The burger had a nice, almost beguiling texture for the first few bites, as though the patty had a good sear to it. But as it got colder, the taste of the patty left an aftertaste that betrayed its origins. The sauce on the burger was tasty enough, but it wasn't enough to get me over the hurdle of the patty's aftertaste. Fries were passable! They very reluctantly sat all 13 of us at one table, leaving one guest standing for the first 20 minutes. Andrew's tardiness and the fact that he has removed the Andrew as a Person official rating? I'll be generous and give him a 3 for today.

The first bite of this burger confirmed everything I had heard - it lived up to the lore. This was a meat-forward experience, and it did not disappoint. The bun was light in texture, but it rather magically held up to the patty and sustained its juiciness. There were not many toppings to speak of, and that worked for me. The fries were crispy and plentiful (overall the plate was not quite enough to validate a higher value rating for a steep $33...). Staff were attentive, music was on point and the overall atmosphere was a cozy breath of fresh air after the disappointing (dare I say hostile?) environment at Momofuku Nishi. Andrew was going to get a 5 as a person, but then he revealed he had been waiting outside in order to trick us into thinking he would be late, so for his falseness he's now down to a 2.

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!

A strong and delicious burger. Loved the spice mixture and the customized tomato sauce, and the yogurt sauce. Though I think the sauce on bottom could have been protected from the bun with a layer of something veg. Rock on.

The gabagoool burger was the first one I tasted, and it was marvelous. The idea to wrap the patty in mortadella to insulate it from sogging the bun was A+. Fried mozzarella added texture, and the basil on top was a nice little surprise.

I liked the texture with the addition of shrimp to the patty. Good flavor, and also good touch with the butter/vermouth brush on the buns before grilling them. Because the party was more complex, the toppings were better left simple. Could have had a tiny bit more of a kick in the remoulade, but then again I'm a hot sauce masochist.

I had the Mangold last year, and it was delicious. This time I had the Hound, and it is going to be hard to beat. Perfect ratio of patty to toppings. Crunch from the shoestring fries. Umami from the cheese. Bacon-y flavor, excellently cooked medium rare. I usually try for variety, but I would order this again next time and be delighted. Sides came out after the meal, and I was too full to enjoy more than a couple of the fries. The staff brought out bowls of crispy tater tots with sauce before our burgers came out - points for that! - and the tots were great. All ‘round awesome time.

Tasty burger, speedily delivered. Docked points for toppings because I had hoped for something fresh (lettuce, tomato) in addition to the bacon and chopped cherry peppers. But I was happy with the taste of those peppers - nice and spicy. Good value for a fast-casual burger on a pretty spring day.

The flavor and texture of the patty was the real star of this burger. Simple and perfect!

I wanted to adore this burger. The toppings were the real source of the flavor here, and they were so delicious. I love a medium-rare burger, but mine was cold and raw in the center.

Another triumph at Raoul’s. The return of burger club alone was worth the high ratings, but generally this burger is always going to be at the very top of my list for New York food and atmosphere experiences. The bun was magic - light, fluffy, but held its constitution beautifully. It was a perfect vehicle for the enjoyment of the main event - the beef. My only slight comment on the burger itself is that there was a bit more cracked pepper than I would’ve liked in the patty itself. There was plenty in the delightful au poivre sauce. One-word version of this review: YUM.