And the winner of Battle of the Burger is…

Last night, some of the best burgers in New York City gathered to feed the hungry masses at LIC Landing at the 2018 Time Out New York Battle of the Burger. More than 1,250 people attended our event (#TOBURGERBATTLE) to taste test their way through 10 meaty creations and a bottomless supply of ice-cold Budweiser, and they didn’t let any sort of limited stomach size stand in their way.

Reppin' their patties this year were 5 Napkin Burger, BarKogi, The Baroness, The Dram Shop Bar, Eats on Lex, GENUINE Roadside, Harlem Shake, Peter McManus Cafe, P.J. Clarke's and Strip House. While scouring the best patties, attendees also got to dig into wings from Hooters, fries from FryGuys, frozen snacks at the My/Mo Mochi Ice Cream Mochi Bar™ and refreshments from Brooklyn Crafted, Essentia Water and Spindrift sparkling water. 

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne

Our guest judges (the burgeratti) dug into each burger in a blind taste test. Katie Lee Harman (@tastesofny), Mike Puma and Ben Davis (@gothamburgersocialclub), Jackie Freiberg (@bon_nappetit), Rev Ciancio (@revciancio, @theburgeratti) as well as Time Out's own staff writer Will Gleason tried 'em all, and the winner of the Judge’s Choice Award went to Harlem Shake's Hot Mess burger, a Pat LaFrieda beef patty smothered with American cheese, onions, pickles, bacon relish, pickled cherry peppers and chipotle mayo. Psst, you’re drooling.

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne

Attendees also cast their all-powerful votes for the best burger in the land, and this year’s Consumer’s Choice winner is Peter McManus Café! Their Pop Pop's Top-shelf Cheeseburger—a blend of Schweid and Sons brisket, short ribs and chuck that has all the tried-and-true accoutrements: aged cheddar, onions, pickles and “fancy” sauce on a brioche bun—was just what this crowd needed.

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne

When not going to town on some burgers, guests also played around in the photo booth (with burger-themed props, of course), took a chance on the Spin to Win Prize Wheel to score Time Out merch, and created some fun at the Bud custom Koozie station. It was one hell of a patty!

Photograph: Rebecca Smeyne