Stand Burger

Here's some stiff competition for Better Burger NYC! Stand, a trans-fat-free burger joint which recently opened on East 12th Street, serves up juicy 7-ouncers (try the decadent bacon & egg cheeseburger), Atlantic sea-salt sprinkled hand-cut fries, fresh blackberry soda, and ricotta-pistachio milkshakes. Top it all off with a melted brownie and bowl of Il Laboratorio Del Gelato sorbet.

Although prices are more Midtown than NYU, I predict that the owner's plans to franchise will be successful. (My first New Year's prediction! I hope it lasts longer than my resolutions.)

Stand: 24 East 12th St., (212) 488-5900.

The Burger-Of-The-Month Diet?

Browsing in Barnes & Noble today, I noticed the prominent diet book display, which was obviously marketed towards guilty holiday gorgers. The featured tomes all seemed to conflict with one another. One title implored me to eat more bread, another to eat more rice. Still another promised to erase my wrinkles as well as my weight. There was the Jerusalem diet, the Japanese diet and a diet that promised me that if I could acquire French citizenship, I would never get fat.

After leafing through a 5-Week Cure and a One-Day Approach, I threw up my hands and went home. When I turned on my computer, I was confronted with the following E-mail:

O’NEILL’S INTRODUCES ‘BREAK YOUR RESOLUTION BURGER’ FOR JANUARY

Burger and Beer Program Makes Great Gift for Your Favorite NYC Carnivore

When it comes to breaking New Year’s resolutions the motto is go big or go home. Whether you’ve already broken your resolution or you’re looking for the right time, New York’s O’Neill’s Irish Pub is offering up a “Break Your Resolution Burger” for January that won’t leave your taste buds with any regrets.

For just $10, guests can enjoy a juicy “Break Your Resolution Burger” loaded
with blue cheese, guacamole and bacon, served with French fries and a pint of
Smithwicks Irish Ale for lunch or dinner.

The January burger is part of O’Neill’s 2006 “Burger of the Month” program
which pairs a specialty burger and French fries with a pint of beer for lunch
or dinner..."

I suppose I should just give up now.

O’Neill’s: 729 3rd Ave., (212) 661-3530.

Zaitzeff

Hungry as can be, I took stock of the dreary dining options along Nassau Street. To my right, there was a Blimpie's, and further down, a Wendy's. Sighing, I turned to my left and saw… a small miracle: Zaitzeff.

Zaitzeff is a burger place that cares! It does the Burger Joint in Le Parker Meridien one better, and serves up patties of organic meatloaf, Kobe beef, and even tuna steak in addition to the regular sirloin. Each burger is lovingly set upon a Portuguese muffin and topped with ripe red tomatoes, horseradish cream, and (if you wish) hefty slices of avocado, grilled onions and cheese.

The sandwiches are quite substantial, but if you must eat further (as I do), there are mixed green salads and heaps of sweet potato and russet French fries. And, when by the cash register, don't overlook the plates piled high with housemade cookies, muffins and brownies. (Some of the brownies are cut larger than others; I left you the biggest one.)

One final tip: try to get to Zaitzeff before the lunch crush; as word spreads around the area, large companies are increasingly ordering 40 burgers at a time!

Zaitzeff: 72 Nassau St., (212) 571-7272.