Like most people, I enjoy a good deal. And ever since moving to NYC, where I rarely eat a meal for less than $12 (unless it’s one of those amazing $.99 slices), I get especially excited about great deals on food. That’s one of the best parts about visiting WI - I can eat out every day and not feel guilty about it, because the food is so affordable! And back in Wisco, you always get a lot of food - it’s a real meal, complete with sides and a drink already included. NYC - erm, not so much.
Like many people from Wisconsin, I also enjoy a good burger. Not a “Good Burger” (I’ve actually never been there, though I see the one on 58th and 8th often enough), but just a delectable, juicy, meaty burger. So, imagine my delight when I discovered a swanky, old-school, beached out décor burger joint called Island Burgers and Shakes right around the corner from my apartment. The first time I went there was actually the night I saw the apartment, and walking home from dinner was when I decided to move to HK. Anywho, this is a pretty amazing burger place. I have never seen such a menu of burger choices! They have 5 different categories of burger alone based on hotness, with each category having a slew of burger names ranging from ordinary to generally descriptive of the innards, to eyebrow-raisingly intriguing (Napalm), to downright sophisticated (Princess Grace, anyone?). The ingredients cover all manner of foods, including: peppers, avocado, bacon, chili, curry, pesto, eggs, salsa, ham, and 9 different cheeses. There are so many choices, it’s difficult to decide which burger to get. I’ve had the Jalapeno and Jack, the Bourbon Street (blackened, bacon, jack, bayou mayo, sautéed onions on sourdough), and something else that I can’t remember because I’d just had 15 vials of blood drawn and Carolyn ordered something that I snarfed down and then proceeded to sleep for 2 days. Strange thing is, you need to order the fries separately; same with a drink. But everything is always incredibly delicious. And the burgers are so massive you probably don’t need (or shouldn’t get, for your arteries’ sake) any sides or appetizers. The downside to this place is the price. Burgers range from $9 - $12.75, which is pretty normal for NYC prices, but it still makes the Midwestern girl inside me grit her teeth at the cost. And that’s just the price of the burger, which comes with lettuce, red onion, and pickles on the side. A side of fries is $3.75, and their shakes (you can choose from vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, and Black & White) are $5.75, and not particularly large. And maybe it’s another Midwestern thing, but I like getting the shake in the glass along with the extra, enough for another almost full glass, in the metal mixer cup. Yeah, that doesn’t happen in NYC. So, to get a “full meal” - burger, fries, shake - will cost about $20, not including tax and tip. YIKES! For a non-wealthy actress, that’s kinda pricy for a meal that’s not really a special occasion.
But, oh ho! Dear readers, this tale is not done! I haven’t told you my secret yet. And I shouldn’t like to leave you so unsatisfied and depressed at how much was spent on a single meal that, while delicious, left you feeling slightly ill because: A)You spent more than you thought a burger, fries, and shake would cost, and B) There was so much of the delicious, but kind of strange, combination of ingredients, that you ate the whole thing really fast and only then realized you probably shouldn’t have done that. But on with the tale!
To continue, we need to go back. Last week I met up with the fantastic Lizzy for a girls night out in NYC. Granted, this happened to be a Tuesday night at about 6.30pm. Yeah. We’re wild. And being in Hell’s Kitchen, of course we had no idea where to go eat, so we decided to wander around and peruse our options while we let our appetites perculate. We meandered over to Broadway and up past The Broadway Theatre on 53rd, when all of a sudden, Lizzy did this cat like thing of freaking out then acting all cool like nothing had happened and totally downplaying the situation. Never having been to this particular restaurant before, I had no idea what the fuss was about. But then, oh dear friends, then, Lizzy introduced me to the glorious wonder that is Steak ’n Shake. Now, apparently Lizzy and Steak ’n Shake go way back, as the first one was started in her hometown of Normal, IL. And while it’s mainly a midwester thing with about 500 locations ranging all over the middle states, this little gem opened in NYC January of 2012, and they plan to open 25 in Southern California.
Now, let’s just start at the beginning. We walk in and are greeted by a tall woman in a red and black uniform with a short skirt and heels. Add some yellow into the mix and you get the restaurant’s color scheme - a retro feel with red counters, black and yellow chairs, neon red and yellow lights, complete with a sparkle-fied print of Marilyn Monroe on the wall. The menu, while small compared to most Steak ’n Shakes (or so I’m told, and judging from their online menu), is still full of delicious options at crazy affordable prices! “How crazy affordable?” you may ask. Well, dear readers, I will tell you. I got a meal of a Guacamole burger, French fries, and a Specialty Shake (cookies and cream) for only $9.23!! Yes. $9.23. And the portions were just right! The burger was big, but you didn’t need a knife to cut it (as I’ve seen at IB&S). The fries were beautiful little works of art that obviously were potatoes and not some sort of perfectly created golden stick of ingredients and chemicals created in a lab like you find at McDs or BK. And the shakes. Oh, the shakes. They are real shakes, dear readers. Perfectly sized, and complete with whipped cream and a cherry. They have regular shakes (Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, and Banana) for only $2.99 and Specialty Shakes (M&M, Cookies ’n Cream, Peanut Butter Cup, Cookie Dough, and other delectable flavors) for only $3.49! (Or you can get a split shake, where you get two flavors for the price of 1. What?!) The last place I really enjoyed the shakes (size and price) at was Best Burgers and Shakes on 46th, but they closed down some time ago, and only had Chocolate and Vanilla.
Since being introduced to the glorious, stomach filling wonder that is Steak ’n Shake (which happened to be exactly 1 week ago), I’ve been there three times. Yeah. Maybe a bit excessive, but their food is excellent, and doesn’t leave you feeling gross and over-filled; but rather, you (or at least I) leave feeling like you’ve just eaten a really good, fresh meal, and happy that it didn’t break your wallet. Overall, the quality, quantity, and price of the new Steak ’n Shake can’t be beaten.
So, there it is, my dear readers. The secret is out. There is a brand spankin’ new burger joint in NYC: Steak n’ Shake, Broadway btwn 53rd and 54th. Now you know. Use this knowledge well.