|
FOODIE
A Really Good Burger,
And More
By Danny Schrafel/ foodie@longislandernews.com
Summer speaks to people
in many different ways – one of them being the classic
cookout and the all-American fare that goes with it. Unfortunately,
that’s a bit tricky to get on the fly – charcoal
grills and such don’t travel well, and tailgating is
frowned upon in the office parking lot.
Enter Top Bunz in Huntington village. According to their website,
their philosophy is that “food is synonymous with freshness,
quality and a hot grill. We are here to preserve one of America’s
great traditions: a really good burger.”
They do that by avoiding the fast-food trappings of assembly
line kitchens and heat lamps, instead opting to make burgers
from scratch and to order, with meat delivered each morning.
So what if the burger takes a little longer to get done? It’s
well worth the wait because Top Bunz produces some tasty burgers
indeed. Without any direction, our cheeseburger was served
medium-well, loaded with as many as 10 toppings, 10 sauces
and four cheeses in a melt-in-your-mouth bun.
Want a little more beef? Check out the doubles, add bacon
or go for the ultimate beef lover’s treat, the Topper
($7.91), four patties packed on a bun. Finish one of these
bad boys and you’ll get a free T-shirt, a place on their
Wall of Fame wall and likely, a food coma to follow shortly.
Formerly American Roadside, the storefront hasn’t changed
a whole lot, but appears a bit more muted than before. It’s
decorated with some Huntington athletics regalia – when
we visited, it was Cold Spring Harbor and Huntington Blue
Devil T-shirts – and a Wizard of Oz cutout proclaiming,
“There’s no place like Top Bunz.”
Since the store became Top Bunz, the burger specialty concept
hasn’t changed, but has grown and evolved. New gustatory
goodies include Philly cheese steaks ($7.99), Coney Island
knishes and most recently, fried Oreos and Twinkies. While
the deep fryer is in mind, French fries – the hamburger’s
best friend – come salty, crispy on the outside and steaming
hot and potato-filled.
Top Bunz’s expanded vision also means more chicken –
in addition to chicken sandwiches, wings ($6.94) are now on
the menu. The fried chicken patties – moist, flavorful
and flaky, yet not oily – are a treat, especially when
it’s paired with red onions, cheddar and a large wheat
bun that’s much fluffier than one might expect.
Other bun choices include seeded, white and potato.
If even just for the sake of saying “I ordered a Krabby
Patty,” check out Top Bunz’s version of the “Spongebob
Squarepants” underwater greasy spoon classic. Above sea
level, Top Bunz’s Crabby Patty ($4.91) is a thin, tasty
crab cake on a bun – all without Squidward being a grouch
at the register. Instead, your order is brought directly to
your table if you’re sticking around, continuing another
American dining tradition – service with a smile.
Top Bunz
337 New York Ave. Huntington village
631-923-1100 www.topbunz.com
Cuisine: All-American favorites and new ideas
Atmosphere: Throwback burger joint
Price: Inexpensive
Hours: Sun-Thurs 11 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri-Sat 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
Main
Menu
|
