Eat Chic: The Best Burgers in NYC

We're fairly certain that not one New Yorker will dispute that these burgers are the most decadent, luxe items one can place between two ends of a bun. While the Minetta Burger is a classic not to be discounted, the Black Label Burger is truly this NY staple's star dish. Prime dry-aged beef topped with caramelized onions and served with pommes frites, this perfectly cooked patty is as important to the food DNA of New York City as the hot pretzel, the bagel and the top-notch pizza slice.

Minetta Tavern, 113 MacDougal Street

This sometimes-on-sometimes-off menu burger is the best kept secret on the NoMad hotel's American tavern meets English pub eatery, and is topped with white cheddar, a special house sauce, and pickled red onion. The decadent flavors pair perfectly with the strong drinks and savory appetizers. Note: they may not ask you how you'd like your burger cooked here...because they shouldn't have to in order to nail the perfect temp. However, do specify if you'd like it cooked to any temperature other than medium rare. Fun fact: Regardless of where you dig in, ordering your meat at any temperature past medium usually indicates to the chef that you won't taste the difference between high quality beef and a sub-par cut, and so less reputable spots will even go as far as to serve you something that's not up to snuff. If you're ordering a burger from a place on this list, odds are it'll most likely ruin the texture and flavor of how the patty is intended to taste.

The Nomad Bar, 10 West 28th Street

Ralph Lauren's New York restaurant, The Polo Bar, is naturally dedicated to American classics. On the menu, a stellar shrimp cocktail and delicious pigs in a blanket are joined by the restaurant's namesake burger, served with classic toppings (no shock there) like tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, cheddar and crispy bacon and hand-cut fries. Like the rest of Ralph's brand, this chic New York destination knows how to deliver perfectly executed versions of American staples, and this dish is Exhibit A.

The Polo Bar, 1 East 55th Street

A well curated wine list and perfectly crafted cocktails–like a smoked Manhattan or a classic martini–pair perfectly with this swanky spot's grass-fed beef burger topped with red wine caramelized onions and cheese on a brioche bun and served with a side of herb frites (or truffled ones if you ask nicely for a substitution). If you're feeling fancy, go for their super-luxe house burger of dry-aged beef with the same toppings. Dijon mustard almost feels like a requisite topper for this patty, whose sweet onion jam pairs perfectly with something a bit more acidic.Dining in the dark wood bar or intimate dining room is the perfect environment for this hearty version of the classic.

The Beatrice Inn, 285 West 12th Street

Keith McNally, responsible for other top-tier burger establishments like Minetta Tavern and Odeon, opened this charming French eatery and obviously couldn't resist topping off the menu with not one, but two killer burgers. The restaurant's namesake burger boasts a more untraditional set of top-offs: bacon marmalade, roasted mushrooms and aged Gruyère. You may find yourself doing a double take when deciding between this dish and the Black Label Burger, which McNally rolled over from Minetta Tavern due to it's popularity. Both are served with pommes frites and are best enjoyed at the eatery's enchanting bar with a well-done martini.

Cherche Midi, 282 Bowery

Feeling like the food scene is delivering too many artisan versions of the patties you enjoyed as a kid with your choice of classic toppings? This spot, located on the Upper East Side with another branch on SoHo's Bleecker Street, has got your back. A cash only establishment full of ephemera from their years flipping burgers and serving up ruffle-cut fries, this spot is the place to go for a no-fuss, no frills burger experience.

JG Melon, 1291 3rd Avenue

No bun and tartare-level rare, this is the most unexpected burger in the city–and we cannot get enough of it. We know, we know–a bun and your choice of temperature feels sacrilege to live without, but this tartare-meets-burger topped with fried herbs is to die for, packed with flavor and utterly addictive. Served in an unexpected environment–Via Carota serves rustic Italian and French skewed share plates–this is something you will likely be ordering a second round of after devouring it minutes after it hits the table.

Via Carota, 51 Grove Street

This is our favorite beef-less burger. A more Meditteranean option awaits you at The Ace Hotel's The Breslin in the Flatiron district, where a chargrilled lamb burger with feta, cumin mayo is served on a crusty ciabatta roll and served with heavenly thrice cooked chips. Packed with flavor and deliciously unexpected, this is a nice departure from the basics but still offers all the comfort-food level qualities of a bar menu staple.

The Breslin, 16 West 29th Street

You have likely heard of this burger joint–or visited it in one of its many, many locations across the country. Danny Meyer's ingenious fast food concept (he's the hospitality guru behind New York's top restaurant, Eleven Madison Park among other superstar spots) hearkens back to childhood diner memories of hot dogs, crinkle-cut fries, custard shakes and a juicy slim patty on a soft bun. Don't let lines around the block deter you–this level of delicious is worth waiting for.

Shake Shack, Madison Avenue & East 23rd Street (among others)

In the basement of the luxe Le Parker Meridien hotel (with another location in Greenwich Village) lies Burger Joint, a casual straightforward way to get an absolutely standout cheeseburger. Their name and menu don't leave much to the imagination; if you are on the hunt for this staple done right and without much pomp and circumstance, head here.

Burger Joint, 33 W. 8th Street