Cubby's
Hamburger restaurant · Midtown West ·
Smashburgers, milkshakes, and tabletop ring toss games
Smashburgers, milkshakes, and tabletop ring toss games
"Need a smashburger in Hell's Kitchen? You need Cubby’s. Their classic smashburgers, hot dogs, and off-menu chopped cheeses are all appropriate when you're hoping to eat like the dirtbag with good taste that you are. We usually order the Sylvester Smash, a simple burger rendition with special sauce, pickles, and raw red onion. Find a spot at the counter, play some tabletop ring toss, and remember to dip your fries in malt or milkshake. Our only complaint about the 10th Avenue spot is that they close at 10pm, and this is most certainly drunk food." - bryan kim, willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman, molly fitzpatrick, ciera velarde
"The Order: Sylvester Smash ($11), fries ($4), vanilla malt ($8). Cubby’s, a small burger counter in Hell’s Kitchen, serves a Sylvester Smash atop a cloudlike bun, topped with nothing but crunchy slivered red onions, bread and butter pickles, and a special sauce. It’s no muss, no fuss, simple expression of the form, and very good. Dunk your fries in a malt while listening to showtunes at low volume and play a little bar ring toss at the marble counter while you’re here." - willa moore, neha talreja, will hartman, bryan kim
"While the chopped cheese isn’t technically on the menu at this Hell’s Kitchen burger shop (that also makes a killer malt, perfect for french fry-dipping), you can pretty much always get it. They serve them on their pillowy soft burger rolls, which do as good a job as they can containing the salty, well-caramelized beef. But the real reason we love this version is because of the addition of pickled jalapeños for some much needed acidity, and a touch of heat." - will hartman
"Need a smashburger in Hell's Kitchen? You need Cubby’s. Their classic smashburgers are more than appropriate when you're hoping for greasy fingers in the neighborhood. In lieu of the standard squishy potato bun, Cubby’s opts for something more like pillowy, airy milk bread. The bun does its best to hang on to its crunchy patty contents, while wrangling simple toppings like special sauce slivered red onion, and bread and butter pickles. That same bun is less equipped to handle their off-menu chopped cheese, though, some of which might end up in your lap. But it's salty and cheesy and satisfying, so you probably won't notice any stains until you get home. Our only complaint about Cubby's is that we wish it were open past 10pm. Its spirit is that of a place to pummel fries and a shake while listening to showtunes on the way home from a night out. So treat it as such, even if the sun hasn't set yet. Food Rundown Malt Sometimes, when you order a malt, it just tastes like a milkshake that spent a little too much time in a gym bag. Not at Cubby’s. This malt is sweet with some lactic tang. Dunk your fries. photo credit: Will Hartman Chacho Chopped Cheese If you like a salty chopped cheese, get this. It's technically on the "secret" menu, so you'll have to ask for it. The soft bun breaks from the bodega tradition of a kaiser roll, and it works—though you're going to make a mess. We especially love the addition of pickled jalapeños for a nice little acidic kick photo credit: Will Hartman Sylvester Smash Cubby's has a couple of variations of the smashburger on their menu, but the Sylvester is our favorite because it’s only topped with a special sauce, thinly sliced raw red onion, and pickles. The burger itself is crusty, the cheese is melty, and that bun is pillowy and soft. If you’re a smashburger enthusiast, you'll be pleased." - Will Hartman
"From Charles Guenancia and Leila Colbert, Cubby’s channels comfort food with burgers, onion rings, and milkshakes in Hell’s Kitchen." - Emma Orlow
