Banyan Bar + Refuge Has Boston’s Newest Limited Burger
Not quite a secret, the new Banyan burger is available at 4 p.m. every night.
Banyan Bar + Refuge has a new hype-fueled burger for Boston. / Banyan burger photo provided / Banyan restaurant photo by Jared Kuzia for “Banyan’s Extreme Makeover“
Here is another addition to your Boston burger bucket list: Banyan Bar + Refuge just added an exclusive double-stack to its nightly menu.
The new Banyan burger is an East Asian-inspired riff on the popular cheeseburger at sister spot Gallows, griddling two Kobe beef patties to medium-well instead of the Gallows’ classic West Coast-style beef blend. Served on a house-made egg bun, the Banyan burger is slathered with kimchi pimiento cheese, and topped with a sunny egg, pickled chilis, and kohlrabi slaw. Carb connoisseurs must still get their fry fix at the Gallows; Banyan’s new burger comes with a side of salt-and-vinegar taro root chips instead.
The burger debuted on Friday, Sept. 21, as part of chef Scott Jensen’s new fall menu. It follows the storied hype of limited-availability burgers such as chef Tony Maws’ iconic Craigie burger and his newer, Tuesday-exclusive Craigie veggie; and the covetable patties chef Michael Scelfo first mastered at Russell House Tavern, then at his own Alden & Harlow, Waypoint, and soon, Longfellow Bar.
At Bar Mezzana, chef Colin Lynch—who created Drink’s original off-menu Big Mac riff—offers a bar-or-brunch-only burger. Fellow Asian-inspired tavern Uni tested the waters this summer with a monthly, late-night, super-savory patty of short rib, brisket, sirloin, bone marrow, bacon, and dehydrated miso.
Formerly at the helm of the Gallows, Jensen took over at Banyan earlier this year. His latest menu still has a section of shareable small plates, but there are more entrée options too, like a buttermilk-fried tonkatsu pork chop with squash puree, maple nuoc cham, and shaved Brussels sprouts; and sweet soy-glazed scallops with celeriac puree and cold scallion salad.
Just 15-20 Banyan burgers are available each night, so beef seekers will want to grab a seat on the early side to ensure an order. The burger isn’t the only happy hour draw: Banyan continues to offer $1 pork and leek dumplings every night from 4-6 p.m., and just introduced a new Spritz O’Clock menu of low-alcohol drinks and bar snacks.
Banyan Bar + Refuge, 553 Tremont St., South End, Boston, 617-556-4211, banyanboston.com.
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