Imtiaz Sayed
Google
These days, Burgers at a place run by Hogsalt Group (4 Charles Prime, Au Cheval, Monkey Bar etc) are the local favorites. But try finding a table at 4 Charles Prime, yep, the tables open 21 days in advance, and are almost immediately all gone.
Almost all good Burger Joints in NYC, 7th Street Burger, Hamburger America, are all busy. Success is well deserved. These places are well organized, well run and aim for excellence. They make NYC proud.
Then there is a tiny shoe box sized burger joint in Hackensack NJ - White Manna. It opened in 1939 at World ‘s Fair and then moved to Hackensack (NJ) in 1946. It opened in NJ before the first McDonald opened in NJ.
Cheeseburger at one of the places mentioned above (in NYC), will set you back $40. A slider at White Mana costs $2.50. One is uber gourmet, the other is just a simple slider (with onions if you prefer).
So, while the places in NYC are pristine, White Mana is a poster child for chaos control. One person takes the order for burgers; another takes the order for fries; and a third for drinks. All this in a tiny place, while you move around looking for a place to sit. You eventually sit by the counter and watch the guy make the burgers. Typically, I order and finish my fries before I get a chance to place my order for the burgers. I get a seat at the counter after I place my burger order. White Manna is quintessential NJ, eventually everything works out. Somehow, they remember who ordered what, and you leave hoping to return soon.
Tomorrow there will newer and better burger joints in NYC. Their operations will be more immaculate, and their ambience even more amazing. BUT as a betting person I feel we will always have White Manna in NJ. It will be chaotic, and it will always have awesome sliders.