December 18, 2007
Late Night Burger Heaven
Finding myself in a beef and grease induced pleasure coma
By Stephen Bailey

It's been far too many years since I've been to Paul's Place (131 2nd Ave, NYC), and I'm not really sure how I ended up here tonight. A bunch of us were leaving Lincoln Park up on 9th Ave and 57th Street, on our way to get some Korean BBQ. At least that's what I thought. Suddenly I was shoved into a cab on its way to 3rd and St. Marks. As far as my inebriated brain could remember, there's not much in the way of Korean BBQ in that neighborhood. Once out of the cab, we were told to walk towards 2nd avenue.

Still confused about our ultimate destination, I pointed out the burger heaven that is Paul's Place to my friend John. In a former life ten or more years ago, I was working as a newspaper delivery guy in the east village. My days were filled with finding safe places for my van, walking the cold city streets with a granny cart filled with free papers and blackening my skin with cheap news ink. My only highlight, after a brief hand scrubbing, was sidling up to the counter at Paul's and feasting on a half pound of divine beefiness for lunch each day.

When I saw our group heading towards a Sushi place, my blood froze. Sushi is pretty much my culinary kryptonite. No matter how hard I try, I simply cannot develop a taste for it. So I told John I was going to Paul's. He joined me and we feasted on meat, cheese and absolutely perfect fries. Soon I would find myself swimming in an artery hardening nirvana and instantly transported back in time. I could practically smell that old ink on my hands. Reluctantly I would confess to being glad that I no longer worked in the neighborhood. Simply put, I would have eaten myself into an early grave. Yes, this stuff is that good.

John patiently awaiting his Pizza Burger

The set up here at Paul's Place is your basic old-school soda fountain. It’s a long, thin space with much advertising memorabilia and kitsch strewn about and checkered tablecloths to add to the atmosphere. We got thru the door just in time to get the very last two burgers of the night. Timing is everything. I got a basic American cheeseburger, John got the pizza burger. There's plenty to choose from with something like twenty burger combinations. All are thick, juicy and amazing.

This was the perfect place to end my night considering the Wee Burger tease earlier at Lincoln Park Grill. And the next time you're in town to see Stomp (at the Orpheum across the street) or you need to avoid a run in with some raw-fish-eating late-night crowd, swing by Paul's and submit to the goodness.

Links:
Wee Burgers and Good Cheer
MurphGuide: Daily Specials
Stephen Bailey