Island Burgers and Shakes

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766 9th Ave, New York, NY 10019-6323 (at Between 51st Street and 52nd Street)
New York, NY 10019

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(212) 307-7934
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Island Burgers and Shakes - New York, NY
Island Burgers and Shakes - New York, NY
Reviews
( 22 )
( 23 )
( 7 )
( 4 )
( 3 )

Best

I cannot recommend enough this little gem of a restaurant. Although the decor may not be 5 stars, the food definitely is. I would compare the burger at Island Burger to the finest...

Worst

Taste in burgers, of course, is very subjective. But for me, IB&S didn't do it. I agree with the writers below who said the burgers are too dry. Additionally, they lack flavor....

Sumptueous salads, beautiful burgers 4/14/2005

One of the best cheap eats in the city. Burgers are juicy and the salads are huge and superfresh. Pros: Inespensive, HUGE Baked Potatoes Cons: No Fries more
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Better burgers elsewhere.. 12/12/2004

Friendly service and prompt seating, but a long wait for food. True enough, there is a huge selection of burgers to choose from. I made the mistake of ordering a burger on rye bread and the whole thing fell apart in my hands, it was a complete, messy joke. The accompanying toppings were pretty dismal (two tiny strips of bacon). The burger itself was tiny, dry and flavorless, I had to pile on the salt and ketchup. I didn't like the lack of fries, either. If you're on a strict budget this place may be worth it, but I'm sure you can find better elsewhere. Pros: Cheap, Big selection more
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GREAT ! 12/2/2004

This place is a hidden gem ! I must have walked past it a million times before I actually gave it a look. The Burgers are amazeing ! They have a huge selection that woul dplease anyone. The shakes are great too, try a malted. I didn't even care that they didn't have frenchfries, I think they would have dtracted from how great my burger was. The atmosphere is kitschy california surfer relaxed i will definitely go bak ! Pros: Inexpensive, Great Food, Fast Service more
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Overrated 6/11/2004

I went there specifically because of all the reviews from people, but was highly disappointed. The shake was like soupy ice cream and it was WARM! The burger was unimpressive, the bacon overcooked and flavorless and the onions tasted bland. Staff was friendly and accomodating, but overall i was disappointed. Pros: Service, atmosphere Cons: , warm soupy shake more
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Best Burgers in Town 3/25/2004

No better burger in town... if only they had fries. This is so trite a thought, I resisted even thinking it for years but really, they need fries. DESPITE this, I almost weekly order a Hippo (pita, spicy sour-cream, onions, bacon and cheese) from among their MANY options for burgers. I couple it with a to-die-for chocolate shake. Pros: great shakes, many burger options, great delivery Cons: , no fries more
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Variety of toppings is unmatched 1/28/2004

The variety of toppings at Island Burgers and Shakes is unmatched by any other place in the city. All the topping varieties that I've tried work really well and make for a unique burger every time. (try the Hippo Burger, mmmmmm.) Many of the critiques of the place are true, but may be overly harsh due to the wrong expectations. True there are no french fries, definitely a minus, but once you accept it, you can get on with enjoying your burger. Another common critique about the beef is also true. If you are a burger purist, and just want a big juicy burger that's pink on the inside other places will have a better beef patty. (i.e. Jackson Hole) But, if you want a unique burger experience check out Island Burgers and Shakes. Pros: unique, huge variety Cons: no fries more
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Agree with the nay-sayers 10/2/2003

Taste in burgers, of course, is very subjective. But for me, IB&S didn't do it. I agree with the writers below who said the burgers are too dry. Additionally, they lack flavor. I think the reason for both of these failings is that they use too-lean meat; fat adds moisture and flavor. Also, heed the warning of another writer: Don't order your burger with sourdough or rye bread--they fall apart. Certainly there is a huge variety of toppings. I would go back to IB&S to try the chicken sandwich, but the burger, in my mind, is sub-par. Pros: Toppings, Atmosphere, Reasonable Cons: Flavorless burgers, Dry burgers more
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blah burgers 8/13/2003

totally overrated! the burgers were dry and not cooked as we ordered. ok, they have variety, but it would be nice to have a good burger to start with. Pros: Inexpensive, Variety Cons: Cramped, Overrated more
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Good for Everyday, But Nothing Special 8/5/2003

The burgers here are good by a ""home-cooking"" standard, but they are hardly restaurant quality. But, the food comes in good-sized portions, the wait staff is nice and you can't beat the price with a stick. The price makes this place worth the trip. Tip: they do tend to overcook, so adjust your order accordingly. I ordered medium and got well, which is what I wanted. Pros: good value, quick Cons: limited menu more
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Decent Burgers 7/10/2003

Meet a friend there for lunch. Order my burger medium. Waiter stated that it would be pink in the middle. I said fine. Burger came well done. Expected a better tasting burger. It was decent, a bit on the dry side. I liked the eclectic pastel decor. Place could pass as a sushi restaurant. No fries, just baked potatoes. A cheap-eat for NYC but for a $7.50 burger you get what you pay for. Pros: Inexpensive, NYC Atmosphere Cons: Tight seating space more
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Best Burgers??????? 7/8/2003

The worse burger I have ever tried.The burger was small and dry. Burger King or McDonalds have far much better burgers. Pros: none, none, none Cons: expensive, crowded, awful service more
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Simply the best 6/17/2003

I'm not a native New Yorker, coming to these shores from the UK and Island Burgers and Shakes always makes NY for me. Simply the best burgers anywhere on earth, with anything you like on them at a dirt cheap price - and the yummy milkshakes are more dessert than drink. Go, go now, I urge you!! Pros: fabulous food, variety Cons: hard to find, small more
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Good for a quick meal 6/15/2003

This little hole-in-the wall you might miss if you blink walking past it! One line of small tables along a very narrow establishment, probably only 10-12 tables in all. Waitstaff attentive. LOTS of burgers to choose from. It was made just as ordered, but was a bit dry. But tasted great! Not large in diameter, but so high could hard get my mouth around it! Don't order a burger on rye.....the bread is too dry and will fall apart. The shakes are nothing special. Not as thick as the ones we have in Wisconsin. My son did like the Black and White shake though. Pros: great taste, attentive waitstaff, inexpensive Cons: not much seating more
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Incredible burgers! 4/3/2003

This place has one of the best burgers I've ever eaten! One word of warning: the sourdough can be a little tricky to eat, so I've been substituting a basic onion roll. Take your friends, even if they're not a fan of red meat -- all of the choices can be made with a breast of chicken instead. more
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Better than Bistro 1/22/2003

But not better than Jackson Hole. IB&S is a real nice little place where you can get some interesting toppings. The burgers are dry and not cooked as ordered. The Chicken sandwiches are almost better than the burgers. The space is small, but cozy. This is another place which has earned a cult like following which I cannot comprehend. The shakes are good, but an afterthought. IB&S beats the hell out of the ridiculously rated Bistro Burger, but not having fries is a hassle(not a cute quirk). Pros: shakes more
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The Best! 1/3/2003

This place makes me feel like I am in San Francisco...I can count on mayo, catsup, lettuce and avocado with my burger and the vanilla milkshakes are the stuff of cravings. It is a comfortable place to eat alone...the staff is attentive and the crowd youngish. more
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Beats the Bistro hands down! 12/5/2002

A little bit of Santa Cruz in Hells Kitchen. Great burgers and HUUUGE salads. No they don't have fries... and thats ok! Pros: price, selection more
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Surf's up! 11/17/2002

Was happy with this little hole-in-the-wall. Food was good, can't beat the prices. Lots of choices. Milkshakes are thick and yummy. Has an early 1960's surfer/beach movie flavor. Perfect for going out with some friends. Pros: good food, cheap more
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Flavor-flave!! 11/8/2002

This is heaven. The only criticism of Island Burger too many choices. All the choices can make for a long evening. Trying to decide, which scrumptious burger to eat can be a exhausting, but fear not all your energyy is restored with one bite of these magnificant meat patties. Whether its the Cowboy or Hippo or Saratoga you will be treated to a taste of heaven......staying away from Island Burger??? I wouldn't think of it! Pros: great burgers, great shakes, great food more
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Don't get stuck on this island. 11/2/2002

The food here was good for the money.Compared to places like Jackson Hole where the burgers have no flavor or imagination, this place does better.The service is a different story.Don't expect prompt service or even friendly service.At times I had to look at my own hands to see if I was invisible.I also found it interesting to take the mustard bottle off my table to replace it with an empty bottle 10 minutes later.The food is good,service and decor bad.I would advise if you live in the city to just get it delivered or take it out. more
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Menu for Island Burgers and Shakes


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A West Coast-style, french fry-less burger shack that attracts a deservedly cultish following.

Editorial

  • The Scene
    The long, narrow restaurant feels like it could have been imported from a Malibu roadside. The colorful interior features bright orange-and-red tables, along with paintings and...

  • 10/14/2005 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sat-Thu 12pm-10:30pm Fri 12pm-11pm
  • Payments: American Express, Cash, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown
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