As any food-loving Brooklynite is undoubtedly aware, our borough has no shortage of amazing burgers. But patty prices have gone luxe lately, with prices creeping well into the double digits (and they no longer include sides, what gives?). So, what’s a brokester in need of a burger fix to do?
Luckily, there are still vestiges of the cheap burger days of yore. And they come in the form of a holy union: the burger and beer special! We rounded up the best of the borough’s pint-and-patty specials, so you can get back to enjoying your ground chuck, and get a buzz to boot.
Tutu’s
25 Bogart Street, Bushwick
Cost: $10
Available: Mon-Fri, 4pm-8pm
Since its 2013 opening, Tutu’s has evolved from an unofficial holding pen for the Roberta’s waitlist crowd into a neighborhood classic in its own right. It’s got everything we’ve come to expect from a Bushwick (sorry…“East Williamsburg”) hotspot: eclectic decor, cute North Brooklynites in beanies, cheap drinks, and affordable American-style grub. While their prices are good across the board, the best deal to be had at Tutu’s is their happy hour burger-and-draft-beer combo. Their tap selections rotate seasonally, but you can expect to see offerings from Lagunitas, Six Point, Victory, and other craft breweries. The burgers feature flavorful toppings like arugula, caramelized shallots, and garlicky aioli. And if you wanna get fancy, you can dish out a couple of extra bucks for cheese, bacon, or a fried egg.
Brooklyn Public House
247 DeKalb Ave, Fort Greene
Cost: $10.95
Available: Mon-Fri, 12pm-4pm
DeKalb Ave in Fort Greene has become a bit of a Restaurant Row, but if you’re looking for a classic pub, you can’t do better than Brooklyn Public House. They’ve got deals galore, from a $5 happy hour food menu to a dinner menu maxing out at $16 entrees. But their lunchtime burger-and-draft-beer deal beats ‘em all. The beer selections vary (they included Lionshead and Yuengling at this writer’s last visit), and the burgers, while certainly no-frills, feature a tasty blend of ground sirloin and hanger steak. You also have the option to swap out the beef for a veggie patty.
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Montana’s Trail House
455 Troutman Street, Bushwick
Cost: $10
Available: Mondays from 5-11pm
An Appalachian-inspired restaurant and bar in a renovated gas station, Montana’s Trail House has no shortage of rustic charm and yummy, stick-to-your-ribs eats. While their dinner prices can creep a bit out of brokester territory, their Monday night burger-and-beer combo is a genuine steal. You get your choice of any draft beer (with options including Southern Tier, Sierra Nevada, and good ole Budweiser) and a burger made from grass-fed beef and topped with spicy ghost pepper aioli, sharp white cheddar and briny pickles. Now THAT’s the way to start your week off right.
Mother’s
347 Graham Ave, Williamsburg
Cost: $11
Available: Mon-Fri, 12pm-5pm
Just steps away from the Graham Avenue L train stop, Mother’s specializes in two things: burgers and craft beer. And if you swing by for weekday lunch, you can sample the best of both worlds for a great price. The Mother’s lunch special features a classic hamburger or veggie burger, a choice of fries (regular or sweet potato) or a green salad, and a half-pint of select draft beers. The burger is made from Pat LaFrieda beef (aka the gold standard of burger meat) and is served with the classic lettuce-tomato-onion trifecta. You do have the option to add cheese, bacon, or other accompaniments, but that’ll cost you extra. The front room, with its wide picture windows, is a great spot for Williamsburg people-watching, but if the weather’s nice, you’ll want to take your burger out to their sunny and serene backyard.
Keg and Lantern
97 Nassau Ave, Greenpoint
Cost: $12
Available: Tuesdays from 2pm-10pm
For a brewpub in the truest sense of the term, look no further than Greenpoint’s Keg and Lantern. There’s a brewery right on premises, and their tap list is fully stocked with their own IPA, pilsner, wild ale, and many other styles. The vibe is very neighborhood sports bar with a Brooklyn spin, and there’s a great menu of comfort food to match. They’ve got killer wings, fabulous mac and cheese…and, of course, a formidable burger-and-beer deal. The combo, available on Tuesday nights, includes a burger (your choice of Angus brisket, quinoa-veggie or turkey) and any draft. And if you’re starting early, then drinking after the burger is cheap: happy hour features $4 pints til 7pm. Cheers to that!
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Watty and Meg
248 Court Street, Cobble Hill
Cost: $12
Available: Mondays from 5-10PM
Watty and Meg is a classy Cobble Hill establishment with classy Cobble Hill prices. The elegant contemporary American menu features entrees in the $20-30 range, but the highly-celebrated Monday Burger Night proves that Watty and Meg can do low-brow just right. You get either a grass-fed organic beef burger or a quinoa and black bean burger, a hearty portion of hand-cut fries, and a Lionshead Pils. You can pay extra for add-ons like cheese, bacon and avocado, but the burgers don’t really need anything more than the included lettuce, tomato and onion. After all, isn’t simplicity the height of sophistication?
Brew Inn
924 Manhattan Ave, Greenpoint
Cost: $13
Available: Mon-Fri, 4-7PM
Northern Greenpoint’s Brew Inn is a perfect chill happy hour destination for many reasons. They’ve got a killer tap list, great bar food (including pierogies!), flat-screen TVs showing sporting events of all kinds, and enough booth space for a decent-sized group. But the star of the happy hour show is their free-beer-with-a-burger deal. They keep it classic with the beer; you can usually get Narragansett or PBR. And the burgers are dope, stacked with a juicy patty, nutty Swiss cheese, sweet tomato jam, crunchy arugula, and a nest of caramelized onions. They also come with a side of potato wedges, sauteed kale, or (the obvious choice) tots! Well worth a trip on the G train.
Fort Defiance
365 Van Brunt Street, Red Hook
Cost: $14
Available: Mondays from 5:30-11PM
Fort Defiance is one of those rare restaurants that feels appropriate for any occasion. Got a first date? They have classic cocktails and cozy bar seating. Have parents in town? They’ve got has window-side tables and a fabulous brunch menu. Need a burger and a beer? Head to Fort Defiance on Monday night. Their deal includes a burger, a side of roasted potatoes, and any draft beer. These burgers are made from savory ground chuck (from Pino’s Prime Meats in Soho) on a brioche bun, topped with pickles, lettuce, onion, and a crazy-delicious secret sauce. It’s the perfect spot to get your burger fix. Then you can walk off the meat sweats with a leisurely stroll back to the F/G train.
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Wish this list contained more around the Sunset Park/Bay Ridge area.
I will say that a good burger/beer combo can be had at Koda on Flushing in Bushwick.