Royale

Eager to continue my unabashed assault on burger joints in the East Village, I went to Royale (157 Avenue C @ 10th Street).  This has become one of my favorite burger bars in the ‘hood, but I’ve always been sans camera (or mental capacity) to actually blog it.  Luckily for you, I had both on hand during my last visit.

I tend to roll through just after they open at 4pm so I can sit & chat with Sarah, one of the super-awesome bartenders there.  There’s lots of wood in the joint, tables to the right with a long bar leading to a small kitchen & outdoor space in the back.  If the weather is warm enough, they open the front doors which makes viewing the antics of the squatters next door far easier.

Anyhoo, onto the burger.  I always order the $7.50 Royale with Cheese (too much Pulp Fiction?) & generally get a Porkslap (one of the few places that sell it, I think Grape & Grain is the only other one in the EV) or go for the 2 for 1 Draft & Well drinks during Happy Hour.  As you can see from the picture, the burger is served on a sesame seed bun in a basket with the usual; onions, lettuce, tomato & pickles.  Nothing spectacular here, but they really know how to cook a burger…  It is so juicy, that sometimes I don’t even bother putting ketchup on it, which is a rarity for me.  Your bun won’t end up wetter than a chick at a Tom Jones concert, but the burger is really moist & flavorful.  I normally order mine medium rare & the cooks hit the spot, I’ve never had to send a burger back.

Other good dishes here are the chicken sandwich (both the crispy & grilled incarnations) & the Boston Bibb salad w/Maytag Blue.  Honestly, just come here for the burger, it’s really damn good!