Minetta Tavern's Black Label, The Return

Andrew makes any burger better! Just so you know...

This burger was crazy good - a beautifully-seasoned, perfectly cooked (medium rare, with a crispy sear) bit of juicy goodness. The onion topping added a nice touch of sweetness without getting in the way. The bun was just right - lightly toasted, it held together through all the drippings.

The fries - a-MAZ-ing. Perfect crisp/chew ratio (not too hard or too chewy), well-salted (but not too much), delicious.

This is an expensive burger, but worth the splurge.

The first bite of this burger confirmed everything I had heard - it lived up to the lore. This was a meat-forward experience, and it did not disappoint. The bun was light in texture, but it rather magically held up to the patty and sustained its juiciness. There were not many toppings to speak of, and that worked for me. The fries were crispy and plentiful (overall the plate was not quite enough to validate a higher value rating for a steep $33...). Staff were attentive, music was on point and the overall atmosphere was a cozy breath of fresh air after the disappointing (dare I say hostile?) environment at Momofuku Nishi. Andrew was going to get a 5 as a person, but then he revealed he had been waiting outside in order to trick us into thinking he would be late, so for his falseness he's now down to a 2.

There are few burgers that could cheer a soul struggling with the disorienting absence of Andrew at our table, but the Black Label Burger was certainly a most welcome, and potent, antidote. A texture that both crunches and crumbles; a bun that unobtrusively, and sesame-ingly supports; a juiciness that is perfectly enhanced by onions that obliterates the necessity for any other toppings -- this one does Cows proud. Because this day and age requires some criticism amidst so much burger joy, the fries -- though perfectly sized, and overall delightful -- fell victim to the passage of time...but so do we all.

This is the best burger I have tasted with Burger Club, placing it high in the running for best burger I've had period.

Perfect salty grade A beef with nothing standing in the way, not even cheese. Even the bun, while structurally sound, melts away with each bite, leaving only the monumental burger.

The only points I'm knocking off are for the fries, which I felt were slightly overdone, and the bus boys who treated the back of my neck like a fucking splash guard for their bread carving station.

Andrew played a near flawless game today. So he gets a 6.

A smooth and juicy meatsplosion in a bun. I honestly thought it was bit little one dimensional, but it does nail that one meaty dimension. Fries were great. Venue is nice other than having to eat like a T-Rex because there is no room for elbows at the tables. The only significant knock is the price of admission. It's enough to make one reflect on their life choices after paying so much for a burger.

For Andrew: 5. This was Andrew's best day. I don't know if I'm euphoric about the burger but Andrew looked sharp, was on time, and was pleasant company. Maybe because he was hungover? Anything is possible in this new world, I guess.

The burger was incredible. The fries were incomparable. I even liked the pickle. It's expensive, of course, but it's worth it. I can't believe I've had this burger twice in my life and some people never have. It's an american tragedy.

Salted just to the brink, meat forward, holy shit of a burger. For over a year this burger has been heralded by neighbs as "better than mediocre sex" and indeed it was.

I like Andrews's haircut and I got a high five on my way back from the bathroom. 7/10

I'm going in high with this one, because I just can't imagine a better burger as far as taste and quality. Value is hard here but andrew asked "do you feel like you got what you paid for?" and by god, I do.

Andrew gets an 8 from me today, which is a real big swing for me. He was on time, great outfit, and he was out til 5am the night before and didn't show it. Also, he talked to be about camping gear at the outset which really got me going. Only reason he isn't a 10 is because he didn't pay for my burger and he faked us out when he though my burgers were coming out for us and they weren't. Also I'll miss him in Feb. I guess I'm in a giving mood.

Pickle not so great. That burger tho. Oh god it was a religious experience. Post eaten depression has set in. The salt perfection, the perfect cook, that bun!

Andrew gets a 5/10 because he was on time and put together despite having a long night. But he is leaving for a month and there will be no burgers next month which is upsetting.