Eating a Classic NYC Burger at the Original P.J. Clarke's
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- Опубликовано: 1 июн 2024
- I eat at and review the original P.J. Clarke's in Midtown Manhattan of New York City. The restaurant has been around since 1884. They’re most famous for their burgers which I try during my visit. Nat King Cole even proclaimed that the restaurant’s bacon cheeseburger was "the Cadillac of burgers!"
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About Me: I live in NYC and I’m about food, travel and work.
Love that James is building a great library of reviews to help us all. I too enjoy the history of landmark restaurants for the atmosphere and hopefully the food tradition continues for many years after! Solid beef flavor, but I think an aged beef burger has that additional complexity make make a great burger!
Honestly this Burger looks like Crap ! Horribly cheap Cold Bun too ! ! Garbage ! 😪😪😪😪😪
Thank you! I try my best with these videos. I also completely agree, aged beef is just so much tastier for a burger!
I do like to see another James vid in my feed. Always cheers me up.
Thank you! That makes me happy to hear!
There's another burger place out in Massapequa, NY called the All American Hamburger Drive - in. Although, it's not actually a drive in. It's a walk up window. The burgers there are amazing and inexpensive. It's been open since 1963. I hope you get to try it some time. Love the videos!
Thank you so much! I've actually heard of that one. It does seem like a place that I've got to try.
I appreciate the restaurant's stubbornness to not be bought out by some swanky real estate developer. Glad you enjoyed your meal and the great ambience!
It's amazing to walk away from $ but that corner must be in the tens of millions $$$
Absolutely! It's practically a NYC landmark!
@@NoahEats Exactly!
thx u sir for review
Thanks for watching!
Okay, you have "pulled me in once again" & proved you are a "foodie" I can trust. I was born in NYC & was raised on 47th Street & 2nd Ave before my parents moved us to the suburbs. I worked in midtown many years and since I was a salesman enjoyed the lunch & dinner requirements of entertaining clients for business purposes. I am not sure if I was truly a great salesman, but I do know I was a "master" of selecting an appropriate venue for camaraderie & business fellowship!!!! Your assessment of PJ's is "spot on" & valid from your perspective of a "midwesterner". ( no offensive) You know food & you understand restaurants potentials & possible gifts to the public. This is obvious & a "given"!!!! Thank you for sharing this post!
Hope you have more business meals to come!
Thank you so much for the kind words! I really appreciate the support and being able to share my experiences.
Thank you for your kind words!@@NoahEats
Wow that burger is pretty much a no frills good old quality burger.....I love simple good old burgers. That story with the restaurant not selling to the developer reminds me of a Mickey Rourke, Don Johson movie. Harley Davidson and the Marlboro man.
Yeah, it's simple, but it works. I haven't seen that movie, but the little guy against a big time real-estate developer does make for a good story.
Can never go wrong with a burger and a beer at PJC’s
Definitely! I do regret not getting a beer though. A Guinness would've paired nicely with my burger.
Love, love, love, love your reviews. Besides the delicious food I also get lessons of history of the restaurants. Thank you!
He does a great job editing, scripting and research!
Thank you so much!
I try my best!
There's a burger place called Piper's Kilt in Eastchester, NY you need to try. There's a place called The Candlelight Inn in Scarsdale, NY for amazing chicken wings. Then you can have a slice of pizza at Sal's Pizza (although they're well known for the Sicilian slice) and a hot dog at Walter's Hot Dogs both in Mamaroneck, NY. I hope you give them all a try.
Thank you for the recommendations! I hope to try some of them.
Every time I watch your videos about restaurants in NYC l travel there and is like visiting the city. The city l always wanted to visit but l never had the chance. Thank you.
Glad you like them! I hope you get the chance to visit NYC!
The vibe at PJ Clarkes looks super cozy! Burger looked like the quintessential offering, another great review and video!
Thank you so much! Indeed, dining at the original P.J. Clarke's is an experience that isn't just about the food, but also the history and atmosphere.
Looks good James. Sometimes keeping it simple is best. You did leave too many pickles behind lol. Pumpkin pie is one of my favorites. Looking forward to Thanksgiving 🥧
Yeah, I probably should've put a pickle or two on the burger, but it was pretty satisfying as it was. I'm definitely looking forward to Thanksgiving as well.
Hi James. Thanks for bringing back a fine memory. I ate at the same PJ Clarke's many years ago and completely resonant with your evaluation of the burger and the place. It's too bad that the pumpkin pie was overly cold, but it looked very tasty. I haven't been to Manhattan since the pandemic started but enjoy seeing your escapades about town. Keep up the fine work! Ciao.
Definitely revisit NYC soon!
Thank you! I hope you get back to NYC soon! Yeah, the pie could've been a bit better, but it was still pretty good.
There is a picture of my grandpa and his best friend on the wall behind the bar, in their great fur coats ! Love the place
That's awesome!
Cool thanks for the early history.
Thanks for watching!
My brother in law Cameron passed away last year. This was his favourite restaurant among many. We had a dinner in his honour last year. ❤
I'm sorry to hear that.
Great video love PJ Clark's I love these old time pubs Pete's Tavern on Irving place also Toots Shor was like that but no more. I'm going to Le petit Chef this sat and just made reservations for Noksu on Dec 9
Thank you! Yeah, I love the historical feel of P.J. Clarke's and similar restaurants. I hope you enjoy Le petit Chef and Noksu sounds like such an interesting establishment.
PJ Clarke’s is mentioned a few times in Jacqueline Susann’s novels! Especially in The Love Machine - the main character often drinks and sometimes eats there 😀
I didn't know that. Thanks for sharing! The restaurant certainly has been influential in its long history.
Nice pickles!! Nothing better than a tasty cheeseburger and fries. I know I would enjoy a meal there. 😋👍🌻🍔🍟🍺❤
Indeed! It's a good restaurant!
Great review- walked by PJClarke’s when I was in town a few weeks ago. Definitely will put it on my list for my next time in town!
I think that the show “Mad Men” had a few episodes that both mentioned PJ Clarke’s and/or shot in “P J Clarke’s” (a downtownLos Angeles restaurant doubling for PJ’s) ?
Having enjoyed JG Melon’s burger recently, I will try the “competition “!
Thank you! I hope you enjoy P.J. Clarke's. Yeah, I was definitely reminded of JG Melon with the burger. The two restaurants are similar in a sense.
Nice review James. Seems like this restaurant offers pretty good value for the money. I always appreciate your reactions to each meal. Its priceless! Stay well my friend.
Thank you so much! It was definitely an enjoyable lunch.
Thanks James. Excellent narrative on this establishment. My husband says you hit on this food perfectly, always had a good experience there. P.S. I like my pumpkin pie 🥧 on the warm side.
Thank you! Same here regarding the pumpkin pie.
Nice video
Mate 🥃
Thank you!
Great review. The burger looks so good.
Thank you! Yeah, it was pretty decent.
Hi James, glad you had good burger at PJ's. I really enjoy the historical details you offer about the building and the famous visitors who have dined there. I 'm not usually a fan of raw onion on a burger.... BUT caramelized onions - Now that's a different story🏆. On a side note i was watching and episode of "Billions" yesterday and they feature a lot of NY restaurants. During one scene they were at Raoul's and I was thinking... where have i seen /heard about this place before? And then i remembered . . it was from your previous review lol! So thanks for all amazing places that you take us!
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I've heard the show features a lot of notable NYC establishments. It's definitely something that I want to watch in the future. I completely agree with you regarding the onions. Caramelized onions or even fried onions are just so much more exciting to me to have on a burger.
Hi.the burger is simple & grand.thanks
Indeed! Thanks for watching!
Time travelling from the future to the past and back to present👽
Exactly!
It was a favorite of mine when I lived nearby on E 54th Street & Sutton Place. Burgers were their “trademark” and so convenient for me. Pete’s Tavern was a close second although not as convenient. Great place to catch up with friends.
Nice! I haven't been to Pete's Tavern yet and I just looked it up. It definitely seems like a place that I should check out. Thanks for the recommendation!
Don’t forget The Landmark Tavern on 11th Avenue! Famous for its Fish & Chips and Bangers. Equally as old as PJ Clark’s. Although not gourmet, it definitely is “comfort food”. Legend has that the writer O’Henry who lived nearby wrote “Gift of the Magi’ in Pete’s. Both establishments have an incredible and historical history.
@@russelliott6751 Thanks for the recommendation! Even though I've lived in NYC for 4 years now, there are still clearly a number of special places that I've still got to try.
I love that place. Food is decent. I just love the fact that it's always crowded and the vibe is really good
Definitely, I really appreciated the atmosphere as well!
James, I love going to pubs like PJ Clarkes. Would you you try the food at other historic pubs, not giving 100% of your opinion to the food? I know, I'm going against what your channel is for, however using the same outlook as you did for PJ's?
Love your reviews thank you for sharing
Thank you so much for always watching! I really appreciate it!
Sorry we didn't meet up on Tuesday Oct 31 or Wednesday Nov 1st. We got caught up with our wedding in NYC and ended up running around and didn't have time. Both of us are sad. We will be back in NYC in May for the Westminster dog show. Hopefully, we can meet up with you. Keep up the great videos!!
Thank you! I'm sorry we didn't get to meet up, but hopefully in May. Congratulations and I hope you at least had a great time in NYC!
@Jamesnu how did the run in Nashville go?
@@thecrimedog8424 It went pretty well despite the fact that it was very hot the day of the race, and I didn't get the best time. Still, it ended up being a very fun trip and a good experience.
Looks amazing, thanks for the review.
Thanks for watching!
Excellent spot! Thanks for another great review!
Thank you!
thank you.....coming up in Jan....and will try P.J. CLAKE'S..........thanks for your review
Thanks for watching! I hope you enjoy your stay!
Been there, done that!
Nice!
Love you dude.
Thank you!
I love Original Classic joints from back in the day the burger looked pretty good at least it wasn't frozen patty😂 overpriced yes but it's in Manhattan we pay for the land lease per month anyhow happy eating
I know what you mean, but it was still a real treat to be able to eat at such a classic establishment when so many are disappearing these days.
17K subs man! impressive. i’ve been here since the start.
Thank you! I really appreciate the support!
I had one of my two bachelor parties at PJ Clarke's on Third Ave (upstairs in Sidecar). Iconic NYC spot and always fun. I agree they have a good/great burger, just not the best. I would rank them behind places such as Minetta Tavern, Peter Luger's, Burger Joint, JG Melon or Joe Jr,....
Nice! For sure! I don't consider their burger to be among the city's best, but it's satisfying, and it was a great experience to dine in such a historical place!
My favorite burger in NYC is at Dumont Burger in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
I'll have to check that place out sometime. Thanks for the recommendation!
@@Jamesnu It's a Williamsburg original and has been around a while. It got good press years ago but has flown below the radar for the past few years. It's a real hole in the wall, but it's still really good.
@@MrChristopherMolloy Thanks for letting me know. Even good establishments in NYC can fly under the radar when there's just so much available in the city. I'm looking forward to trying it sometime.
Love the reviews James but this looked like a gas station burger 😂
Haha! I know what you mean.
Went to the one on the Hudson. Service is shaky. Had to cook burger twice. When they cook it right it's great.
Ugh, that's a shame, but yeah, when it's done right, it's pretty good!
Burger at Bourbon Pub in Bayside is really good
Thanks for the recommendation!
Anyway -...you did a great job watering my mouth by smashing him down 😹
Haha!
When you travel to London, UK. please try this place, and let us know what you think: F.COOKE: London's oldest Pie and Mash shop.
Thanks for the suggestion! I really enjoyed London, and I've been meaning to get back there for years.
@@Jamesnu In addition, survey Arment's and Maureen's for pie and mash when you travel there.
@@johnzajac9849 Indeed! Thanks for the additional recommendations!
A New York institution with so many regular customers! Not the greatest burgers and fries in nyc but still solid.
Absolutely!
You should try J.G. Melon too.
I have. I even made a video about it earlier this year. It's another good, but no frills burger.
Hey James, trying to decide if I should try the JG Melon burger or the PJ Clarke’s burger. I’m sure they have their differences, good or bad. Which would you recommend ultimately? So far, my fave is the Peter Luger burger, although I still have yet to try the more hyped-up burgers like the one from Nowon, etc. I prefer a simple classic over the saucy, exotic ones. I noticed that JG Melon’s is about $14, and PJ Clarke’s are over $20. I think Peter Luger’s is a great value for the quality, also around $20. I’d rather spend $14 if the JG Melon’s is better than the PJ Clarke’s. So curious to know which one you think is more worth checking out.
I thought of JG Melon a lot when I was having this burger. Both are pretty historical restaurants and serve similar food. JG Melon's burger doesn't come with fries so when you add that to the equation they're both similar in price. I feel like P.J. Clarke's burger was just a bit better, but I would make sure to go to the original establishment. Plus, JG Melon doesn't take credit cards, which is another point for P.J. Clarke's. However, neither of the two restaurants even come close to matching the great taste of Peter Luger's offering, which is a real bargain in terms of price. Even though I think P.J. Clarke's is a bit better, I would still give JG Melon a try if you have a chance.
Evidently a spot called Burger Joint (located in a hotel in Manhattan) is supposed to be good. One of Anthony Bourdain’s recommended places
@@joeb-vu4ds I've been there. It's pretty good! I might do a video about it sometime.
Really enjoying your reviews... surprised to see the yellow cheese. American yes, but it's almost not even food.
Thank you! Yeah, American cheese isn't the greatest, but it somehow works on burgers.
The pie was most likely cold because they don't sell as much of it as other desserts and in a hot kitchen, the staff can't take risks. Would have reather seen you review an appetizer instead.
Yeah, if I knew the pie was going to taste like that, I probably would've gotten an appetizer instead, but it was still decent despite the cool temperature.
christos in astoria!
I'll get there eventually.
Was there a spread to this burger?
No spread. It was a pretty basic burger.
Does look nice and juicy. Nice thick tomato as well. But yeah at first glance it didn’t look too impressive.
Yeah, it was good, but it didn't have that "Wow!" factor.
Look more like a pumpkin cheesecake,which is ok if a bit cooler in temperature.
Yeah, if I didn't know that it was pumpkin pie and was judging it just by its appearance, I would probably have thought it was pumpkin cheesecake too.
A great old school joint Again well worth what you pay for
Indeed! It felt great to dine there.
@@Jamesnu you should watch the classic movie The Lost Weekend sometime. About an alcoholic writer, Ray Milland, the bar is modeled on P.J. Clarke's. They couldn't film in the real one.
@@johnned4848 Nice! Thanks for the recommendation!
Many years ago I had a burger at PJ’s with their Béarnaise sauce. The sauce was off and I got a bad case of food poisoning. I never returned!
Yikes!
@@Jamesnu 🤮
JG Melon & PJ Clarke's are essentially the same place lol
Haha! I know what you mean!
Next time, ask for bearnaise. It’s no longer on the menu, but they have it. Just ask.
Thanks for the tip! I'll keep that in mind for next time.
The tomato looks mealy and the bun looks like it was purchased at Walmart
Yeah, it's not the best looking burger, but it tasted good.
I absolutely love vintage buildings with history and charm. You cannot reproduce this kind atmosphere in a modern restaurant. I would take a restaurant like this vs a “follow the crowd” modern restaurant any day. I dislike that almost every restaurant is remodeling into modern and removing all the charm with the mid century vibe. I didn’t like it went it came out then and I certainly don’t like it now. Thank you for bringing us this video.
Thanks for watching! Yeah, I appreciate a restaurant that stays true to their roots and preserves their history. It makes for a much better dining experience.
I remenber when the 24 dollar burger at 21 was considered outrageous-in the 80's
I wish that restaurant was still around.
I’ll be honest just look like a burger I’d make at home I guess it’s more about the nostalgia of the restaurant.
Yeah, appearance-wise it's nothing special. It was still tasty, but being inside such a classic restaurant was part of the thrill.
In the 1980's P.J. Clark's was a yuppie hangout for young executives and difficult to get into after work. I went only a couple of times but said the hell with it because of the overcrowded and noisy room. It was not worth it. The hamburg in this video might be tasty but its appearance is bland. Anyway I sure do like this channel and just subscribed... thanks...
Thank you! Yeah, the look of the burger was pretty basic, but luckily it tasted much better.
22 bucks to spend for a burger that looks like a bigger BIG MAC IS out of your mind..btw what do you do to pay for all these exp meals..your main hustle..thx
It's not exactly cheap, but I've spent close to $60 for just a burger and fries before in NYC, which includes tax and tip. My main job is photography.
Idk why but I`m not over the moon with this burger....I mean it`s solid for sure---but...
I know what you mean. Appearance-wise it's nothing special, but it's still a decent burger and for me, dining in such a historical restaurant was one of the main draws.
How do you stay so slim and studly by eating so much?
Running is one of my big hobbies and I probably lucked out a bit with my genes.
They should use a seeded toasted bun.
Let’s Go Brandon.
no..i admire you for the rare....BUT i need it to be WELL DONE
Fair enough.
NYC prices = out of control
They're expensive, but salaries are much higher here as well.
McDonald's fries? I pass on P.J
Fair enough, but I thought that the fries were pretty good.
Gotta appreciate the historical atmosphere. Burger looked very average, especially when compared to the great ones you mentioned.🍔
I know what you mean. I wasn't expecting the burger to wow me, but I really appreciated the atmosphere and dining in such a historical place.
same price as fhe lugers burger but inferior quality?
Yeah, that's kind of true. Although, P.J. Clarke's offering does come with fries. Even though I liked it, Luger's is far superior in terms of taste and value, but it was at least nice to dine at such a historic restaurant.
At those prices I’d really need to be blown away sorry
Yeah, NYC is unfortunately pretty expensive for even just decent food.
@@Jamesnu I know, I live here
I will never know why Americans love their hamburgers raw. Makes me shudder.
Sorry about that. Not everyone here likes the meat as pink as I do, but it's the way I like it.
@@Jamesnu Totally fair, but in Canada it's drilled into us that hamburger must be fully cooked so it always freaks me out. If it counts, I eat my steak rare!
@@Turkeyinthehay Interesting! Yeah, I know things like meat temperature can vary from place to place. When I was in Argentina they typically prefer all beef to range from medium to well done. I was definitely an outlier there getting my steaks cooked medium rare.
Another superlative review, production and presentation. One question: Have you ever considered dialing back that grating background music? It really gets in the way and is honestly annoying. The music in this video sounded like clown car circus music. You're better than this.
Thank you. Sometimes the music I have in the videos serves to mask the music the restaurant has playing in the background.
Is an ok Burger, nothing fancy,just has a name from a Fancy Place. But this burger is just an overpriced 5 Guys burger. Didn't impress me at all when I had it. But their stout are really good
Yeah, I really should've gotten a beer to pair with the burger. A stout sounds good.
boring burger neva on my plate
Your a burger
Great review! Looks like a good place for a burger!
Thank you! It sure is!