Not a Rare Treasure, But Still A Good Meal

Hip burger joints seem to be all the rage in New York this summer. At Rare Chelsea, located with the Fashion 26 Hotel, they try to distinguish themselves with unique combinations of toppings, as well as out-of-the-box entrees like the BBQ Brisket Po Boy. When I walked into the restaurant, my expectations dropped. Cheesy hotel decor left me desiring more of a restaurant that claims to be a trendy spot for a young crowd.

My mood lifted when a gargantuan order of shoestring fries, sweet potato fries and waffle fries was brought to our table. Along with ketchup, there were four dipping choices. The homeade bbq sauce was surprisingly delicious with the sweet potato fries. However, the honey maple dip flopped; it was sickeningly sweet, like it had been made with Aunt Jemima. I ordered the turkey burger, which came with feta pesto and olive tapenade. The dish was incredibly satisfying, and I enjoyed the Mediterranean twist on the organically raised turkey burger. The pickles that came on the side were too sweet for my taste, and I hoped that the dish had come with an additional side.

The service was extremely pleasant and attentive. A big selling point of the restaurant is the rooftop bar, which appeared raise the restaurant’s cool factor. If you need a relaxed place to meat your burger needs, I would recommend an evening at Rare.

Rare
at Fashion 26-a Wyndham Hotel
152 West 26th Street
(between 6th & 7th Aves.)
New York, NY 10001
(212) 807-7273

http://www.rarebarandgrill.com/chelsea.php

Monday – Wednesday
Breakfast, 6:30am to 10:30am
Lunch/Dinner, 12:00pm to 11:00pm

Thursday & Friday
Breakfast, 6:30am to 10:30am
Lunch/Dinner, 12:00pm to 12:00am

Saturday
Breakfast, 7:30am to 10:30am
Brunch/Lunch, 11:30am to 4:00pm
Dinner, 4:00pm to 12:00am

Sunday
Breakfast, 7:30am to 10:30am
Brunch/Lunch, 11:30am to 4:00pm
Dinner, 4:00pm to 11:00pm

Appetizer $6.50-15, Entree Salads $14-17, Burgers $9-21, Sides $3-5