{"id":375433,"date":"2026-10-17T03:52:38","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T03:52:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/375433\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T03:52:38","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T03:52:38","slug":"how-to-make-the-perfect-burger","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/375433\/","title":{"rendered":"How to make the perfect burger"},"content":{"rendered":"

I am not a foodie. Any friends of mine will probably tell you I have the palate of a ten-year-old. And I am ok with that. Hell, don\u2019t get mad at me because I found all the foods I love when I was a child. You can keep your expensive seafood and works of art on a plate for the price of a competition bike. Give me the $1.50 slice, the hot dog<\/a> outside Central Park, and a good burger that makes your mouth water. Oh, you need something a little more elevated? Fine, give me a steak, mashed potatoes, and an old fashioned. <\/p>\n

Anyway, since moving to NYC, I have been on the hunt for the greatest burger in the city, and when I stepped into Gotham Burger, I may have accomplished the feat. Is it a work of art on a plate? Nope, it is just a burger. Uncomplicated. Simple. Mouthwatering. <\/p>\n

I was just a guy who loved burgers and started getting friends together to try different spots around New York. I\u2019ve probably eaten more than a thousand burgers at this point, and I\u2019m still discovering new things. \u2013 Mike Puma, Owner and Founder of Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t overcomplicate it<\/p>\n

\"Burger,<\/p>\n

\t\tPatrick Dolande \/ Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

When I walked into Gotham Burger for the first time, I was transported. It didn\u2019t feel like New York City any longer. It felt like I was back home, in the country. A flyover state vibe. Taxidermy, old west portraits, and cowboy hats everywhere. You may be asking why. Well, because nobody puts together a good cheeseburger like a cowboy. And Mike. When I met the owner of the establishment, he wasn\u2019t what I was expecting. You see, he is from New York<\/a>. But when he walked out in jeans, cowboy boots, a dad hat, and a pearl snap shirt, I realized all my preconceived notions about restaurant owners in NYC were completely wrong. <\/p>\n

So, then I asked him, \u201cHow did you do this?\u201d It was one of the best burgers I have ever eaten. Tell me the secret. Since I don\u2019t come across as someone who could ever start a restaurant (good instincts on his part), he decided to give me a few tips on making a burger at home. <\/p>\n

\u201cLet a few great ingredients do the work. I think people tend to overcomplicate burgers when, at the end of the day, it\u2019s really about getting the basics right. Start with great beef, a good bun, and fresh ingredients. You don\u2019t need a dozen toppings or some crazy sauce to make a burger memorable. When everything is done right, the simplest burger can be the best one you\u2019ve ever had.\u201d<\/p>\n

What is it about the smash?<\/p>\n

\"Food,<\/p>\n

\t\tPatrick Dolande \/ Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

Twenty years ago, I had never heard of a smashburger. All burgers were thick beef and toppings. Then, squishing them down to be as flat as a pancake became a \u201csmash\u201d hit (if you\u2019re not rolling your eyes at the pun, then we probably can\u2019t be friends). But now they are everywhere. Since Mike\u2019s timeline lines up to assume he was one of the first to launch this phenomenon, I wanted his take. <\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s all about the crust! When you smash beef onto a ripping-hot griddle, you create that incredible caramelized crust that gives a smash burger so much of its flavor and texture. You get these crispy, slightly lacy edges while the inside stays juicy. That contrast is what makes a great smash burger so satisfying. When it\u2019s done right, every bite has a little crunch, a lot of beef flavor, and just the right amount of richness.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spices or condiments?<\/p>\n

\"Burger,<\/p>\n

\t\tPatrick Dolande \/ Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

The perfect burger. Is it about the meat? Or is it about the special sauce? I mean, it always feels like the biggest secret surrounds the special sauce more than the meat. But what do I know? <\/p>\n

\u201cSpices, without question. The wrong seasoning can completely throw off a great burger. In my opinion, good beef only needs salt. If you\u2019re starting with a quality blend, you want to taste the meat, not cover it up with a bunch of spices. Condiments are important too, but they should complement the burger rather than overpower it. A little sauce, some pickles, onions, and cheese can go a long way. It\u2019s all about balance.\u201d<\/p>\n

Make the perfect burger at home<\/p>\n

\"Burger,<\/p>\n

\t\tPatrick Dolande \/ Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

What\u2019s the secret? Good beef? Salt? Pickles and onions? The iconic toasting of just one side of the bun the way he does it in Gotham Burger? What is the secret to making a good burger at home? I need to know, because I am quickly starting to crave one of his smashburgers<\/a>. <\/p>\n

\u201cFirst, find a great prime beef blend with a high fat content. Fat equals flavor, and you want enough of it to keep the burger juicy and develop that beautiful crust. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask your butcher for recommendations. And give the bun just as much attention as the beef! People underestimate how important the bun is to the overall burger experience. It needs to be soft, hold everything together, and complement the meat without overwhelming it. Toast it, too. A great burger is about how every component works together. And if you\u2019re making smash burgers, make sure your cooking surface is really hot before the beef hits it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Become the \u201cburger guy\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Adult,<\/p>\n

\t\tPatrick Dolande \/ Gotham Burger<\/p>\n

Every guy group needs a \u201cguy\u201d for everything. Honestly, it may be the reason some guys are even still friends. Do you like that guy? Honestly? Or is he just the \u201ccar guy\u201d that can tell you what\u2019s wrong with the whip just by listening? Look, I am not saying I am a manipulative guy; what I am saying is that guys see value in a man\u2019s knowledge and passion. And being the \u201cburger guy\u201d sounds like it\u2019s right up my alley. So, how do you become that guy? <\/p>\n

\u201cEat as many different burgers as you can! That\u2019s literally how this whole thing started for me. I was just a guy who loved burgers and started getting friends together to try different spots around New York. I\u2019ve probably eaten more than a thousand burgers at this point, and I\u2019m still discovering new things. Don\u2019t just go to the famous places or follow whatever\u2019s trending on social media. Some of the best burgers you\u2019ll ever have are hiding in neighborhood bars, old-school diners, and places you\u2019d never expect. Pay attention to what makes each one great, figure out what you like, and develop your own style. And most importantly, have fun with it. A great burger should never be that serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you want to make your burgers at home and perfect the craft, all the more power to you. But Mike and Gotham Burger<\/a> make it difficult to justify when his are already perfected for $10. In Manhattan\u2026a $10 burger? Unheard of. Oh, and also in Williamsburg now, so no reason to come to the city if you would rather stay on the other side of the East River. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"I am not a foodie. Any friends of mine will probably tell you I have the palate of…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":375434,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[1070,289,9,56,63,65,64,2578],"class_list":["post-375433","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-new-york-city","tag-food","tag-food-drink","tag-new-york","tag-ny","tag-nyc","tag-nyc-headlines","tag-nyc-news","tag-premium"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375433","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=375433"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/375433\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/375434"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=375433"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=375433"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=375433"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}