Blogger's Gathering at 5 Napkin Burger

Last week, I was lucky to attend a fun blogger's get-together organized by the folks at 5 Napkin Burger.  I always look forward to coming here, as I'm a sucker for a good, juicy burger, but I was also thrilled to hang with some of my fellow Queens and Manhattan food bloggers, some of which I've never met.  As is usually the case, there was lots of picture taking and plenty of geeky blog talk, which was just dandy with me.  Here's who came to dinner:

Meg and Mackenzi - My colleagues from We Heart Astoria
Jon from Eatery Row
Caryn and Laura from 89th and Broke

5 Napkin provided a lovely setting with plenty of yummy treats, some of which I haven't yet tried.  I'll dig deeper into those mostly, as I've told you about 5 Napkin before and then I'll also highlight a fun event series they'll be featuring soon.

Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip - Never have I ever ignored hot, oozing, stringy artichoke spinach dip and I wasn't going to start now.  5 Napkin's version was sophisticated, accompanied by long endive spears to keep things healthier and at the same time, classier.  If you're looking for a crunchier bite, you can pile this deliciously warm concoction on the crunchy crostini that also comes as a side.

Pork Taquitos - After reading a nice review from Brad, I had to try these. Mmmm...the pork was tender, with a thick tangy sauce and bursts of flavor from the fresh salsa.  The crunch from the hard taco shell provided more excitement - a proverbial party in your mouth.  Cheers!

Sushi Combo Platter - While I wouldn't normally get sushi at a burger joint, this looked (and tasted) incredibly fresh. I tried the spicy tuna and the shrimp avocado rolls - the flavors exploding in my mouth.  Delicious fresh seafood mixed with crunchy veggies, the whole thing was encased in perfectly cooked sticky rice and a delicate casing, that held everything together.  For a sushi enthusiast or an ambivalent like me, this is a great choice.

Burger Salad - My dining companion Danielle went for this 5 Napkin "Burger Salad," which had all the components of a burger, except the bun.  Although I didn't actually taste it, I marveled at this salad and Danielle complimented how rich in flavor it was.  Another perk was the 5 Napkin sauce, which served as the dressing. 

Tater Tots - What can I say...as a proud Eastern European, I love me some carbs and that's why I had to indulge in these little spirals of goodness.  As Dan would say (and I agree), they're more like croquettes than traditional tater tots since they have a crispy breadcrumb exterior and a soft, mashed potato interior.  I also loved that they were flavored with rosemary, one of my favorite fall/winter spices.

Espresso Brownie Sundae - The first thing I noticed right away when this landed in front of me were the peanuts.  For those of you who know me, it won't come as a surprise that that was almost a deal breaker, as I'm not a fan of peanuts or peanut butter.  But...despite the minor personal setback, I decided to dig in and in the end, was very glad I did.  Smooth, clean-flavored vanilla ice-cream lay comfortably in a clear drinking glass, topped with silky espresso caramel and dark chocolate brownie bits.  Fluffy whipped cream topped this festive dessert cup as well as salted peanuts, which as you know, I could've done without.

Besides trying this tasty food, I also wanted to inform you that 5 Napkin will be launching a special called the Beer & Bourbon Dinner series, starting on November 16th going through December 14th.  During this time, you'll be able to sample unique micro-brews and bourbons, paired with a special menu, concepted by Chef Andy D'Amico.  Sounds delish...so go get your eat and drink on!

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/W Train to 36th Avenue
5napkinburger.com

Slider Happy Hour at Five Napkin Burger

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria, NY 11106
718.433.2727
5napkinburger.com

Starting today, make sliders your post-work food of choice and head to 5 Napkin Burger for their new daily Slider Happy Hour. Everyday from 4-7p, nosh on $2 sliders, $.50 Hell’s Kitchen Wings, and $2 pork taquitos. The cheap eats include the Original 5 Napkin Burger, 5 Napkin Veggie Burger, and the Italian Turkey Burger. Beer drafts are only $4, so you can get a filling, delicious meal for a minimal cash. Enjoy!

EDIT: This offer is only for the Astoria location.

5 Napkin Burger – Liberty, Justice and Burgers for All

After my initial brief visit to the new 5 Napkin Burger during their preview party, I was compelled to come back and have a real taste of the menu. Dan came with me of course, being the burger lover that he is, and together we enjoyed an evening of delicious, hearty burgers and some of our favorite diner-style snacks. Here are the highlights of our meal:

Deep Fried Pickles & Pastrami – This dish was so memorable from the preview party that we just had to get it again. Let me just say that whoever thought of this was a genius because it consists of the most comforting, delicious, and somewhat sinful combination. I’ve never had pastrami fried and wrapped around a pickle no less but the combination worked beautifully. It was a little bit tart, meaty and crunchy from the tempura batter. I also loved that it rested on a bed of sauerkraut and some spicy mustard.

Lobster Roll Sliders and Fries – We ordered this as an appetizer, but it could absolutely be an entrée because it’s quite large. I was pretty happy with it, and even though it was a tad much mayonnaisey, the quality of the lobster was wonderful and it had good spice. The fries were crunchy and addicting but a bit salty for my taste.

Italian Turkey Burger with Onion Rings – This was Dan’s favorite burger from the preview party, so he couldn’t wait to have some more. Wow, it was a beauty, packed with spicy tomato sauce, vinegar peppers and fresh mozzarella. The burger meat was tender, juicy and wonderful—together, the combination worked well to create an exciting and colorful turkey burger.

The onion rings were yummy too, but for some reason Dan remembers them being better at the party. I enjoyed them though and liked the cornmeal crust, which had a slight sweetness. Mmmm….

Lamb Kofta Burger – What can I say… I’m sometimes a creature of habit too, and I reordered this, as it was my favorite the first time I tried it. The lamb itself was fragrant and wonderful and (excuse the redundant adjective) very lamby. Topped with creamy tahini sauce that tasted like tzatziki, I enjoyed it very much and would highly recommend it. My side salad that came along with it was fresh, light and a nice way to couple this hearty burger.

Dessert – We got two desserts, a s’mores shake and an espresso brownie sundae. Both were good and very, very rich. We didn’t mind and basically finished both, including the mounds of thick whipped cream on top of the sundae. I liked the espresso brownie in the sundae and you could definitely taste the coffee flavor that seemed to give us a jolt after a big, filling meal.

The shake was good too, with some amazing, slightly-burnt marshmallows on top. I wish there was more of those in the shake because they were pretty spectacular and Dan and I fought over them viciously.

Apricot Fizz Cocktail – Besides all the food, 5 Napkin has an extensive cocktail menu. I ordered this really yummy, fruity drink because it reminded me of a bellini and I absolutely love those. It was fizzy and refreshing with little bits of apricot floating in it. A perfect way to start this meal for sure, I’d recommend it for all you ladies. Gentleman, be my guest too but just know this drink is a bit on the feminine side.

Service and Cost:
The service at 5 Napkin was on-point and especially given that it’s a new joint, I think they’re being super attentive. We were paid attention to at just at the right moments and all our food came out piping hot and perfect. The manager came over to check on us to make sure all was good. It was a nice gesture and he wasn’t too pushy.

Costs are moderate to a bit expensive for a burger place, but know that you are getting great quality, a fabulous atmosphere and good service. I think it’s money well spent.

Starters: $7.25 -$10.75
Burgers: $11.95 - $22.50 (burger for 2)
Salads: $14.95 - $16.95
Entrees: $13.50 -$19.75
Sushi: $10.95 - $15.95
Sides: $2.75 - $7.25

3 Mmmms

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/W Train to 36th Avenue or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.5napkinburger.com

Dan's 2 Cents - The New 5 Napkin Burger

As many of you know, the well-known burger micro-chain 5 Napkin Burger opened up in Astoria last week.  I hosted a contest on my site where readers entered a comment for their chance to win a special sneak preview of 5 Napkin before it opened.  Three lucky winners got to bring 2 guests along and everyone else who entered brought one friend. 

The party was a blast and showcased this new restaurant in a great way, together with the food, the fun atmosphere and a really welcoming staff.  I arrived a bit late so I didn't sample everything on the menu (besides the burgers, which you can see me scarfing down in the above picture) but my hubby Dan fortunately did.  His 5 Napkin experience moved him so much that he decided to write a guest review, offering his two cents in his signature, brutally honest way.  Enjoy his commentary and please join in the conversation by letting us know what you thought.

Dan's 2 Cents about 5 Napkin Burger:

This is Dan, guest posting once again for your (and my) beloved Foodista.  The last time I filled in for her she was deathly ill with the Hanta Virus or something, and she needed me to fill in.  Fortunately this time, there is nothing wrong with her, rather I merely wanted to post about a restaurant I had the good fortune to attend the preview party of the other day.

5 Napkin Burger, which apparently has two other locations in Manhattan, has landed in Astoria.  It's a great location, right near the UA Kaufman Astoria Stadium 14, in the space where The Cup Diner used to be.  They had a preview party the night before their official opening this past Wednesday, June 16th and I have to say, the event was a lot of fun, and really well run.

Atmosphere:
The atmosphere was cool - dim-ish lightning and decent music to go along with an interesting decor, featuring an old fashioned meat rack snaking along the ceiling, replete with giant stainless steel hooks.  But not in a creepy way, although meat hooks always remind me of the scene in the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre when Jessica Biel discovered her friend hung up in Leather Face's underground lair...I digress. 

The staff was very personable and attentive, especially considering the passed hors d'oeuvres style of the event.  And they were more than happy to keep our glasses full.  But aside from the open bar, the food itself was really very good.

Food:
They passed around sliders, pretty big and substantial for sliders, of the various burgers they will offer on their menu.  My favorite of the bunch was the restaurant's namesake, The 5 Napkin Burger.  Juicy, sloppy, dripping with cheese and onions; the slider itself was probably a 2 or 3 napkin slider, so I would guess that the full sized version might actually exceed the 5 napkin estimate by at least a couple. 

Other memorable burgers were a Greek burger made of ground lamb with tzatziki, and an Italian turkey burger.  I especially enjoyed that one, the roasted red peppers and fresh muzz on top were delicious additions.

But beyond just burgers, some of the other items passed around were really good also.  They had great fries of course, and I can confidently say that they make a top-tier onion ring.

However, the two appetizers/sides that stood out the most were these really tasty mini potato croquettes (about the size of tater-tots) and fried pastrami and pickle skewers.  I realize that sounds a little unusual, but it was truly awesome.  It was a slice of pastrami and a thin pickle slice, rolled up together like some kind of rollatini, then skewered, battered, and fried.  Delicious.  I would have to say that those little things were the highlight of the evening.
And all the free booze of course.

Costs:
The costs mirror 5 Napkin's Manhattan offering at the following price point:

Starters: $7.25 -$10.75
Burgers: $11.95 - $22.50 (burger for 2)
Salads: $14.95 - $16.95
Entrees: $13.50 -$19.75
Sushi: $10.95 - $15.95
Sides: $2.75 - $7.25

3 Manly Mmmms

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
718.433.2727
N/W Train to 36th Avenue or R/V/G Train to Steinway Street
www.5napkinburger.com

Win A First Glimpse of Astoria's New 5 Napkin Burger

GIVEAWAY WINNERS: Eileen, AGirl and Hailey you are our lucky winners and get to attend tomorrow's event with 2 guests.

5 Napkin was absolutely thrilled with everyone's enthusiastic responses and decided to generously grant everyone an entry to tomorrow's party with 1 guest.  Please contact me asap at critic@foodistanyc.com with your full name and your guest(s) names and we'll get you on the list.  I'll also reveal full details about the party via email.

I couldn't believe it when I found out that Astoria is getting its own fix of Manhattan's burger wonder, 5 Napkin Burger.  Not only is this place considered a must in hard-core burger circles, it was featured on Martha Stewart's hamburger show last year. And I don't have to tell you how I feel about her!

The new 5 Napkin burger will reside in the old Cup Diner space (more recently known as Bizaare Avenue Cafe that we'd all like to forget).  Its spacious new digs will make this the largest 5 Napkin location to date, and as it's located around the corner from Studio Square Beer Garden, it might prove to be a serious competitor.

It's scheduled to open next week on Wednesday, June 16th.

But now let's have some fun! Do you want a chance to preview this hot new burger joint before everyone else does?

I'm giving 3 lucky winners (and 2 of their friends) the chance to attend 5 Napkin's launch party before it officially opens.  Here's what you can expect:

Free cocktails & hors d'oeuvres
Prime access to a hot new restaurant
Great networking opportunity with fellow Astorians and foodie movers & shakers

How to Enter:
Comment on this post about why you and 2 friends should attend this party between now and Sunday, June 13th. I'll choose 3 winners at random and will contact you with complete party details.

Good luck and I hope to see you at 5 Napkin Burger.

5 Napkin Burger - 35-01 36th Street, Astoria NY 11106
N/W Train to 36th Avenue