Dan's Papers - August 31, 2007 - Keep Your Hunger At Bay

I had an unsettling feeling the other day - I couldn't decide what to eat. I was bored with all the chipotle sauce and champagne infused lobster dishes so frequently found on the East End and craved something hearty to hit the spot. A few of my colleagues suggested the new burger joint, Bay Burger, located on the Bridgehampton-Sag Harbor turnpike. Although I'm not really a fan of fast food type places, I decided to give it a go and attempt to fill my wavering hunger at Bay Burger.

Conveniently located on the turnpike just south of Sag Harbor village, Bay Burger has ample parking and a nice outdoor patio where diners can eat at tables under green colored umbrellas. As I entered the restaurant, I immediately felt comfortable with the atmosphere - the two adjacent indoor dining rooms were alive with families and couples indulging in some of Bay Burger's finest food items. The walls are decorated with artwork of the namesake - the all-American burger - and a plasma flat-screen television is situated in the back dining area for those who want to catch up on breaking news or watch World Cup sailing races covered by ESPN while they eat. And not to forget the smell - which I actually got a whiff of in the parking lot - that consists of fresh meat on the grill, an aroma that whether you are a meat-lover or not, conjures up some of the finest memories in your mind.

At this point I was even hungrier due to the delicious food-fumes and as I looked over the menu, I decided that it all sounded too GOOD. Bay Burger offers a burger for $6.50, which is a third pound of beef, ground in-house, served on a homemade bun with the topping choices of lettuce, tomato, red onion, pickle, ketchup, mustard and mayo. You can cheese the burger with cheddar, American or Swiss. Bacon, caramelized onions and double cheese are also offered for an additional $1 and an extra patty is offered for $3.50. But Bay Burger's menu does not just adorn meat patties. They also offer grilled cheese made on homemade bread with a parmesan crust, hot dogs, veggie burgers and a weekly special sandwich which, when I was there, was a tempting chicken gyro. Bay Burger also serves up some local wine and beer for those craving something other than a chocolate milkshake or fountain soda. After debating about bacon or no bacon, I decided to order a bay burger, medium, WITH bacon, American cheese and all the toppings - let me not leave out that I also ordered a side of their fries-n-tots.

Minutes later and served hot and fresh, (the chefs make all the food out in the open behind the counter) I bit into the juicy burger and felt satisfaction fall over me. The coarsely ground patty was thick for my appetite but not as outrageously large as some of New York's famous pup-style burgers. I was happy to see that the chef cooked the burger medium, which is my M.O. when trying an unfamiliar restaurant, and that it was unlike other restaurants where you order medium-rare and get the same old frozen and defrosted hockey puck. The meat tasted great - moist, robust, salty, bloody and topped with a melted slice of American, it was what I believe God intended happiness to taste like.

The bun was soft and absorbed much of the grease created by the strips of bacon, but the tots were by far the best item. The tots were crispy on the outside and the inner potatoes were soft and smushy. If you have ever heard or tasted California's famous In-N-Out Burger chain, I think Bay Burger may be close to matching the formula - fresh, quality meat and fries but with a more hometown feel that does not scream "fast food" with all the movie promotions and kiddie toys.

All this cooking takes a bit of time, be patient. Because,as I learned, good food comes to those who wait.