Wahlburgers—Quality Celebrity Eatery, or Overblown Hype?
By Doug Singer
My journey to Coney Island from my apartment in Manhattan was one filled with guarded skepticism as I headed to Wahlburgers, the family-born namesake restaurant of actors Mark and Donnie Wahlburg, and their less-known brother, Chef Paul Wahlburg.
Arriving to this iconic Brooklyn seaside community on what was a gorgeous September day was a great start. As we approached our destination, my first impression was that Wahlburgers rather boldly opened directly across the street from the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs—a landmark restaurant that has been a staple of this area for many generations. It didn’t take long to realize that Wahlburgers seemingly would take a similar route.
This, their third location, is already commanding loyalty from both locals and tourists alike—similar to their first efforts in their home state of Massachusetts. The refreshing and somewhat surprising revelation, was that this is not simply a celebrity-driven eatery designed to capitalize on the currently elevated burger market, but a truly good restaurant. Every component is one of quality and is clearly driven by a passionate chef (Paul Wahlburg) whose commitment to quality is not only admirable, but at times, somewhat astounding.
Fresh 'everything’ is the call to action at Wahlburgers, which boasts absolutely no pre-packaged or frozen anything. Every bite that lands on every plate, is freshly created from scratch, onsite, every day. Even the pickles are made in house, delivering a consistently fresh quality that is undeniable from the very first bite.
We explored a variety of dishes including the O.F.D Burger (Originally From Dorchester) featuring a housemaid tomato jam, the Thanksgiving Day (a homey creation featuring a turkey burger, orange-cranberry sauce and roasted butternut squash) and the rockstar of the menu simply named The Melt (a thick, juicy burger served patty melt style with ‘government cheese,’ caramelized onions and bacon), a nod to the family’s humble beginnings. We also happily sampled delicious offerings that included Tater Tots, Alma’s Macaroni Salad, a couple of selections from the Frappe (milkshake) menu and of course a drink from the bar that is situated in a scenic open-air environment on the panoramic rooftop.
All-in-all, Wahlburgers was a refreshing surprise that is evolving in the face of a competitive renaissance of the American burger market, but from my perspective, one that will certainly and rightfully thrive.
www.wahlburgerrestaurant.com
My journey to Coney Island from my apartment in Manhattan was one filled with guarded skepticism as I headed to Wahlburgers, the family-born namesake restaurant of actors Mark and Donnie Wahlburg, and their less-known brother, Chef Paul Wahlburg.
Arriving to this iconic Brooklyn seaside community on what was a gorgeous September day was a great start. As we approached our destination, my first impression was that Wahlburgers rather boldly opened directly across the street from the world-famous Nathan’s Hot Dogs—a landmark restaurant that has been a staple of this area for many generations. It didn’t take long to realize that Wahlburgers seemingly would take a similar route.
This, their third location, is already commanding loyalty from both locals and tourists alike—similar to their first efforts in their home state of Massachusetts. The refreshing and somewhat surprising revelation, was that this is not simply a celebrity-driven eatery designed to capitalize on the currently elevated burger market, but a truly good restaurant. Every component is one of quality and is clearly driven by a passionate chef (Paul Wahlburg) whose commitment to quality is not only admirable, but at times, somewhat astounding.
Fresh 'everything’ is the call to action at Wahlburgers, which boasts absolutely no pre-packaged or frozen anything. Every bite that lands on every plate, is freshly created from scratch, onsite, every day. Even the pickles are made in house, delivering a consistently fresh quality that is undeniable from the very first bite.
We explored a variety of dishes including the O.F.D Burger (Originally From Dorchester) featuring a housemaid tomato jam, the Thanksgiving Day (a homey creation featuring a turkey burger, orange-cranberry sauce and roasted butternut squash) and the rockstar of the menu simply named The Melt (a thick, juicy burger served patty melt style with ‘government cheese,’ caramelized onions and bacon), a nod to the family’s humble beginnings. We also happily sampled delicious offerings that included Tater Tots, Alma’s Macaroni Salad, a couple of selections from the Frappe (milkshake) menu and of course a drink from the bar that is situated in a scenic open-air environment on the panoramic rooftop.
All-in-all, Wahlburgers was a refreshing surprise that is evolving in the face of a competitive renaissance of the American burger market, but from my perspective, one that will certainly and rightfully thrive.
www.wahlburgerrestaurant.com
