There are few things that taste as gloriously patriotic as a grilled burger, dripping with juices, piled high with melted cheese and vegetables on a bun — and a burger bought for a bargain is about as American as it gets. Fortunately, more high-end eateries around the city are making it possible to indulge in meaty goodness every night of the week with specials deals that won’t bust your budget — but may blow your mind.
Monday
James, 605 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn; 718-942-4255
The deal: Choose one of three types of patties (beef, lamb or slow-roasted pork), plus fries, for $12 to $14.50 (normally $17).
The burger: Happy hour prices extended all night long, combined with a selection of 8-oz. burgers and spiced fries (try the smoked paprika version), make it easy to become a Monday regular at this seasonal American restaurant in Prospect Heights. The cumin-dusted lamb burger is a spicy, plump showstopper, topped with goat cheese and melted cipollini onions, all nestled inside a fluffy semolina bun.
Tuesday
The Monarch Room, 408 W. 15th St.; 646-790-7070
The deal: The buzzy Chelsea dining room whips up off-the-menu burgers and fries ($24) Monday through Thursday nights from 5:30 to 11 p.m.
The burger: The 8-oz. patty is made from 7X brand ground beef, which comes from grass-fed American Wagyu cattle. Chef Michael Citarella keeps accoutrements simple with a toasted caraway seeded bun, aged Cheddar, Bibb lettuce, beefsteak tomatoes and Monarch’s fiery special sauce, spiked with smoked chili oil and pickled jalapeños. The result is a fresh, dense two-hander laced with umami. “Burgers are about simplicity and bread-to-bun-to-sauce ratio,” says Citarella. “I think we nailed it.”
Wednesday
The Sixth Ward, 191 Orchard St.; 212-228-9888
The deal: Wednesday’s “Burger Night” special from 8 p.m. until midnight includes a burger plus a beer or glass of wine for $12 — more than $6 off the regular price of the sirloin burger and a pint.
The burger: The 8-oz. sirloin patty at this Lower East Side pub is served with lettuce, tomato and your choice of cheese — American, mozzarella, pepper jack and goat cheese are just a few options — plus two toppings (avocado, jalapeños, grilled mushrooms or onions). Go for Cheddar, avocado and jalapeño to create an oozing, California-style combo. The deal is completed by a proprietary Sixth Ward beer (light or amber, both brewed locally and specially for the bar) or a glass of vino.
Thursday
Maritime Parc, 84 Audrey Zapp Dr., Jersey City; 201-413-0050
The deal: For $20, you get a half-dozen East Coast bivalves, a draft beer or wine, and a burger (choose from four creations: beef, salmon, scallop or pork).
The burger: “A burger, oysters and beer is the perfect combo for summertime eating,” says Chris Siversen, the chef and owner of the tony Jersey City spot. The 8-oz. choices range from a ground scallop patty topped with corn mayo, bacon and marinated tomatoes, to a pork patty layered with smoked onion relish, delicate king oyster mushrooms and melted Gruyère — a veritable flavor bomb. The view of New York City’s skyline from Liberty State Park comes at no extra charge.
Friday
North River, 166 First Ave.; 212-228-1200
The deal: The 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. happy hour includes a burger and fries for $13 (normally $17).
The burger: Owner Colby Zito mixes 25 percent brisket with 75 percent ground chuck from Florence Meat Market, adding a squeeze of V8 for extra savory juiciness. The 8-oz. patty is topped with Cheddar and caramelized red onion mayonnaise and served on a house-baked bun speckled with “everything bagel” spices. “The hand-cut fries are cooked three times to ensure proper seasoning,” Zito points out.
Saturday
Maialino, 2 Lexington Ave.; 212-777-2410
The deal: Night crawlers can hit the bar area between 10:30 p.m. and midnight for a $15 burger.
The burger: The burger at Danny Meyer’s Roman trattoria in the Gramercy Hotel is made with 7 oz. of black Angus beef and topped with housemade black pepper pancetta, wilted escarole and Gorgonzola. It’s served on a rosemary brioche bun with mustard on the side. “We have one regular who visits our bar every night to grab the burger and a cocktail,” says Chef Nick Anderer. But we think Saturday is preferable for indulging in rich, witching-hour calories.
Sunday
Lulu & Po, 154 Carlton Ave., Brooklyn; 917-435-3745
The deal: Fifteen bucks gets you a double-decker, plus house-cut Idaho fries and a Naragansett beer (normally $24).
The burger: Kick the Sunday blues with comfort food at this New American eatery in Fort Greene. “Our burger comes with two 4-oz. patties,” says chef/owner Matthew Hamilton, who uses an 80/20 blend of locally-raised grass-fed beef. Topped with caramelized onions, zucchini pickles, house-made aioli and goat cheese, it’s served on a simple Martin’s sesame-seed potato roll. The juicy meat plays off the cheese’s funk, brightly acidic pickles and sweet onions to create a perfectly balanced bite.