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Mugs of McSorley's dark<\/p><\/div>\n

Our food arrived pretty quickly, and I couldn\u2019t wait to dive in. The burger looked just like I remembered \u2013 thick, dripping with juice, on a soft sesame seed bun, accompanied by slices of tomato, onion, and lettuce. The only difference was that it was served on a plastic plate rather than a paper plate.<\/p>\n

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Hamburger with lettuce, tomato, onions, and pickles<\/p><\/div>\n

It was huge once it was assembled, and I had to flatten it down a bit before I could take a bite. And the verdict? Disappointing.<\/p>\n

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Massive burger once assembled<\/p><\/div>\n

The burger was cooked medium rare as requested, but the patty had sort of a gristly, crumbly texture to it. It tasted more greasy than juicy, and there was no seasoning to speak of. Even with ketchup, the meat just tasted bland. I was shocked by how bad I thought the burger was.<\/p>\n

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Autopsy shot<\/p><\/div>\n

Maybe my disappointment was deeper because this was my favorite burger, the one that I\u2019ve championed over the years above the Shake Shack or Burger Joint or all the other highly touted burgers. But then I thought, maybe I loved this burger because of my emotional attachment to the Corner Bistro, and back in those days my palate wasn\u2019t the same as it is now, plus we had usually been drinking before we ate the burgers. This time I was stone cold sober, hungry but not starving, and I\u2019ve had the opportunity to expand my palate more over the years.<\/p>\n

Whatever the case, even though I was hugely dissatisfied, Josh still loved his bistro burger. The bistro burger is basically a bacon cheeseburger, and his was also cooked medium rare as requested. I took a bite of his burger and could see why he enjoyed it \u2013 the bacon added much needed saltiness to the burger, and the cheese provided a nice gooey texture to the otherwise crumbly patty. In that regard, the bistro burger is a better choice, because bacon and cheese can hide a lot of flaws.<\/p>\n

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Bistro burger (bacon and cheese)<\/p><\/div>\n

At least the fries were still as good as I remembered \u2013 hot, thin, and crispy. They\u2019re always served right of the fryer and are never greasy or soggy.<\/p>\n

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Crispy thin cut french fries<\/p><\/div>\n

I felt pretty let down after we left the Corner Bistro, but I\u2019m not quite ready to write the burgers off just yet. Yes, I thought the burger was really bland and unseasoned, but maybe it was an off night. Josh thinks that I should have just sprinkled some salt on the patty after I took my first bite, but I\u2019m not in the habit of seasoning my burgers after they\u2019ve been served to me. I plan on going back, and soon, to see if this was just a fluke. Either way, the bar is a fun place to hang out, and everything is refreshingly cheap. You can still get a burger and fries for less than $10, and mugs of McSorley\u2019s are only $2.50 each. There are lots of TVs in the front room so you can watch a game and drink beer while you wait in line for a table. I just haven\u2019t decided yet if the burger is still worth the wait, but I\u2019m willing to give it another shot, if only for old time\u2019s sake.<\/p>\n

Corner Bistro<\/a>
\n331 West 4th St. at Jane St. and 8th Ave.
\nNew York, NY <\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"