This new casual Midtown eatery, tucked away at The Court – A St Giles Premier Hotel in Murray Hill, debuted in March 2014, spicing up good favorites, burgers and vintage beers, with a pan-Asian twist. Already popular with midtown brunch and after-work crowds, the laid-back Beer and Buns restaurant offers tasty food at a reasonable price via several featured sliders. Order a varied sample of burger sliders, several of which come with Asian flavors, and wash them down with a generous selection of domestic and international craft beers.
My husband and I went for lunch recently, and we quickly grabbed the fresh concept menu. Of the 10 burger sliders currently on offer, none of them are based on traditional ground beef (although the staff hinted that a meat-based slider option is currently in the works). They’re clearing up thinking outside the bun here, with burger menu items focusing on more non-traditional “patties” like crab cakes, ribs, halibut, and more.
Test the flavor by ordering a selection of sliders in combinations of three (priced at $ 12) or what turned out to be an ambitious five ($ 17). We decided to go through the menu of 10 sliders, ordering five each. I’m still thinking of the “Bangkok Dangerous,” a tom yum shrimp-infused burger cooked with lemongrass, lime, and a Thai vinaigrette, all wrapped tightly in a brioche bun. For the husband, the Japanese-inspired “ Southern Smack Down “ took the top spots, another contender for brioche buns, but packed with marinated pork shoulders, fresh herbs, greens and soy sauce.
Vegetarians will also rejoice here with solid meatless burger options down their alley, like the “Roman Evergreen,” a marinated, grilled Portobello mushroom served with brie and veggies on a mini ciabatta roll; and the “Mediterranean garden” of chickpeas, prepared with lettuce, tomato and Tahini sauce on a pita roll.
If you fancy a traditional beef burger (ahem, boring!), They offer a full-size beef burger entree on the menu, the “DC White House” ($ 7.50) made from ground beef, soy, and herbs. , and served on a brioche bun with tomatoes and pickles.
A la carte sides include Parmesan truffle fries, sweet potato fries, lobster, mac n cheese and more; Also, add side sauces like chipotle mayo or ginger soy sauce. Oh, and if you possibly have room for something else, the menu offers a selection of entrees (coconut shrimp, pulled pork quesadillas, etc.) and salads, although if you skip the sliders here, you’re missing the point. . And a tip for the wise: Leave a little space for the house’s phenomenal dessert, the homemade bread pudding, topped with a caramel sauce.
Beer options span national and international brands, including Blanche de Bruxelles from Belgium, Kingfisher from India, Xingu from Brazil, as well as local options like Harpoon UFO, Blue Moon, and more. Wine by the glass and a soon-to-launch cocktail menu are also offered, as are traditional burger pairing favorites like shakes and root beer floats.
The Beer & Buns menu is prepared by self-taught Thai-born chef Wisit Panpinyo (better known to employees as Chef Nok), who is busy working on introducing a recently expanded menu, which will debut in September 2014.
The venue itself, which seats 125 guests, features minimal, modern decor, with lots of sleek lines and several white banquet booths, all somewhat jarring against several large TV screens (the restaurant has been turned into a local gathering place for sports fans, and it was packed with World Cup watchers when we showed up). A small patio in the rear sets the stage for a series of upcoming summer barbecue nights, launching on July 10, 2014, featuring an alternating mix of classic American-style or Southeast Asian-themed barbecues. outdoor barbecue schedule to date).
Oh, and just so I don’t forget: For those with deeper pockets (myself excluded), combined with a burning passion for burgers, Beer & Buns also offers a $ 250 entry-size “indulgence burger”, made melted in your – Kobe beef and garnished with rich toppings such as foie gras, beluga caviar and white truffles. Too expensive? Don’t worry: the staff assured me that plans are currently being developed for a slide-out version of the pricey burger, which is slated to be offered at a comparatively inexpensive price of “only” $ 100.
Beer & Buns is open for lunch and dinner, Monday through Saturday; 130 E. 39th St. (between Lexington and Park Aves.); beerandbuns.com.
