Hidden in a Hotel?

The Burger Joint

Le Parker Meridien
119 W. 56th St., New York, NY 10019

*** (Worth a Visit)

The best dives are those that make you feel as though you’ve just discovered gold after years of digging. Hidden within the confines of the lobby at Le Parker Meridien hotel and obscured by tall black curtains, The Burger Joint is certainly one such place. This rare find (hardly rare anymore) is bound to make you smirk with a sense of revelation the moment you step in.

 Modest and unpretentious in its approach, the Joint’s chalkboard menu allows you (once you’ve made it to the front of the line) just a few simple choices of doneness of meat, cheese, fries and veggies. Finding a place to sit might be difficult but the yummy shakes and chilled beer make it worth the wait. Did I forget to mention that their burgers are terrific?