Island Burgers and Shakes
766 Ninth Avenue between 51st and 52nd Streets
New York, NY 10019
212-307-793
Technology-minded I am not, as evidenced by the ghastly washed out photograph above which does not do the burger justice. If you can put aside flash issues, note the slab of blue cheese. I’m so used to seeing that baby crumbled. I apologize for the picture but maybe it’s better than nothing.
Island is one of those places that keeps popping up on top NYC burger lists. Since Lisa and I needed pre-theater sustenance, I suggested we try Island Burgers and Shakes, and she agreed. Island is not a large space by any means. It’s probably as wide as a car. Or it seemed that way. The hipster employees kept bumping my chair. Island is decked out with a surfing theme: surfboards painted on the wall, a poster from The Endless Summer by the cash register. The menu is huge, with two pages of burgers and chicken sandwiches to select from. The menu also gets a little defensive about why fries are not served. They suggest baked potatoes as an alternative, but I didn’t feel like one. Lisa ordered a vanilla shake, and I tried a sample, mmm!
I was boring and got the regular old cheeseburger ($8.75) with blue (this place uses the bleu spelling) cheese. Burgers come standard with lettuce and red onion and pickles, but you have to request tomato. Huh. I ordered the meat well done which might have been a mistake here since the patty was dryish. Note to self: get burger done medium well next time I’m here. Island’s no Burger Joint, but it’s respectable.
