Introducing SALT Society’s newest recurring feature: Tim’s Tasty Tax Travels – a lighthearted look at the local food that fuels Partner Tim Gustafson on his SALT travels. First up: a Manhattan smash burger stop between sessions at NYU’s summer SALT programs.

In Manhattan for NYU’s summer SALT programs. With two presentations down, and two more on the horizon, it was time to get smashed – burger-wise, that is. Now, I’m a new passenger on the smash burger bandwagon, but as it stands, I’m not sure that I’ll ever get off. 

Tonight’s stop was Bryant Park Handcraft Burgers & Brew on 40th. I ordered “The 6.6” – double meat, cheese, shaved onions, extra pickles, and house sauce (on the side, of course). Overall, the burger was meat-forward (a flavorful plus) with patties prepared the way I think that a smash burger’s should be: sufficient bite yet thin enough to crisp around the edges. The griddled brioche bun was the right size with the right attitude, meaning it was helpless to stop the meat from escaping and not even interested in trying. If forced to give some constructive feedback, I’d like a few more shaved onions on my burger. They were there, and they were tasty, but I would like to see those trying to escape as well.

I bumped into the owner, who was happy to tell me the story behind my burger’s name. It involved an MMA fighter, a bad – yet undeserved – review, and a persistent chef who stood behind his craft to the point of risking life and limb to defend it. 

For what it’s worth, I give my 6.6 a 10.10.

Bonus beer blurb: I’m no beer connoisseur, but I know what I like and hazy is my preferred style. Superhero Sidekicks Hazy IPA from KCBC (Kings County Brewers Collective) was a solid pairing with the meal. Extra points for the Krang-like alien brain figure on the can.