Gamechanger?

Burgers and pizza could sustain me forever. In an effort to reign my caloric intake, I've unfortunately had to curb the consumption of my beloved foods. However, certain occasions inspire me to forget about calorie counting and when my London bruv Aly Patel rolls into town, all bets are off.

I figured that it was finally time try out Bill's Bar & Burger in the Meatpacking. After they announced that they are opening up a massive outpost in 45 Rock (I work on the 7th floor of 45 Rock), I needed to figure out if this place was legit. I now fear that all my gym time over the past year might be a waste if I am an elevator-ride away from these delicious patties.

My gold-standard for burgers in New York is the Shack Burger. Bill's is on that level...plain and simple. The meat is wonderfully delicate and really well seasoned. The American cheese that tops it melts into the bun and meat and is unpretentious. The special sauce is not that special: thousand island dressing, but it works really well. The bun looks like the picture perfect sesame seed bun from a McDonald's commercial. The whole thing melted in my mouth and made me want ten more burgers (and once upon time, I could have polished off another ten).

The fries that come with it are awesome. They are even more awesome when covered in brisket chili: which is smoky and rich and turns the fries into a formidable side to the burger itself. I left most of them on the plate, but Aly P cleared his. I'm sure if Lord B was in town, he would have eaten us both under the table.

Bill's is definitely a worthy adversary to the Shack. It's also open "very late" on weekend evenings--meaning a post-Saturday night stopover is likely. Rumor has it the dogs are pretty delicious too. Just when you think the burger movement has reached a saturation point, Bill's comes along and remakes the landscape.

My milkshake brings...

I'm not really sure how I stumbled across Stand. My sandwich obsession, Num Pang, sits adjacent to it on E 12 St. and one day while waiting in line for a delicious pulled pork sandwich, I noticed Stand for the first time. I made a mental note to check it out and did not do much since.

Whilst on twitter one day, the incomparable Gail Simmons highlighted Stand's toasted marshmallow milkshake. This immediately got my attention, as marshmallows are one of my favorite confections. One night, desperate for dessert options, and sorely disappointed by Williamsburg's choices, my partners in crime and I hopped back on the L, destined for Stand.

Milkshakes are without a doubt my favorite libation. I have managed to limit my consumption over the years but that does not mean I love them any less. Stand's toasted marshmallow milkshake is one of the most unique milkshakes I have ever encountered. The milkshake itself is thick and creamy, in the best possible way, but still not viscous enough to require a spoon. The shake comes topped with whipped cream and two perfectly browned marshmallows. The marshmallows are toasted as if being filmed for a s'more commercial. The milkshake has a lingering aftertaste of burnt marshmallows, something that draws me back to those rare moments in my youth, when I did in fact, toast marshmallows. I have had this shake twice, and my latest dining companion was appalled by how into the milkshake I was.

That is not to say Stand is only good for milkshakes. The food press on Stand has been mixed, but I am definitely a fan. Given its proximity to my apartment, I do order takeout from Stand on occasion. One of my favorite options, is the salmon burger. Fish based burgers can be extremely inconsistent but they do carry the advantage of being more nutritionally dense than their bovine counterparts. Some tend to be dry and mealy, others are made from too many sea creatures which ultimately confuse my palate. The salmon burger at Stand is moist, flavorful, and comes on a great sesame seed bun. It is topped it tartar sauce, which I recommend on the side, should you be averse to over-saucing (a major problem for many NY restaurants). It is a great midweek option--healthy, flavorful, quick, and inexpensive.

Aside from the salmon burger, the straight up Stand Burger is certainly above average. The meat is mixed with parsely, chopped onions, and worcestershire sauce which gives it a more unique flavor, though it was more subtle than I would prefer. I did not love the special sauce it came with but all and all, it was a delicious burger that hit the spot. The fries, both regular and sweet potato, complement the burgers well. They are crispy, but not overly crunchy and are nicely salted. I would have preferred them to be slightly longer in length and think the sweet potato are the better choice, but this is more a matter of preference.

In summary, Stand is a solid option and worth a trip alone for the milkshakes. The fact it is a block for my apartment makes it a dangerous option for me. Oh yeah, and they are open until 4:00 AM (Only on Friday night's though).