BurgerClub

well, i have to first say that this is no #1 burger. it's not a bad burger, but definitely not the one.

on a scale of A-F, this guy gets a B+

good quality meat, most of us present agreed on "buttery" as a description. i could write more on it, but i'm hungry and my rice is burning.

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lets eat!

Although Donovan's serves a satisfying burger, with budget price tag, the sandwich does not represent perfection as BurgerClub has set out to experience. The Burgers were inconsistently cooked to our specifications, and the simple sesame seed bun with american cheese does not merit a #1 Burger ranking in my book, especially in such a food rich town as New York. Come on people lets get real. On the possitive, the patty was very flavorful while the composition itself remained true to a classic burger. The heaping side of sauted onions was a big plus, as was the charming irish pub itself. Ill definately return if I ever find myself hungry while kicking around Woodside Queens.

I have to agree with the BC consensus here and admit that this burger was OK but not worth a roundtrip to LaGuardia for it. Thick but still not heavy, which is a sign of higher quality though. Not enough acidity in my opinion and the burger leaves you full without sitll craving for an extra bite of it or a little more of the taste. But agian, this might be what makes a good burger too: it gets you full and not wiling to eat it another one in a week. Good thing the BC meets weekly only.

To start off, I went to the one in Bayside, not Woodside...

I would have to say Donovan's is one of the best burgers I have ever had. True, I am not aware exactly of the BurgerClub mantra as far as deciding what is a so called "#1 burger" but for my money the Donovan's burger is the best "all in all burger" I have had in recent times.

Here is my definition for all in all: ( i hope your definitions of #1 burger will follow) All in all means the toppings plus the burger plus the fries plus the ketchup mixing in with all the goodness. These are my qualifications because if its at all in my power, I try to encompass all the juicy lovin into every burger experience. The key is getting a bacon cheeseburger, ask for it bloody, get the fried onions and ask for the fries well done.
As soon as your burger arrives you put a bit of ketchup on top of the bacon, then you put some onions on top of the ketchup, then more ketchup, then more onions, then close it up. Take that delicious first bite and enjoy the mess falling all over around you. After a little chewing get some fries, dip them in ketchup and eat. Now enjoy the taste of all that sweet nectar melding together in your mouth (no homo). The key to continuous enjoyment is putting onions on with your fork on every bite.

As Ben stiller said in starsky and hutch: Do it.

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I would never steer you wrong. I live for good eats.

Well, I for one have always wanted to go back and give this place another try... and the one in Bayside too.

Donovan's Pub was the Club's first burger outing... and part of the inspiration for its inception. (TONY's #1) we were just getting our beef palate and ideas started. I for one made the mistake of not sending my burger back and ended up eating an overcooked false burger review... next time I will go bloody rare!

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lets eat!

thats a great place to start....this is a pretty badass site....i sent you an email earlier with a good question...let's see what you've got to say prez....

when i first started my personal burger quest based on one page from a time out magazine article....the first place I went to was Rare....personally I was not that impressed either...though I would like to go back and try some of their other fries and definitely try another burger.....

are you more inclined to a flame broiled burger over others?

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I would never steer you wrong. I live for good eats.

NOT THE BEST BUT VERY SATISFYING

I was in the mood for a tasty burger and I didn’t know where to go in my area (Bayside). I read a review of Donovan’s in my neighborhood on a different blog (I didn't know about the BURGER CLUB!!!) and heeded the warning that it wasn't as good as the Donovan's in Woodside. I’ve been consistently disappointed eating in Bayside so I figured the review was probably on the mark. So I decided to take my crew for a drive to the original in Woodside.

This pub is beautiful. Old world Irish with wooden stools at the bar, wood panel everywhere, dim lighting, and tons of seating. We got there Sunday at about 4 in the afternoon so there was no waiting.

The three of us ordered burgers 3 different ways. I’ll tell you about mine - I had a bacon cheeseburger (cheddar) with fried onion cooked medium. I got exactly what I had in mind. A hefty burger, very juicy and well seasoned, meat was tender and cooked to my order (all of ours were cooked to order perfectly and my sister in law is VERY particular about the done-ness of her meat orders). Bacon was plentiful and crisp, cheese was just right. But the best part of this burger…what tied it all together, was the pile of fried (sautéed) onions that added that perfect mild onion flavor while adding a little sweetness to the burger.

The waitress brought extra napkins with our order, thank goodness. These burgers made a delicious mess of my hands as the bun couldn’t absorb all the juice and fat from the burger, cheese, bacon and onions.

The fries were good - I’m more of a Belgian frites fan but these nubby potato nuggets complimented our burgers just fine. Ketchup was in a traditional Heinz bottle, just like it ought to be (you have to tap that 57, scooping ketchup from a ramekin isn’t the same).

I don’t think that Donovan’s has the BEST burger in NY, but I can say that this is the burger I would have made for myself at home if it hadn’t been so damn hot this weekend. This is a burger I can recommend to friends that know I don’t suggest anything that isn’t up to par. This burger satisfied me and my friends that were with me on Sunday, and for 3 burgers and 4 pints of beer at less than $75 with tax and tip, it was a very, very good meal. If it’s not too out of the way for you, it’s worth the trip for a burger fix.–Seth, Bayside Queens