Black Shack is not what I (and I assume others) expected it to be: a Shack Shack wanna-be competitor. It was actually the opposite: a displaced Williamsburg local eatery.

This place was pretty unique with an interesting atmosphere. Pillows on the benches, staff working ins what looked like T-shirts and jorts (ok, there were mostly pants, but I could have sworn I saw a pair of jorts somewhere...), music playing, and yes... Bosco chocolate soda  and RC cola in the fountain machine.

Location:  320 Lexington Ave, New York, NY 10016

Quadrant: Third

Good: The burger here is really americana comfort food. The patty not too rough or chewy, even though it was pretty thin. The sandwich as a whole had an unassuming combination of ingredients. From a food standpoint, the ability to choose type of cheese caught me off guard. They had quite a few options.

Bad: One of the things that surprised me was the cost. I got the Black Shack burger, and feel like I was essentially charged for the condiments. When you compare the topping lists, the ingredients that supposedly set this combo apart are items that I think should come standard for a "specialty" burger. Unfortunately, for me this was really just a step up from McDonalds. Aside from fresher tomato and pickles, the condiments that came on the burger overwhelmed the taste of the actual meat (which seemed good, but generally hard to judge).

Other: I went with the fries here, which were standard frozen skinny fries. Nothing special to report. They were kind of crispy, but forgettable.

Parting Thoughts: If you are in the mood for a fast-food comfort experience without the guilt of giving into a huge chain restaurant, go for it. If not, I may step it up for Rare across the street.

I found Smokey Burger Organic on Groupon (go check, I have seen a lot of deals for this place). Not sure if I ever would found this place otherwise. It is very close to Times Square, squeezed between two other locales.

Unfortunately, it was also pretty much empty when I went. You should read my comments below, but all food comments aside - both positive and negative - I can only imagine that the location has a lot to do with this.

Location: 339 W 44th St, New York, NY 10036

Quadrant: Second

Good: In addition to a wide menu selection (when not on the rather limited Groupon menu), Smokey Burger Organic did not seem afraid to experiment. There are many interesting pre-determined combinations available. The meat is also cooked well, and the ingredients blend nicely.

Bad: While the burger as a whole was well-rounded, I found the experience rather forgettable overall. There was no pizzaz in the taste or a real standout feature. To me, the most memorable experience was the menu itself, but not what was served to me. I would also suggest avoiding the whole wheat bun, as it dried out the moisture that the burger toppings provided (and needed).

Other: As an appetizer, I ordered some mozzarella sticks, and with our burgers we ordered fries, sweet potato fries, and onion rings.

Mozzarella Sticks: The mozzarella sticks were ok. They were a nice thing to order while waiting, and came with a kind of aioli dipping sauce. Nicely presented as well.

Onion Rings: The onion rings were on the greasy side. Given the more rustic atmosphere, I was expecting more of a crunchy onion ring... don't ask me why. Instead, the onion rings had a batter coating, and came out pretty soggy. Would not recommend these.

French Fries and Sweet Potato Fries: These tasted like frozen fries - but not the guilty pleasure kind. They were crunchy and satisfyingly salty, but they were not soft on the inside. The french fries were more hard/crunchy on the inside, and the opposite for the sweet potato fries. Now, that may be perfect for you. This is just not my style.

Parting Thoughts: This place should probably be more successful, if only for the fact that they appear to be some undiscovered location near the theater district. If you are in the area, it is a cheaper option and a solid bit of food prior to seeing a show. However, there are better food options available if you aren't married to the idea of burgers.

Donvan's Pub is a longstanding eatery that has been in Woodside, Queens for so long that it has become some kind of institutional memory. One member of the dining party I was with even commented that his mother used to go when she was growing up in the area.

Donovan's recently came under new management, and with that I am told better quality food and a better menu.

Location: 57-24 Roosevelt Ave, New York, NY 11377

Quadrant: First

Good: Coming in, I was not sure what to expect at the pub. Most of the items came well recommended, but we all know I am here for the burgers. The burger looked like pretty standard fare, but tasted better than it looked. It was pretty thick, and very juicy - watch out on that first bite. This is an important distinction - this tasted like a juicy burger, but was undeniably greasy (not sure if that is good or bad...). The meat also had a nice smokey flavor. 

Bad: The texture of the meat was a little more crumbly than I would have expected for a burger cooked to medium heat. The toppings also had all the right ideas, but came out tasting a little flat. They did not contribute in a significant way to the taste or texture of the sandwich.

Other: Fries: These were... wedge fries. Some people have strong feelings on them, Not my style, but as far as the wedge fries go, they were pretty good.

Sweet Potato Fries - also wedge fry form. However, these tasted like some actually took a sweet potato and cut it into wedges. It was very comforting to know that this was real food!

Onion rings: Had a beer batter/bread-y coating. Similar to a corndog.

Parting Thoughts: This is the definition of a local, downtown pub. The food isn't amazing, but after coming here a few times (if you live in the area), it will very quickly become your beloved neighborhood spot.