Whitman's
Whitman's - The Feast of the Immaculate Conception
July 22nd, 2017 @ 11:00 AM

Event Description

Each July, we gather to celebrate the founding of Burger Club at Whitman's in the East Village, and we do what we do best - eat the shit out of a bunch of burgers. We're going to do that again this July 22, and then we're going to head to my rooftop two blocks away and party like wild savages one last time before I move out.

$25 gets you a burger, beer and side (that includes tax and tip). Not gonna get a better price anywhere...

I don't even know why I'm still writing - just RSVP now and I'll see you there.

21 people have rated

Follow our Adventures!

Overall Rating: 7.85

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Taste:
7.81/10
Texture:
7.67/10
Toppings:
7.19/10
Sides:
7.95/10
Value:
8.57/10
Ambiance:
8.19/10
Harmoniousness:
7.57/10
Andrew headshot

Andrew's review

This past July, we gathered together to celebrate three years of Burger Club in the only way we know how - by descending like horde of meaty Mongols upon the place that started it all: Whitman's East Village, for the annual Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Much like your middle school English class essay on Leaves of Grass, Whitman's remains a steadfast bastion of excellence during these dark times of uncertainty. While the vast and experimental menu will always leave some people wanting, the fact remains that they make a damn fine burger - unpretentious and moderately-sized, but made with love and packed to the gills with flavor.

The sides were a touch more divisive - while personally I love the blue cheese fries, others found the cheese spread looked "like a cat threw up on my fries." Others found the fries overcooked, undersalted or lukewarm. One member complained of the Brussels Sprouts he ordered, before being promptly banished from the club for ordering Brussels Sprouts.

The ambiance remains a triumph of East Village charm - 90s bar mitzvah music, cheery and characterful staff, and fine literature dotting the walls. And the fact that they not only gave us a great prix fixe deal to begin with, but also comped us numerous beers AND gave us fresh cookies and milk to finish, was simply a class act.

I'm also proud to report that my "Andrew as a Person" rating reached an all-time high of 4.22 out of 10! I was praised for my burger pin (by the person who gave it to me), my acceptable welcome speech, and for dressing "extra-Andrew." Justice nevertheless still being blind, I was also chastised for my "gellin' Don Jr. hairstyle," not having Fay with me, and for my "unglamorous and frankly reviling attempt at resembling a human" (ouch). Still, pretty psyched about my personal best here...

User ratings


Excellent service, fantastic company.

I wasn't sent into orgasm by the burger, but it satiated my hunger.

The pickles were excellent.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
9/10
Sides:
10/10
Value:
9/10
Ambiance:
10/10
Harmoniousness:
7/10

Green chili itself didn't add much flavor value - could've been more flavorful. Mostly tastes like a good burger with avocado/onions, chili unnoticed

Rating Details

Taste:
6/10
Texture:
7/10
Toppings:
4/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
6/10

This majestic bogie boy is the rawest blend of beefy goodness and peabut smooshy booshy, and brings to my tongue the sweetest staircase to apotheosis. 'twill make sweet love to my innards throughout the eve. Lo, my tummy weeps, but the tears are of joy.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
8/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
10/10
Ambiance:
9/10
Harmoniousness:
8/10

Andrew and Ben make me sooooo happy! Love my boys 💖

Rating Details

Taste:
9/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
8/10
Sides:
9/10
Value:
7/10
Ambiance:
7/10
Harmoniousness:
8/10

Rating Details

Taste:
6/10
Texture:
7/10
Toppings:
6/10
Sides:
7/10
Value:
7/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
6/10

Rating Details

Taste:
7/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
8/10
Sides:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
7/10

Always amazing. Goddamnit I love this place. The juicy Lucy isn't quite as magnificent as the abound, but it's pretty damn phenomenal. Harmonious, flavorful, perfectly cooked (not an easy feat while stuffed with pimento cheese). blue chees fries make me feel like a man. Everyone who works here is a goddamn champion. Best deal in the city.

Here's to the next four years...

PS - Greg gets 1.4 for missing it. But still having a strong jawline

Rating Details

Taste:
9/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
9/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
10/10
Ambiance:
10/10
Harmoniousness:
9/10

The Mangold is an A+ burger. High points for taste, texture and harmoniousness on this one. The addition of brisket into the patty was a revelation. Cooked medium rare, this was a near perfect patty. I had hoped for more of a kick from the horseradish cream so the toppings rating suffers a little. I got the crack kale for my side, but really should've gone with the blue cheese fries (Andrew gets a point as a person for sharing some of his - I'd call today's performance a generous 5.1 from Andrew - he's inviting us all over to his place after, so it's more of an expectation of high marks than anything else I suppose). Ambiance was nice and casual with a 90s heavy soundtrack (always appreciated by this group). Easy for the space to get loud. Still, we are probably as loud a group as will ever grace this place. I'll be back for the Juicy Lucy!

Rating Details

Taste:
9/10
Texture:
9/10
Toppings:
7/10
Sides:
7/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
9/10

While the burger itself was excellent I made the mistake of trying the blue cheese fries. Fries were crisp and hot.. Blue cheese spread, as one of my burger colleagues put it, looked like a cat threw up on top of my fries.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
9/10
Toppings:
7/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
7/10
Harmoniousness:
9/10

Needs salt. Everything does. Fries were lovely.

Andrew on the other hand gets a 2 for showing up channeling Don Jr with his hairstyle. Andrew, don't be gellin.

Rating Details

Taste:
7/10
Texture:
7/10
Toppings:
5/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
10/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
7/10

Devoured the 'Green Chili Burger'.... a flavorful & moist burger. Toppings were complimentary of one another and really worked well together... green chili relish had great flavor and was unique. The avocado and provolone cheese were nice complimentary additions and neither were overpowering. Definitely could have been larger (that's not what she said... or did she?!?!).

Sweet potato fries were a bit overcooked. Regular fries left a bit to be desired. The Kale sprinkled with crack was pretty good - Dave Chappelle would approve.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
9/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
9/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
8/10

This was a good burger, plain and simple. Nothing too fancy. The kind you'd find at any good hole in the wall burger shack. I'd certainly have it again, but only on the way to or from Niagara or some such shitty dive bar.

Rating Details

Taste:
6/10
Texture:
4/10
Toppings:
7/10
Sides:
8/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
7/10

A fine patty party bookended with beers and some nice pink patty. Mine was a bit overcooked but it came with some unexpected accoutrements (chips and a pickle) - a grilled cheese burger is never one to shy away from.

Andrew, on the other hand, was without Fay. She's now an integral part of his being and without her he is barely identifiable as human. 2.2/10, the .2 is for the burger pin he wore, a stylish accent nestled among an otherwise unglamorous and frankly reviling attempt at resembling a human.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
6/10
Toppings:
8/10
Sides:
10/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
5/10

I love this burger - it's every bit as delicious as it was when I first enjoyed it with Burger Club a year ago. The bacon-infused patty gives salty flavor with every bite, and the super-thin potato crips give a great crunch. I love the smoked gruyer and freshness of the lettuce, and the size of the burger is perfectly satisfying without leaving my stomach on the floor.

The fries were a bit disappointing - they were lukewarm, and not especially crisp. Given the really creative burger menu (I tried a bite of the Bluicy - yum!), the fries seem like a less-considered afterthought - they're totally fine, but they could have made this a supremely special experience.

I love the vibe of the restaurant - casual basement feel with a portrait of its namesake uncle Walt on the wall - but the noise level can be a bit much. (A couple of acoustical tiles/whatnot would really help so that we don't have to yell to be heard by the people a few inches away.)

The servers were, once again, very friendly.

Overall, I love Whitman's and always look forward to a visit.

Rating Details

Taste:
8/10
Texture:
8/10
Toppings:
8/10
Sides:
5/10
Value:
8/10
Ambiance:
7/10
Harmoniousness:
8/10

Felt like these were fresh off the grill at my friends house, which is not bad or good.

Rating Details

Taste:
9/10
Texture:
7/10
Toppings:
5/10
Sides:
6/10
Value:
7/10
Ambiance:
8/10
Harmoniousness:
8/10

Who's attending

Andrew ousley circle Andrew O.
"The Moo Pie Pirate"
Missing Katherine L.
"Hot Sauce Masochist"
Img 20201016 234647 Andrew B.
"Perfect patties please"
Missing Sean M.
"Seanald McDonald"
Missing Beth N.
"Neighbs"
Missing Philippe T.
"Taste Bud"
Missing Rob D.
"Southern Beef"
Missing Jon T.
"Notorious B.E.E.F"
Missing Ben G.
"The Captain"
Missing Karina D.
"Beef Stroganoff"
Missing Becky B.
"Hunker Down"
Missing Eve M.
"Ground Beef Grail-seeker"
Missing Becky M.
"Ground Beef Grail-seeker"
Missing Dana F.
"Francesca1"
Missing Eric K.
"LaFrieda Blend Backer"
Missing Doug O.
"Vegan1"
Missing Gregg K.
"I'll Have Two"
Missing Dasha K.
"The Cowntess"
Missing Alexandra S.
"Ground Beef Grail-Seeker"
Missing Adam P.
"Big Boi Beef Hog"
Missing Chris W.
"Scientaste"
Missing Sam H.
"The Meat Hammer"
Missing Adrian D.
"the Beetnik"
Missing Antoine T.
"pops"