorned the walls, creating a cozy and nostalgic setting. Office workers populated the tables, unwinding after work with pitchers of beer and plates of cheesy nachos.
Settling into a comfortable corner booth, I ordered the “classic burger” – priced at a reasonable $12. What arrived was not the typical burger one might expect. It felt almost intentionally unconventional, perhaps a nod to older burger traditions, prompting me to wonder if other historic Irish bars in NYC served burgers in a similar style. This Peter McManus burger featured a generous half-pound of fresh beef, accompanied by tomato, crispy bacon, and raw onions. Notably absent were lettuce and cheese.
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The inviting dining room at Peter McManus Cafe, featuring red tablecloths, walls decorated with pictures, and a bottle of ketchup ready on each table for diners.
The burger deal was sweetened by the choice of steak fries or tater tots. Tater tots, the undeniably superior option, were chosen and arrived in abundance, perfectly browned and exceptionally crunchy. But the burger itself?
It was substantial and cooked to a juicy medium-rare, just as ordered. The bacon topping, piled high, provided a subtle smoky flavor. The raw onion, however, was the dominant element, lending each bite a sharp, almost steak tartare-like edge. While cooked medium-rare as requested, it leaned towards the rarer side. Leaving Peter McManus, satisfied and contemplating, I had to admit it was a very good burger, but “best in town”? That remained debatable.
My burger journey wasn’t over yet. A couple of days later, wandering through the West Village on Bleecker Street, another sign caught my eye, this time outside Suprema Provisions, an Italian grocery, salumeria, and restaurant. Their menu proclaimed their hamburger as the “highest rated burger in NYC.” Was “highest rated” just a different way of saying “best,” or was there a subtle implication that it might fall short?
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A Peter McManus Cafe burger, cut in half to showcase its rare, red interior, topped with a generous portion of bacon and raw onions, but no lettuce or cheese.
Naturally, I had to try the Suprema burger, if only to compare it to Peter McManus. A burger from an Italian restaurant felt slightly out of left field. Priced at $19, the Suprema burger boasted black garlic sauce, aged cheddar, roasted tomatoes, and Iberico Bellota jam (not the expensive ham, but jam).
Served alongside Brussels sprouts, the Suprema burger was visually overwhelming. A generous amount of black garlic sauce (or perhaps melted cheese) cascaded down its sides. The roasted tomato and the Iberico jam contributed a unique dark sweetness. Despite its messy presentation and unconventional appearance, the Suprema burger delivered on flavor, with the sauce resembling an over-applied, rich mayonnaise.
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The exterior of Suprema Provisions, a darkened restaurant facade on a city street at night, with hams hanging in the window, hinting at its Italian grocery and salumeria origins.
It was undeniably good. But “highest-rated”? The claim, it turned out, was attributed to the Gotham Burger Social Club, described as “Gotham’s premier burger club.” Burger clubs? Apparently, they are a thing. The New York Post even described this club as a “members-only, men-only society dedicated to seeking out the city’s best burgers.” Should we trust their judgment?
Ultimately, both burgers, from Peter McManus Cafe and Suprema Provisions, boasted about being the best in the city, yet neither definitively claimed the title. So, dear readers, are there other NYC burgers out there making similar claims? If so, please share your recommendations!
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A close-up of a menu sign at Suprema Provisions, boldly stating “Highest Rated Burger in NYC,” prompting the question of whether it lives up to the claim.
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The Suprema Provisions burger, a visually messy but flavorful creation, generously topped with a white sauce that spills over the sides, served with Brussels sprouts.
Suprema Provisions
305 Bleecker Street, Manhattan, NY 10014
(646) 964-4994
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Peter McManus
152 7th Ave, New York, NY 10011
(212) 929-9691
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