New York Style Steak & Burger1

★★★☆☆

Tucked away in the Taikang Lu art complex (though art is actually now hard to find here as clothing stores, cafés and bars have taken over…), New York Style Steak & Burger has been grilling steaks and burgers for just over seven months.  And although new to the scene, they have definitely made their mark in the form of delicious meat in between grilled sesame buns.

I trekked over to the eatery – it offers far more than a mere burger joint – with a few visiting relatives.  In need of a break from Shanghai’s oily, MSG plagued cuisine, we needed a little reminder of home.  Although they were not the best burgers we’ve ever had, they surely satiated our want for something American and comforting.

To begin, we succumbed to the tempting Onion Stack (25元).  Lightly fried and served with a mild dipping sauce, the rings were not exactly what we expected – but we gladly welcomed the lack of heavy batter in which most rings are usually dipped.

I ordered the Atomic (55元), my cousin opted for the Big Boy (38元), and my aunt went for the Big Bleu (38元).  The latter two were fairly cheap because they ordered the Petite versions (just 1/3 pound, instead of the normal portion of ½ pound of meat).

Not me.

As you might guess, the Atomic was slathered in buffalo sauce, jalapeños, fried onions and ranch dressing.  I took off the onions, as I had my fill with the aforementioned starter.  Cooked medium rare, the burger itself was great – the other stuff, however, I could have done without.  I was expecting lip-burning buffalo sauce – while the sauce served was tasty, there wasn’t much spice to it.

The Big Bleu – boasting a caramelized shallot jam, crispy bacon, fried onions, and bleu cheese – was also just a little bit off.  The overall taste of this burger was actually overpowered by the layers of its condiments.  There was too much going on here.

As expected, the Big Boy – changed to a Little Girl, as it was petite – was predictably good and satisfied my cousin’s need for something less Chinese.  Well executed, the burger was simply grilled and topped with cheddar cheese and standard vegetables – lettuce, pickles, onions, and tomatoes.  It reminded us that sometimes burgers just simply need to be burgers.

Regardless of our complaints, these burgers – plus a few beers – absolutely hit the spot.

Large portions of tasty food, a good beer list, and three floors of eating space is definitely a great formula for a successful eatery in this city.  When in need of some hamburger bliss, and a break from all those “original” photography shops, wander over here.

• ¥¥-¥¥¥
• New York Style Steak & Burger
• 22, Lane 155 Jianguo Lu near Ruijin Er Lu
• Former French Concession
• 电话: +86 5465 1676