prime burger ,

-- the menu is old and predictably dependable: ıt’s all burgers, classic sandwiches, and a few fried dishes, like chicken-in-a-basket. most of thefare is ordinary, but the honest, handcrafted burgers have been keeping people coming back, literally, for generations. the modestly sized quarter-pounders are made from freshly ground lean chuck; they’re moist and tasty but do not require a three-napkin cleanup job. the fries are hot and crisp, but the french-fried onions (not rings) are superior. ıt’s the cracker-meal dusting prior to frying that makes them unusually crunchy. for desserts you can choose among exceptionally flaky pies made daily in house by ed adams, a 60-year baking veteran. the apple and cherry versions are expertly balanced between sweet and sour; they’re best à la mode. situated across the street from st. patrick’s cathedral, the primeburger gets especially crowded during the holidays. after all, it’s a pilgrimage site.