Since moving (back) to the Upper East Side, I’ve been on a quest to hunt out new go-to spots in my neighborhood. Sometimes I get a hankering for pub food, so finding a decent bar with a good burger was something that appealed to me. Everyday I walked by Genesis Restaurant & Bar, and after hearing from Laura that they were in the NYT’s list of the city’s top burgers, I figured that Genesis was a perfect pub to try.
I went with two other girlfriends and after informing them that Genesis’ burger was so well regarded, we all ditched any semi-healthy inclinations and opted for burgers. While we all tried different varieties (I went for a simple cheeseburger with cheddar cheese and sautéed onions on top), we all agreed that this was one good burger.
They were huge half-pounders and it took a lot to finish them (not everyone at our table was successful), and the burgers were all cooked to our liking (medium-rare to well done). Served with a side of hand-cut fries, there was more than enough food to split a plate with another person, especially for a lunch. So why wasn’t I entirely bowled over?
I really don’t know. I’m actually kind of frustrated. The ingredients (so to speak) were all there and I really did like it quite a lot, but I didn’t walk away absolutely blown away. Maybe it was because of the hype, I don’t know. But I guess when it comes down to it, I’d still prefer a Shake Shack burger. I haven’t tried all the “best burgers” in Manhattan yet, but thus far in addition to Shake Shack, I’m a bigger fan of Bill’s Bar & Burger and PJ Clarke’s. Also, Shake Shack and Bill’s Bar & Burger are significantly cheaper than Genesis (or PJ Clarke’s for that matter).
I definitely recommend the burger and would order one again, but I’m not sure I could add it to my personal top 10 best burger experiences in NYC. But to be fair, I think I need to do some more sampling before I make that official. And if you’re not in the mood for a burger, at least check out Genesis’ backyard seating and weekly deals, including $0.50 wings on Mondays and Tuesdays, $9 wraps on Tuesdays, and traditional beer and well drink specials during typical happy hour(s).
The Basics Name: Genesis Restaurant & Bar Location: 1708 Second Avenue (between 88th and 89th) Who to take: Friends, Family (for brunch at least) Price: $9 for plain burger, $11 for any specialty burgers puts it in the $$-$$$ range Overall: Great burger, just not the best ever. 4 Stars.
PJ Clarke’s definitely gets my vote for best NYC burger.
I disagree. I’d much prefer Genesis to Shake Shack any day. The burgers are juicy and you can tell that it’s definitely fresh ground black angus beef. I also am a fan of PJ Clark’s as well, but I thought Genesis was very good.
I’ve ordered other items from Genesis before too - like salads and a BLT, and these were quite good as well.