Pop Burger Restaurant New York

Pop Burger (Burgers / Meatpacking District / $$)
60 9th Avenue (between 14 St & 14th St)
(212) 414-8686
www.popburger.com

The juicy little burgers at this late-night, cheap-chic Meatpacking (and Midtown) twosome go down well after a night of partying; choose between the cool canteen or swank lounge – but stick to takeout if you’re over 30. Pop Burger serves as a fine example of the New York restaurant dichotomy – serving typical food, but adding something special enough to separate it from the thousands of other places that serve the exact same thing. This restaurant, with locations in Meatpacking and (less widely known) in Midtown, offers a unique experience while eating their “little” burgers. The front of Pop Burger, known as “the counter,” is a dark eatery, with modern white walls, cut-out fonts and long, long tables set in front of an ordering window. The back, however, is a proto-typical Meatpacking lounge with comfy couches, fries served in elongated wine glasses, and a DJ pumping beats to boot. Eating at Pop Burger is as much about the location and ambiance, as it is about the food.

The “counter” features of a cheaper menu than the lounge. Notable items include: the POP burgers (two for $6.75), which are scrumptious sliders with cheese, lettuce, tomato and ketchup; and the grilled chicken sandwich ($8.75), served with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise. The lounge has two menus: daytime and nighttime. Half the menu is the same, except 30% more expensive at night. The Pop Burgers are three for $12 during the daytime and $15 at night. During the day, try the New England-style lobster rolls with chips ($25), the sliced steak salad ($20), and the mini hot dogs with four condiments ($15). At night, recommended dishes include: individual lobster nachos with guacamole ($20), duck confit egg rolls with dipping sauce ($14), straight-up steak with fries and watercress ($24), and grilled baby lamb chops with rosemary ($22). As expected, the lounge also features a long list of cocktails and wines.

Known as a prime mid- to after-clubbing hangout (read “after-2 AM”), the restaurant’s crowd is a mix of lost tourists, short-skirted clubbers, briefcase-toting businessmen and late-night riffraff. Adding to the desirability is the ease of entry, especially when compared to the long lines in front of the Meatpacking District club staples: Cain, Pink Elephant, and Tenjune. After a wild night at the clubs, when the hunger pangs start hitting you, try Pop Burger to keep the energy going even as you scarf down a deliciously miniature burger.

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