New to Boston but not to the upscale burger-joint scene in general, 5 Napkin Burger hails from New York City; boasting three locations in Astoria Queens, Hell's Kitchen and The Upper West Side. Following the NYC success is the the newest outpost, a chic setting disguised with butcher shop paraphernalia, located at 105 Huntington Avenue in The Back Bay's Prudential Center.
A panoramic restaurant space is filled with black leather booths contrasted by glossy white tile walls lined with meat scales and shelves of brightly colored glass jars.
Meat hooks adorn the ceilings alternating with exposed light bulbs dangling from electrical wires.
As you can see - the place is packed and unfortunately, restaurant policy does not allow reservations for parties over 8, which left our party of 12 (blog friends
Michelle,
Justin,
Megan,
Jen,
Meghan and significant others) with a one and a half hour wait time. It was also unfortunate that when we called to make a reservation they were quick to assure us the wait would not be a problem (for who? Us or them?) I understand it might deter business if you proclaim, "we will be packed on Friday evening so expect a long wait!" but believe it or not, a little transparency goes a long way.
We gathered at the bar and caught up over drinks, so the wait went by rather quickly. No hard feelings, I just figure it's good to inform future patrons of what to expect.
While we waited I enjoyed an
Alagash White ($7) on tap and was onto my second by the time we were seated.
Following the beers a cocktail sampling was in order and I went with the
Perfect 5 Napkin Manhattan ($11) Makers Mark, Brandied Cherry Juice, Sweet and Dry Vermouth, Orange Essence.
A well made Manhattan, the bourbon was prevalent and the sweet notes of cherry and orange were pleasantly subtle. As far as dinner was concerned, it was a no-brainer from my perspective, to order the burger that made them famous.
And although I am aware of the hype only recently, I though it lived up to the expectation at a decent price point.
The
Original 5 Napkin Burger ($10.95) comes on a soft white bun with 10
oz. of fresh ground chuck, Gruyere cheese like you've never seen her before, a heaping pile of caramelized onions and a spoonful of rosemary aioli.
Just look at that melted Gruyere cheese cascading over a patty so juicy it glistened! The thick pile of sweet caramelized onions welcoming atop them the velvety smooth herb infused aioli was a winning combination in my book. The concept of ordering fries and pickles a la carte is somewhat foreign, but was definitely embraced and worked out quite well for our large party.
The
Tuscan Fries ($3.75) tossed in Parmesan, thyme, sage and rosemary, delivered on flavors but lacked in crispiness. I still housed a fare share of that plate. I love french fries, even a soft batch!
A
Bowl of House Cured Pickles ($2.75) were really impressive. A briny sweet essence that was so tasty I even slapped a few on my burger.
Not that the burger needed it, but the pickles were that good! Tater Tots ($4.25) (heck yes!) were crispy two-bite morsels packed with smooth potato goodness,
another worthy side offering.
The Cornmeal Crusted Onion Rings are served in a "starter" portion for
($6.75) and as a "side" portion for
($4.25). The opposite end of the table got it right with the starter portion, (photographed) served with blue cheese dressing and 5N sauce. My end of the table mistakenly ordered the
side which was a rather small plate of only about 5 onion rings and minus the sauces. None of us realized there were two options (they aren't listed near each other on the menu.) The rings maintained a nice crisp, using cornmeal seemed like an innovative approach to this classic side.
It was nearing 10pm and the table was settling into dessert mode. Adam and I had post dinner plans so we decided to make a break for it before it got too late. Had there been enough time, I would have ordered the
Dark & Stormy Float ($8) Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Goslings Rum, Saranac Ginger Beer. It was definitely a
long meal considering we just ate burgers and fries, and I was bummed to have to miss dessert! The great thing about this place is that it is relatively inexpensive and the lively atmosphere makes it a fun outing for large groups!
They say if you can make it in New York City you can make it anywhere, and if the crowds are any inclination,
5 Napkin Burger is well on its way to finding success here in Boston, too.
A panoramic restaurant space is filled with black leather booths contrasted by glossy white tile walls lined with meat scales and shelves of brightly colored glass jars. 
Meat hooks adorn the ceilings alternating with exposed light bulbs dangling from electrical wires. 
As you can see - the place is packed and unfortunately, restaurant policy does not allow reservations for parties over 8, which left our party of 12 (blog friends Michelle, Justin, Megan, Jen, Meghan and significant others) with a one and a half hour wait time. It was also unfortunate that when we called to make a reservation they were quick to assure us the wait would not be a problem (for who? Us or them?) I understand it might deter business if you proclaim, "we will be packed on Friday evening so expect a long wait!" but believe it or not, a little transparency goes a long way. 
We gathered at the bar and caught up over drinks, so the wait went by rather quickly. No hard feelings, I just figure it's good to inform future patrons of what to expect.
While we waited I enjoyed an Alagash White ($7) on tap and was onto my second by the time we were seated. 
Following the beers a cocktail sampling was in order and I went with the Perfect 5 Napkin Manhattan ($11) Makers Mark, Brandied Cherry Juice, Sweet and Dry Vermouth, Orange Essence.
A well made Manhattan, the bourbon was prevalent and the sweet notes of cherry and orange were pleasantly subtle. As far as dinner was concerned, it was a no-brainer from my perspective, to order the burger that made them famous. 
And although I am aware of the hype only recently, I though it lived up to the expectation at a decent price point. 
The Original 5 Napkin Burger ($10.95) comes on a soft white bun with 10 oz. of fresh ground chuck, Gruyere cheese like you've never seen her before, a heaping pile of caramelized onions and a spoonful of rosemary aioli. 
Just look at that melted Gruyere cheese cascading over a patty so juicy it glistened! The thick pile of sweet caramelized onions welcoming atop them the velvety smooth herb infused aioli was a winning combination in my book. The concept of ordering fries and pickles a la carte is somewhat foreign, but was definitely embraced and worked out quite well for our large party.
The Tuscan Fries ($3.75) tossed in Parmesan, thyme, sage and rosemary, delivered on flavors but lacked in crispiness. I still housed a fare share of that plate. I love french fries, even a soft batch!
A Bowl of House Cured Pickles ($2.75) were really impressive. A briny sweet essence that was so tasty I even slapped a few on my burger. Not that the burger needed it, but the pickles were that good! Tater Tots ($4.25) (heck yes!) were crispy two-bite morsels packed with smooth potato goodness, another worthy side offering.
The Cornmeal Crusted Onion Rings are served in a "starter" portion for ($6.75) and as a "side" portion for ($4.25). The opposite end of the table got it right with the starter portion, (photographed) served with blue cheese dressing and 5N sauce. My end of the table mistakenly ordered the side which was a rather small plate of only about 5 onion rings and minus the sauces. None of us realized there were two options (they aren't listed near each other on the menu.) The rings maintained a nice crisp, using cornmeal seemed like an innovative approach to this classic side.
It was nearing 10pm and the table was settling into dessert mode. Adam and I had post dinner plans so we decided to make a break for it before it got too late. Had there been enough time, I would have ordered the Dark & Stormy Float ($8) Rum Raisin Ice Cream, Goslings Rum, Saranac Ginger Beer. It was definitely a long meal considering we just ate burgers and fries, and I was bummed to have to miss dessert! The great thing about this place is that it is relatively inexpensive and the lively atmosphere makes it a fun outing for large groups!
