Big Smoke Burger (CLOSED)

New Yorkers can never agree on who serves the best burger in town. Shake Shack devotees will forever defend Danny Meyer's empire against heavyweights like Corner Bistro or Minetta Tavern. But there is something Gothamites are always up for: giving new patty contenders a shot. The latest challenger arrives via Canada, where founder Mustafa Yusuf started his globe-trotting burger chain in 2007, expanding to the U.S., Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. But unlike some burger-flipping franchies, the six-ounce rounds are made to order and range from the classic (a cheddar-hooded variety) to the elaborate, like a lamb version topped with cilantro-feta spread or the restaurant's namesake, amped up with horseradish mayo, smoked cheddar and caramelized onions. For sides, expect old-school picks like hand-cut fries and onion rings, as well as the ultimate Canuck gut-buster: poutine, drenched in Ontario cheese curds and gravy. There are no cutbacks when it comes to milkshakes either: Three scoops of chocolate, strawberry or vanilla ice cream go into each frothy concoction.