Lunch Break: Burger Lunch Steal, Mad For Meatballs, And Dessert In Bay Ridge

A burger meal deal, incredible meatballs, and a dessert worthy of a trip to Bay Ridge - all in today's New York Lunch Break. By Yvo Sin.

Burger House

820 Broadway
New York, NY 10003
(212) 677-8282
burgerhousenyc.com

A new contender to the burger game, this East Village joint focuses on nothing but burgers, burgers, and burger (even one for $2 - check it out). The burgers are large, served on a ciabatta roll, and always juicy - with free toppings at prices tough to come by in the city.

Donatella

New York, NY
(212) 493-5150
donatellanyc.com

Donatella's menu has changed slightly since inception, but deliciousness is still ever-present. Take, for example, Donatella's famous tomato braised veal meatballs (pictured). Golf ball sized balls of meat - succulent, soft and swimming in sweet tomato sauce - a single order could easily suffice as lunch for one, and you'd never miss the pasta. If you manage to convince a coworker to join you, you'd both do well to split the meatballs and a pizza – the cappellaccio for those who enjoy smoky flavors, definitely – and both be stuffed enough to need to be rolled out of Donatella's. Save room for dessert, though; pastry chef Andrea Jarosh knows her way around a sweet and it shows. Check out the chocolate mousse, topped with a crackly caramel crust and served in a cup, you'll be scraping for the last bits of semisweet fluffy mousse.

Tanoreen

7523 3rd Avenue
Bay Ridge, NY 11209
(718) 748-5600
tanoreen.com/

The menu at Tanoreen includes all of your familiar Mediterranean favorites like kebabs, grilled meats, stuffed grape leaves, falafel... but also some items you may not be as familiar with, like cauliflower salad (browned cauliflower buds with tahini and pomegranate molasses) and even a Mediterranean take on Shepherd's Pie, made with garlic mashed potatoes, layered with lamb, pine nuts, Tanoreen spices and baked to a golden brown. Whatever you decide to order, though, end the meal with the knafeh (allow 20 minutes' lead time when you order): shredded filo dough stuffed with two kinds of sweet cheese, topped with rosewater syrup and pistachioes... truly an experience to savor and well worth the trek to Bay Ridge.

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Yvo Sin is the founder and head writer of The Feisty Foodie.