Veggie Burgers That Even Carnivores Crave

One mark of an outstanding vegetable burger is that carnivores will actually scarf it down happily. Hillstone, the overachieving chain eatery that used to be Houston's, passes that test with a hound-acclaimed veggie burger seasoned with Worcestershire and topped with melted jack.

Vegetarian restaurant Quantum Leap has a spicy version that pleases the meat-eating MinhLikesFood. And the burger joint Stand makes a veggie burger from quinoa, mushrooms, and zucchini that's actually better than its above-average beef burger, uwsister says.

At Five Napkin Burger, the secret ingredient is beets. OK, it's not a closely held secret; LNG212's server spilled it when asked. "Be forewarned: it's huge and it's messy," LNG212 adds.

SouthWest NY also has a way with veggie burgers, and it leans Latin. The black bean patty comes between two arepalike corn cakes. fm1963 suggests adding sautéed mushrooms and a side of maduros or corn pudding.

Some other hound-endorsed veg burgers can be had at Film Center Cafe and Zaitzeff, both enriched with avocado; Dojo, whose soy burger comes in a whole-wheat pita; and Shake Shack, a destination for conventional burgers, whose portobello 'shroom burger is a deep-fried, cheese-stuffed thing of beauty.

Hillstone [Flatiron]
378 Park Avenue South (at E. 27th Street), Manhattan
212-689-1090

Quantum Leap [East Village]
203 First Avenue (between E. 12th and 13th streets), Manhattan
212-673-9848

Stand [East Village]
24 E. 12th Street (between Fifth Avenue and University Place), Manhattan
212-488-5900

Five Napkin Burger [Hell's Kitchen]
630 Ninth Avenue (between W. 44th and 45th streets), Manhattan
212-757-2277

SouthWest NY [Battery Park City]
225 Liberty Street (in 2 World Financial Center), Manhattan
212-945-0528

Film Center Cafe [Hell's Kitchen]
635 Ninth Avenue (between W. 44th and 45th streets), Manhattan
212-262-2525

Zaitzeff [Financial District]
72 Nassau Street (at John Street), Manhattan
212-571-7272

Dojo [East Village]
14 W. Fourth Street (between Broadway and Lafayette Street), Manhattan
212-505-8934

Shake Shack [Flatiron]
In Madison Square Park (near Madison Avenue and E. 23rd Street), Manhattan
212-889-6600

Discuss: best vegetable burger in manhattan.....