I went to The Corner Bistro a long time ago and did not like it! I remember that my burger was overcooked and dry. But, after hearing that it might be one of the best burgers in New York, I decided to go back!
I like the place: it is a simple place with an authentic feel accentuated by the old wooden furnitures. There are two rooms: at the entrance, one with the bar and some big TVs and a back room. During the week, it is not that crowded, but can be during the week end. This place has definitely a history! Officially, The Corner Bistro opened in 1961, after being purchased by a business woman named Tania de Gomez who tried to make a French bistro. Unfortunately, it did not work and she sold the restaurant, once bar tended by Yoko Ono, within a year. It ended up in the hands of Bill O'Donnell in 1967. Since then, The Corner Bistro has been serving burgers to locals, artists, actors, writers...and it became a burger institution.
The menu is pretty straight forward: hamburger, cheeseburger, chicken sandwich, grilled cheese and chili (including chili burger) compose the menu. For the sides, there is only one choice: fries.
After few minutes, the burger comes!
All plates are plastic ones and they give you extra napkins....The cheeseburger comes with a slice of onion on which the thick patty is placed. They also give you lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. The cheese is American cheese. The bun is a regular hamburger bun that you would find in your supermarket; it has been toasted. The proportion bread / meat is perfect!
At first, you cannot not notice the nice smell of the burger. The meat looks juicy with a nice char on the outside. I ditch the onion, lettuce and tomatoes and put some ketchup and mayonnaise. The first bite is divine! The you get different layers of flavor between the bread, the cheese, the meat and surprisingly the onion taste that sticked to the meat! The meat is perfectly cooked and juicy.
The fries are shoestring fries: they are crispy and lightly salted. They are simply great!
At the end of the day, I loved the burger at The Corner Bistro and I am happy that I went back to give them another chance!
Enjoy (I did)!
And remember: I just want to eat!
