That’s Not the Beginning of the End, That’s The Return to Burgercence

We apologize, Burger fans and obese friends, for months of neglect. We took a while off for maternity leave, but we’re back with lots of new burgers and we promise never to leave your buns cold like that again. We’ve got some ketchingup to do, so here’s the first.

In the spirit of birth & beginnings, shortly before Bex’s due date, we decided to head back to Dram Shop, the location of our first official blog-reviewed burger back in 2008. Here’s what’s changed and what’s stayed the same since that first visit.

Then: We were really just a Burger Duo.
Now: With Bex & Jane, we’re a legit club. Pres, VP, Secretary, Treasurer. Booyah, we’d get official extracurricular cred in any public middle school (though none of us would ever assume those roles).

Then: No talking about Burger Club led to random people being invited to Burger Club.
Now: Talking too much about Burger Club leads to no more random invites to Burger Club.

Then: People expected us to be a “professional” group of burger lovers.
Now: People still expect us to be a “professional” group of burger lovers. We still rebel against this notion.

Then: Ordering of yummy fried macaroni and cheese balls seemed like an awesome idea. They were deliciously gooey on the inside.
Now: Fried macaroni and cheese balls will always be an awesome idea. Still deliciously gooey. They came with some awesome ranch sauce this time.

Then: We almost set the place on fire.
Now: With baby on board, we now practice fire safety.

Then: Burger Duo wondered if there was an irony in a vegetarian named Hunter.
Now: Burger Club wonders if there’s irony in a meat-eater named Vegan.

Then: Burger Duo rated this a 4-cow burger.
Now: Dram Shop now uses Martin’s Buns (see Shake Shack review for why this rocks) and grass-fed beef, adding a whole calf to this burger’s rating!

Bex:
The Dram Shop’s burger comes as a double.  I NEVER order doubles so I got the single for $1 less but if I had just remembered my experience from the last time I had been there, I would have ordered the double since the patties are very thin.  Nonetheless, the burger was really good.  I love all the toppings which include lettuce, tomato, pickles, mayo, mustard and American cheese.  Like I said, the patty was really thin, so I really didn’t taste much of the new grass fed beef but the whole package was still yummy.  Next time:  DOUBLE!  Also, the hand cut fries are awesome.   
Bex rates: 4.5 cows

Jane:  
Unlike Bex, I always want to order the double. Thankfully, Bex usually talks me out of it by reminding me of The Shack Burger Incident of 2008 when I went for the double and it nearly killed me (oddly enough, since then, I’ve found that while the Double Shack Burger kills me, 2 separate Shack Burgers seem to go down fine).  So, while yes, I’m usually a glutton, I swear I didn’t realize I was ordering a double burger at Dram Shop, since I thought “single” just meant one piece of cheese. Whatever I was thinking, I’m glad I got the double since the patties were really thin, but doubled on top of each other, I found myself in the middle of the happiest threesome (me & the two patties).  I wasn’t at the first BCNY visit to Dram Shop, so I can’t speak to the difference between the regular bun and the new-and-improved sesame covered version, but overall this was a sturdy, good burger--not the greatest ever, but quite nice and the type that you know will always be good. Even better than the burger? Fried mac-n-cheese cubes. Hells yeah. Especially the ranch sauce they came with, which was also the greatest gift you could ever give to a basket of fries.
Jane rates: 4 cows


Anna:  
I can’t remember if I got the double or the single because I’m a huge procrastinator and am writing this months late, but I do remember loving it.  And I mean loving it.  The burger is a family recipe, passed down by the owner’s grandfather, so this isn’t your average burger.  The recipe has traveled across the country, from Dallas to Brooklyn, and they know burgers in Dallas.  The service was awesome.  Also, the Dram Shop doesn’t charge for American cheese, and everybody charges for cheese.  True Texan hospitality.    
Anna rates: 5 cows

Roger: 
Full disclosure:  I’m also from Dallas so I am biased towards things Texan.  Also, I was on the Dram Shop pool team for a few years so I’ve been having the Dram shop burger since it came to be. That said, I truly love the Dram burger. Every Monday night at league night I had to order the burger. It became kind of a problem. I don’t think I’ve even tried anything else on the menu.  Everything about it is perfect. The bun, the size of the patties, the fries. I heard somebody say that it reminded them of a Big Mac off a charcoal grill. I tend to agree with that. One thing that should be mentioned is that Dram Shop is a sports bar. But its not your typical sports bar with 35 TVs and sports paraphernalia hanging everywhere. The feeling is more a game room in a fancy house. All wood everything. Big 3 sided booths that fit 10 people, one pool table,  and even a shuffle board table. Plus it serves the best burger in Brooklyn.
Roger rates: 5 cows



BCNY rates Dram Shop: 

 

 

Dram Shop
339 9th St
Brooklyn, NY 11215

(718) 788-1444