Island Burgers and Shakes

(212) 307-7934

766 9th Ave (Between 51st Street and 52nd Street)
New York, NY 10019 40.7642 -73.9883

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Neighborhoods: Clinton, Midtown

Hours:

Sat-Thu 12pm-10:30pm

Fri 12pm-11pm

Price:

$

Last updated 10.17.11

Category:

Restaurants

Payment Methods:

American Express, Cash, Visa, MasterCard

Restaurant Special Features:

Lunch Spot, Date Spot, Food Delivery, Cheap Eats

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, Traditional American, Californian

What People Are Saying About Island Burgers and Shakes

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – The long, narrow restaurant feels like it could have been imported from a Malibu roadside. The colorful interior features bright orange-and-red tables, along with paintings and mirrors rendered in the shape of surfboards. Waitstaff go about their work with all the lackadaisical flourish befitting a casual hamburger joint. – – The Food – Both the burgers and grilled chicken breast sandwiches rank among the best in New York. The charred-on-the-outside, fist-sized patties are cooked precisely to order, and the menu touts a dizzying 63 varieties of burger and…

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Save some room for dessert: milk shakes, malteds and floats are big draws.
When to Go:
To avoid the lunch rush, arrive after 1pm.
Know Before You Go:
Island delivers between 40th and 63rd streets and between 5th Avenue and the water. Carryout is also available.
ambiance
75.0% positive
  1. It is a comfortable place to eat alone.
  2. The food is good,service and decor bad.
  3. liked the eclectic pastel decor.
  4. The decor is lame and service not so hot.
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. DESPITE this, I almost weekly order a Hippo (pita, spicy sour-cream, onions, bacon and cheese) from among their MANY options for burgers.
  2. Simply the best burgers anywhere on earth, with anything you like on them at a dirt cheap price - and the yummy milkshakes are more dessert than drink.
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. Simply the best burgers anywhere on earth, with anything you like on them at a dirt cheap price - and the yummy milkshakes are more dessert than drink.
food quality
81.14999771118164% positive
  1. All the topping varieties that I've tried work really well and make for a unique burger every time.
  2. It's really just a mediocre burger.
  3. the burgers were dry and not cooked as we ordered.
  4. I've heard the churasco's (grilled chicken breast sandwich) are good but I inevitably choose beef everytime.
  5. Highly recommended for anyone in the area who loves a good burger and lots of variety.
  6. But it's definitely worth a stop to enjoy a great hamburger or chicken sandwich.
  7. The people next to us had a baked potato it was huge!
  8. ok, they have variety, but it would be nice to have a good burger to start with.
  9. How much u willing 2 endure for great food?
  10. The food here was good for the money.Compared to places like Jackson Hole where the burgers have no flavor or imagination, this place does better.
  11. Great burgers and HUUUGE salads.
  12. Great burger.
  13. Island Burgers and Shake Shack have the best burgers in the city by far.
  14. The chicken breast that I sampled was great too.
  15. Great food for cheap prices
  16. While the service isn't great the food makes up for it.
  17. Great food, awful service & seating.
  18. The burgers are dry and not cooked as ordered.
  19. The salad was very good.
  20. This place has one of the best burgers I've ever eaten!
  21. Excellent grilled chicken sandwiches and burgers with any topping you can think of.
  22. The burgers are so big, its hard to stuff them into your mouth without watching them fall apart.
  23. Island Burger is a great casual joint in Hell's Kitchen known for it's HUGE and tasty burgers and chicken sandwiches and yummy milkshakes.
  24. had my burger on sourdough and the bread fell apart - a horrible option to have on the menu.
  25. Forget Ranch One, this is the best grilled chicken sandwich in the world.
  26. agree with the writers below who said the burgers are too dry.
  27. Great grilled chicken, huge burgers.
  28. the bread is too dry and will fall apart.
  29. Simply the best burgers anywhere on earth, with anything you like on them at a dirt cheap price - and the yummy milkshakes are more dessert than drink.
  30. Among the best burgers in the city.
  31. Island Burger is the best burger we ever had at a restaurant (and I have to work really hard to get them to taste that good at home and rarely succeed).
  32. The chicken sandwiches are great too.
  33. My wife woke up and said "I want a really good burger today.
  34. always get the South of the Border burger, but their salads and shakes are amazing also.
  35. Don't order a burger on rye.
  36. The sandwiches, however, are so so good.
  37. Sumptueous salads, beautiful burgers
  38. The burgers here are good by a "home-cooking" standard, but they are hardly restaurant quality.
  39. The food is great and so is the service and the staff.
  40. But, if you want a unique burger experience check out Island Burgers and Shakes.
  41. Salads are huge and delicious.
  42. The food is good,service and decor bad.
  43. amazing burgers and the most inventive toppings for burgers you have ever seen.
  44. Whaterver option or toppings you choose, you are going to get the best burger you've ever eaten.
  45. The service was friendly and their burger menu is extensive.
  46. This is the best burger in town.
  47. The burgers, dressing and cheese were tasteless!
  48. Island Burger is really unique in its restaurant design and huge menu of burgers.
  49. If your looking for good food try Island Burgers and Shakes.
  50. Yes you can top these things with a thousand things, but the amazing thing is that no matter what you put on these heavenly beef concoctions it does nothing but ENHANCE the flavor of the meat, not cover it up.
  51. Fat, juicy, and delicious.
  52. Also, heed the warning of another writer: Don't order your burger with sourdough or rye bread--they fall apart.
  53. The service is attentive and friendly and the burgers are swoon worthy.
  54. Island Burger serves great burgers!
  55. But, the food comes in good-sized portions, the wait staff is nice and you can't beat the price with a stick.
  56. Anybody who gives these burgers bad marks is flat out lying.
  57. If you are a burger purist, and just want a big juicy burger that's pink on the inside other places will have a better beef patty.
  58. If you aren't in the mood for red meat, simply order the grilled chicken in it's place.
  59. don't skip the dirty potato chips.
  60. Huge portions - two of us ordered chips and guacamole (which was very good, sort of spicy) and were full by the time our sandwiches came.
  61. DESPITE this, I almost weekly order a Hippo (pita, spicy sour-cream, onions, bacon and cheese) from among their MANY options for burgers.
menu variety
91.66999816894531% positive
  1. Certainly there is a huge variety of toppings.
  2. good # of combinations on the menu and the milkshake was excellent - definitely shook off the summer heat.
  3. had my burger on sourdough and the bread fell apart - a horrible option to have on the menu.
  4. The service was friendly and their burger menu is extensive.
  5. DESPITE this, I almost weekly order a Hippo (pita, spicy sour-cream, onions, bacon and cheese) from among their MANY options for burgers.
  6. Great variety of toppings.
  7. great menu with decent prices!
  8. Highly recommended for anyone in the area who loves a good burger and lots of variety.
  9. Island Burger is really unique in its restaurant design and huge menu of burgers.
  10. All the topping varieties that I've tried work really well and make for a unique burger every time.
  11. ok, they have variety, but it would be nice to have a good burger to start with.
  12. Rest of menu is great as well.
overall
100.0% positive
  1. The food here was good for the money.Compared to places like Jackson Hole where the burgers have no flavor or imagination, this place does better.
  2. IB&S is a real nice little place where you can get some interesting toppings.
  3. Island Burger is the best burger we ever had at a restaurant (and I have to work really hard to get them to taste that good at home and rarely succeed).
service
75.0% positive
  1. The waitress was nice too.
  2. Great food, awful service & seating.
  3. The food is good,service and decor bad.
  4. Service may be a bit slow, but is friendly and laid back.
  5. Waitstaff attentive.
  6. Staff was friendly and accomodating, but overall i was disappointed.
  7. While the service isn't great the food makes up for it.
  8. While the Derrick's churasco is in my unesteemed opinion consistently brilliant, so too is the unwaveringly terrible service & cramped quarters.
  9. The service was friendly and their burger menu is extensive.
  10. The decor is lame and service not so hot.
  11. The food is great and so is the service and the staff.
  12. The people next to us had a baked potato it was huge!
  13. the staff is attentive and the crowd youngish.
  14. Don't expect prompt service or even friendly service.
  15. But, the food comes in good-sized portions, the wait staff is nice and you can't beat the price with a stick.
  16. The service is attentive and friendly and the burgers are swoon worthy.
value
100.0% positive
  1. One of the best cheap eats in the city.
  2. Great grilled chicken, huge burgers.
  3. Great food for cheap prices
  4. Salads are huge and delicious.
  5. But it's definitely worth a stop to enjoy a great hamburger or chicken sandwich.
  6. great menu with decent prices!
  7. Burgers are juicy and the salads are huge and superfresh.
  8. You get quality meet and a huge portion for a cheap price.
  9. But, the food comes in good-sized portions, the wait staff is nice and you can't beat the price with a stick.
  10. Certainly there is a huge variety of toppings.
  11. The people next to us had a baked potato it was huge!
  12. Food was good, can't beat the prices.
  13. Huge portions - two of us ordered chips and guacamole (which was very good, sort of spicy) and were full by the time our sandwiches came.
  14. The food here was good for the money.Compared to places like Jackson Hole where the burgers have no flavor or imagination, this place does better.
  15. Island Burger is really unique in its restaurant design and huge menu of burgers.
  16. Simply the best burgers anywhere on earth, with anything you like on them at a dirt cheap price - and the yummy milkshakes are more dessert than drink.
wait time
50.0% positive
  1. Service may be a bit slow, but is friendly and laid back.
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

11/30/11

Best Burger Manhattan

by mimsmoncayo

I cannot recommend enough this little gem of a restaurant. Although the decor may not be 5 stars, the food definitely is. I would compare the burger at Island Burger to the finest steakhouse in NY. Also very creative menu. Great find in Manhattan

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

08/29/11

Dont let the outside fool you, this place is a hidden Gem!

by blueeyes_two

So we decided to go for an afternoon lunch and just never made it there until about 8:30pm Yeah i know but it was march and it was one of the first beautiful spring days that NYC had so we got a little side tracked. the place was MOBBED mor so because its tiny. so i give the girl my cell number and we went itnto the bar next door to get a drink and wait. and after about 30 mins she called and our table was ready!

AWESOME so we hop on over and get our tabel and the staff could not have been more appolgetic for not being able to seat us quicker. Well lets see its a friday night and i expected at least a half hour wait in any place that you show up to at 8:30 pm that does not take reservations.

Lets just say this is a place to go hungry to - -because its very filling. really nice selection of beers, and the burgers FORRRGETTABOUT ittttt! hahah Just Go and try it for yourself.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

02/07/11

Giddee up over to the cowboy burger

by TheTripChick

The bad: it's a small place - that just means you either get there early, get there late, or go for take-out/delivery. (In other words, there really is no "bad" to this place).

The good: great service, frenetic atmosphere, perfectly-cooked burgers, glorious drippy sauces run amok thus needing copious quantities of napkins (what can I say? I'm all about the sauce).

The black & white milkshake is beyond delicious. But if you don't have 5 stomachs like a cow, I would advise getting the shake one visit and a burger the next as there's no way you'll be able to finish off both in one sitting. The cowboy (BBQ sauce, onion, bacon, cheddar, ranch, sourdough) burger is my favorite thus far. The only change I'd make is to order it on a bun next time as the sourdough was a little hard to chew through and added an additional couple of napkins to my lap since all the yummy, spicy BBQ sauce was squishing out as I tried to gnaw through the bread crust. Didn't try the fries, but since that wasn't the reason I came here (BURGERS, people!) it would have taken away from the sheer joy of my cowboy burger.

Chris the SF transplant and his handy-dandy sidekick ladies provide spot-on service...you need to head here now.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

10/24/10

My FAVORITE burger spot

by shoppergirlnyc

I love that they have such a diverse menu. Sadly, I always end up getting my favorite Crescent City (blackened, bayou mayo, and onion on sourdough). I've taken all of my out of town guest here and they are amazed...always asking to go back to that "burger spot" on their return trips.

Just beware, the guac is not very good.

Oh and they have FRIES!!! They finally have fries and they are amazing.

4 Star Rating: Recommended

06/17/10

Tropical Burgers with many selections

by Athena Chang , Citysearch Contributor

Island Burger is really unique in its restaurant design and huge menu of burgers. It is totally island themed; very chill and laid back. Their menu has many selections of burgers, and different degree of spiciness.

I tried their simple mushroom burger and the burger was perfectly grilled on the outside and medium rare on the inside. The bun was alright; definitely not a gourmet bun but nor a cheap wonder bread either.

I guess since I ordered the simple burger, it didn't come with any mayo or butter on the roll. But the pattie itself is very juicy and flavorful.

Next time I am getting a HOT burger!

  • Pros: Many different burgers
  • Cons: Tiny Space

The Details on Island Burgers and Shakes

Place Categories:

  • best burgers
  • friendly service
  • great food
  • huge salads
  • great chicken sandwiches
  • great hamburger
  • nice wait staff
  • comfortable little place
  • yummy milkshakes
  • great burger menu
  • really unique love island burger
  • fast delivery
  • great shakes
  • huge portion
  • excellent grilled chicken sandwich
  • great variety
  • great grilled chicken
  • recommended highly
  • flavorful pattie
  • very large cobb salad
  • good churasco
  • great casual joint
  • tasteless dressing
  • delicious fat
  • interesting toppings

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