With no sign of relenting, the Burger Juggernaut is in full swing. As Long Island awaits the onslaught of national chains including Smashburger, Red Robin, (opening soon in Carle Place) and the imminent debut of Sonic in Deer Park, these new local start-ups and one franchisee, enter the fray.
Joe’s Burger Shack
69 Pine Hollow Rd., Oyster Bay
516-922-2230
This newly opened spot has the throwback look of a roadside drive-in that’s been here forever. Single burgers are for the kiddies, the one to get here is the quarter-pounder ($2.35) on a soft bun with onions, pickles and ketchup. The burger, freshly made and delivered from a butcher every day, is more than decent for the price and doubling up with an extra patty should satisfy most appetites. Fresh cut fries are outstanding. Grab one of two picnic tables or retreat to your car like the old days.
Jake’s Wayback Burgers
5288 Sunrise Hwy., Massapequa Park
516-799-6100. www.waybackburgers.com
It takes a lot of nerve to open a two-buck burger joint in Massapequa, the home of All American Burger and therefore the epicenter of Long Island’s two-buck burger universe and the very spot where a franchisee of Fatburger opened and closed. I’ve gobbled these burgers at the original roadside shack near the University of Delaware when they were just Jake’s Hamburgers and they give AAB a run for their money. Burgers are one size—the Junior Burger ($2.69)—but patties can be doubled (Jake Burger) and tripled (Big Jake). They’re prepared after you order with freshly ground meat slapped into ragged patties and topped with everything (lettuce, tomatoes, onions (chopped or grilled), pickles and mustard and ketchup. No pink sauce. These are what Five Guys’ burgers used to be like before the rapid expansion. Check the website for openings in East Northport, East Meadow and Long Beach.
The Burger Shack
3672 Rte. 112, Coram
631-320-0303. www.burgershackny.com
Opened in November, this old house offers quarter-pounders ($3.39) and half-pounders ($5.39) freshly ground at the Cow Palace Butcher Shop and delivered twice daily, then hand-formed, grilled to order and served on soft sesame seed buns with LTPOK. Fries are frozen but twice cooked and crispy. Variations include the Burger From Hell with jalapenos and habanero sauce. A Boar’s Head frank covered with bacon and cheese is called the ICU.
Top Bunz
337 New York Ave., Huntington
631-923-1100. www.topbunz.com
American Roadside Burger is still cooking in Smithtown, but they closed their Hicksville store and this original location in Huntington has morphed into Top Bunz. Emulating ARB, they offer freshly ground quarter pound burgers ($3.52), hand-formed and cooked after you order, with your choice of bun, a variety of sauces and lots of toppings including grilled onions, jalapenos and mushrooms. It’s a very satisfying burger, more flavorful than most. They’ve got Top Dogs, Crabby Patty, Pulled Pork and Steak sandwiches among other items. They still have Bosco soda and now deep fried Oreos and Twinkies.
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Tweaters Digest
Get instant news on restaurants on LI and everywhere else Ron Beigel eats; follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TweatersDigest and on Facebook by searching “Eaters Digest-LI Press.”