A letter to Dutch Boy Burger

Dear Mr/ Mrs Dutch Boy,

I'll get straight to the point: Get a new bun. Please.

I love your restaurant. The burger meat is delicious and, incredibly, has been cooked almost perfectly every time I've been. This is no small feat in NYC. I'm a sucker for your wedge salad, and the Abita Root Beer on tap is awfully refreshing. The staff has always been friendly and nice. Your customers are almost as interesting as the food itself- it's fun to see what kind of people come out of the woodwork. Last week, I even had a delicious turkey burger. Yeah, I said it. Turkey Burger!

But there is one, overwhelming problem, and that is the bun. THE BUN. What is going on with the bun? A hamburger with a bad bun is like kiss with no tongue...an achievement with no satisfaction. Okay, I've got to work on the analogies, but the point is that almost everything you guys are doing is right- and the one thing that you don't control is terrible. It's dry, it's crumbly and it never, ever makes it through the meal. Usually, not even half way.

A burger is meat between two slices of bread. That's it. So at the end of the day, if you can't get the bread part of the equation down, then something is seriously wrong.

Please. I want to come back again and again, but I need to you work on the bun part of the relationship. If you do, I promise I'll be yours.

Love,

Spnder

Subject: Re: A letter to Dutch Boy Burger

spnder wrote: A hamburger with a bad bun is like kiss with no tongue

That was simply awesome.

I forwarded your letter to the Exec Chef.

This is not the letter I would like to send as my largest complaint, but I agree that the bun is weird. I don't like the 2 different textures of the top/outside and then inside of it. It's weird - not terrible - but weird.

My problem is still the price point. For the same price as 2 veggie burgers, 2 fries, and 2 12-oz beers, I can get 2 veggie hot dogs, 2 fries, and 2 16-oz beers at Bark (which is far better food). If I'm going to spend that kind of money I want it to be amazing.

I would probably go to Dutch Boy once a week due to its location and the lack of other nearby takeout of burgers if they were $3 or $4 less per person (like throw in the fries with the burger! or lower the price of each a buck or two!) - but at $30 for two people I expect a fancier place with a very different vibe or make it a $20 for two people meal and I'll be happy.

Oh Homage...I both loved and could afford you.

stop making me miss Homage.

I go to Dutch Boy once a week..the buns and the burgers are average at best. the onion rings are not as good as Soda..but neither is the burger and from what I understand it's made with the same meat. The chili is pretty good, a hunk of bread would be swell after the 9 bucks a bowl price. Zaytoons,Sheryl's, Teddy's and Crow Hill Bistro all have better burgers than DB. Dutch Boy's service has gotten better and better. I think they should do a liquor lock down in the back bar and just serve beer and burgers for world cup in the back room.

Just heard back from Chef- she's going to fix the bun!

Baby steps...

xlizellx wrote: This is not the letter I would like to send as my largest complaint, but I agree that the bun is weird. I don't like the 2 different textures of the top/outside and then inside of it. It's weird - not terrible - but weird.

My problem is still the price point. For the same price as 2 veggie burgers, 2 fries, and 2 12-oz beers, I can get 2 veggie hot dogs, 2 fries, and 2 16-oz beers at Bark (which is far better food). If I'm going to spend that kind of money I want it to be amazing.

I would probably go to Dutch Boy once a week due to its location and the lack of other nearby takeout of burgers if they were $3 or $4 less per person (like throw in the fries with the burger! or lower the price of each a buck or two!) - but at $30 for two people I expect a fancier place with a very different vibe or make it a $20 for two people meal and I'll be happy.

Oh Homage...I both loved and could afford you.

Bristen's, although similarly priced, has a far superior veggie burger (and bun for that matter). BYOB too, so you save some $$$. The Sweet Potato Fries are delicious as well. They have takeout too.

I am going to have to try Bristen's again. My biggest problem there is that when sitting in my apartment hungry, I never know if they are open or not. I will have to work on memorizing them. I only have their veggie burger once but it was as they were closing so it wasn't great -- I'll give them another try on that recommendation.

Whatchuwant wrote: Just heard back from Chef- she's going to fix the bun!

Baby steps...

That's awesome news; ) I knew posting on here would be the quickest way to get through. (Aside from actually telling the, at the restaurant)

; )

The buns are .99 store brand and the food is over priced for what you get. This establishment is still blacklisted for me.

I had a burger at Soda last night (on Vanderbilt, obvs) and both burger and bun were awesome as usual, totally worth the $8.

That would be the standard by which I'd judge whether or not I will eat at Dutch Boy. (and aren't they related, via owner Toly etc?)

I LOVE Soda's veggie burger. And their fries. I don't always want to walk to Vandy to get some food though. They don't deliver do they?

Xlizellx, Bristen's hours are as follows:

Tuesday through Friday: 10 - 4, then 6 - 10
Saturday and Sunday : 9 - 6

I like their veggie burger, and their tilapia burger; they use a spicy mayonaisse sauce that's really very good with the fish. The veggie burgers are made from scratch at Bristens. They buy the beans (lentils or chick pea), they soak them, cook them, then make the patties; I 've asked.

Also, at the risk of displaying my bias, I like the ethos of the owner, who is very active in the Crown Heights community, and uses a portion of her profits for the betterment of those who live in the area. This includes employing people who live here, as well as sponsoring neighborhod events. I like the idea that my money is helping my neighborhood become a better place.

i dont remember the bun, but....

1. I was fine with the price point
2. The fries were really great actually
3. root beer and beer on tap was fantastic

My complaint was the actual meat. I wasn't a huge fan of the flavor. it was rather flavorless...cooked PERFECT, but needed something....

anyways, my two cents.

My apologies for seeming contrary here. I know this thread is about Dutch Boy. I was only responding to Xlizellx (how do you pronounce that?). I haven't eaten anything at Dutch Boy yet, though someone asked me to buy a burger for them. They thought it was tasty.

Bristens should do some more advertising. ...their outdoor space is nice, the burgers are yummy. I had a chicken/bacon sandwich called "the Dean" a few days ago.

They might need to get a beer lic, if they want to compete with Dutch Boy. Homage had one, Dutch boy has one...The BYOB thing isn't cutting it. ...it would be a shame to see a good burger place beat out by an only okay one, simply because they haven't gone through the pain it takes to get a beer lic.

Lots of folks in the area are age 22 - 34, they drink beer.

Oh and Dutch Boy? Start delivering. Seriously. I'm sure your food is great and all, but no. Bring it to me. That is all.

MHA wrote: Xlizellx (how do you pronounce that?).

ex - liz - el - ex

Also, while volunteering at the Kids Day event my husband went to Bristens and got us veggie burgers. They were quite good and the fries were good too. I think I liked the cheese selection at Dutch Boy better and the spices on the fries -- but I want to try the other fries at Bristens again (and try them when not sitting on the curb of Franklin Avenue in 102* weather).