My son’s best buddy is moving back to his parent’s native Texas and we are heartbroken. The good news is we’ll be seeing them when they come back to visit, which will (we hope) be often.
The boys had so many fun adventures together — from the Holiday Train Show at the Bronx Botanical Gardens to visiting Santa at Macy’s — and they were doubly fun as G & J are two peas in a pod. But one of our favorite outings was going to the Museum of Natural History, followed by everyone’s favorite part of the day…Shake Shack.
I know it’s blasphemy to talk about burgers on a vegetarian-focused blog, but damn, they’re good (and 100% natural hormone- and antibiotic-free Black Angus, ground fresh daily). This is no ordinary burger stand. Well, actually, it is a burger stand, but it’s from Danny Meyer, owner of Gramercy Tavern, Union Square Café…so the quality is top-notch.
photo credit: Robyn Lee for Serious Eats: New York
And Shake Shack doesn’t leave vegetarians out in the cold. There’s the insane ‘shroom burger, which consists of a portobello mushroom stuffed with muenster and cheddar cheese, breaded and deep fried. Nothing wrong with that. And yes, you can get the ‘shroom burger on top of a shack burger, known as the Shack Stack. And I haven’t even started on the fries, which are to die for. And then the frozen custard. Be still, my heart. Flavors like Chocolate Chuckles (think Snickers ice cream) and Coffee & Donuts (*sigh*)…
photo credit: GlenwoodNYC.com
The wait at the original in Gramercy Park can be arduous, but the payout is always worth the wait (plus you can always check the website’s “shack cam” before heading over and they give you these pagers once you order, so that’s extra fun for the kiddos). The good news is the one on the Upper West Side by the museum is pretty mellow if you get there before noon on a weekday.
We spent quite a few mornings this winter letting the boys run amok amongst the whales, prehistoric people and butterflies, followed by a hearty lunch at Shake Shack. We will miss those mornings, but just as Rick and Ilsa will always have Paris, we’ll always have Shake Shack.
And what’s really exciting is that I just found out Shake Shack will be opening right down here in Battery Park City! Yes, that’s right — the land of Nothing Good To Eat. This is so very exciting — and dangerous. It’s set to open towards the end of the year, along with a new restaurant, North End Grill (helmed by Floyd Cardoz, former chef of the late great Tabla) and another Blue Smoke barbecue place. I’m all aquiver just thinking about it.
Safe travels to Katie, Rob & Jack!
Shake Shack Locations
Flatiron: Madison Square Park, Madison Ave and East 23rd Street; 212-889-6600
Upper West Side: 366 Columbus Ave (between 77th and 78th Street); 646-747-8770
Theater District: 691 Eighth Avenue (at West 44th Street); 646-435-0135
Upper East Side: 154 East 86th Street (between Lexington & Third Avenues); 646-237-5035
Queens: Citi Field (Home of the NY Mets) 12301 Roosevelt Avenue, Flushing
