paul’s da burger joint

paul’s “da burger” joint was into burgers before they were cool. since 1989, paul’s has had its cozy, family run, no frills burger joint near st. marks place in the east village, and there is no sign of slowing down.

the burgers here at paul’s are thick and juicy, with 1/2 lb. of beef (or turkey) grilled and placed on a classic sesame seed bun. we ordered the cheeseburger deluxe, which comes with fries and a drink – a mere bargain at $7.90 ($4.90 without the combo)! the burgers are not quite my favorite, although they did satisfy the craving. (the grease-soaked bun and overload of toppings sort of made me  panic when more grease and tomatoes were landing on my lap than in my mouth, but richard saw the fatty drippings and extra goodies on top as a major perk.) the cheeseburger was topped with a simple slice of american cheese, shredded iceberg lettuce, tomatoes, pickles and caramelized onions. there is, of course the option to add tons of other toppings (mushrooms, various cheeses, a fried egg), or order something other than a burger (chicken sandwich, tuna salad, an omelette), but we stuck to the basics. i will, however, note that the fries were the flat, uncrispy diner fries that i’m not crazy about, so next time i might opt for the sweet potato or shoestring fries instead.

all in all, i like paul’s. i love the simple, unpretentious, red-checkered tablecloth and basic approach that paul’s takes to its burger place. it’s much unchanged since its opening, and that’s a good thing. it hits the spot, fills you up, and you’re in and out pretty quickly..and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.

paul’s da burger joint: 131 2nd ave. between 7th st. and st. mark’s place