Burger & Barrel

"You know what happens when a chef at a popular seafood restaurant wins Food & Wine Festival’s Burger Bash? Naturally, said chef opens his own burger joint. Burger & Barrel is the burger establishment from Lure Fishbar chef Josh Capon. Capon took the burger crown in 2009 and has since been serving it on Lure's menu. When demand for the "Bash Burger" became overwhelming, expansion was the obvious move. Burger & Barrel was the result. When we first saw the photos of this place, we collectively rolled our eyes. Wine glasses and perfectly folded napkins on the table at something they're calling a "winepub?" Let's just say we were skeptical. But the joke is on us for judging a book by its cover. B&B is a serious burger joint, even though it happens to be slightly upscale. The burgers are all excellent, and the menu is stocked with all kinds of goodness including an awesome Sloppy Joe burger, the "Hush-Hush" (not on the menu), a very expensive truffle burger, a bunch of tasty apps and, the biggest surprise, one incredible plate of fried chicken. But what you really want is that Bash Burger. That thing didn't win an award for nothing. What award, we're not exactly sure. But it's very prestigious. Food Rundown Braised Short Rib Tacos Really good, but a little on the expensive side. Two small tacos for ten bucks? Up that ante to three tacos for ten bucks, and we’re in business. Oh and don’t order these if you don’t like spicy, as these tacos pack some heat. Chicken Lollipops These were a big hit - the smokey ancho chile BBQ sauce does it up real nice. B&B needs to make actual buffalo wings too, in the same sauce and deliver to my apartment in the East Village please. I’d order them every Sunday for football. Bash Style Burger Not too big and not too small, the burgers here are perfectly sized. The fourteen dollar Bash Burger is all kinds of juicy and served on a really nice brioche bun with caramelized onion, bacon jam (YES), pickles and American cheese. It’s incredible. Make sure you ask for the secret sauce with it too. Sloppy Josh A Sloppy Joe burger of the highest order, served with special sauce and cole slaw. Do it. Fried Chicken We were expecting an amazing burger, which we got. We weren’t expecting equally incredible fried chicken too. Wow, this stuff is up there with some of our favorites. Also worth noting, it's actually Cornish hen instead of chicken. Fries/Onion Rings Onion Rings come standard on top of every burger, which always scores a few points in our book. These rings are excellent. Also, we'd suggest going sweet potato fries over regular fries." - Andrew Steinthal