Nixta Sinks

Tigerland. It's Grrrrrrreat!

On Thursday, the DMC and I went out to meet our new chum from the beach house, a man of some considerable foodie heritage and knowledge and not a little professional experience, Larrold (or Larry), for sangria and burgers. Since we wanted the best of both we started with sangria at Tigerland which, if I haven't written about it before, I'm going to recommend thoroughly right now.

Go there. Eat there. If it's the only restaurant you hit when you're next in New York, so be it. Mention us for extra credit and friendliness. Tigerland. Yum. Get the shaking beef. Get the spring rolls. Get the shrimp and bacon. Get the Shiitake Fried Rice. Get the home-made cupcakes. Every penny is well spent, even if you can't eat it and have to take it home.

It's an organic restaurant with its roots firmly in Thai food, although the chef trained in Paris. It's not the organic that draws us to it (as I mentioned to Larry, it's just a great bonus), nor really the Thai (though that's nice too). Not even the admirable way they source the food locally and in person. No. It's just so damned good. In fact, it's amazing. And to boot, their sangria is fantastic as well.

Following on from that, we were set on the new best burger in town, according to the New York Times. Dani had read about it a while back and we've been meaning to try it, so Larry's jaunt down from the hell that is the upper west-side was purposefully for a visit to Royale on Avenue C.

The burger (image gratuitously nicked from eater.com til I get my own)

Our walk up from Tigerland was surprising. Avenue C, which I had last visited about a year ago, had progressed from fledgling gentrification into a fully-matured and thoroughly happening strip of packed bar after packed bar. Royale was perversely empty, although the NYT review explains why - aside from the burgers, it's a very ordinary place. However, contrast the bustle of Avenue C with the decline of Musical Box just a block away on B and there's surely a story there.

Anycrap, the burger was terrific. Spot on. Succinct, slightly smokey, not greasy, nor dry, and deliciously tender. Cooked, as the NYT review also mentioned, exactly as requested. We broke the cardinal rule of burgers and had wine with it, but who cares? Wine good. Burger perfect.

I finished it and, as Jonky Cat at Corner Bistro, wanted another. Where he had balls, I exercised restraint, and have been hankering for that second burger ever since. Tonight, I think, is the night. I'll probably get two.

Labels: burger, nyc, restaurant, royale, tigerland