Harriet's Kitchen

It's the best burger on the Upper West Side.

This medium rare burger (with fries; $6.75) was beautifully charred outside and exceptionally juicy inside; you can just make out where the juices have trickled down into the bun. (Take a closer look. For larger photos, alternate takes, and whatever else caught my eye, you can always visit my Flickr pages by clicking on any photo.)

The golden, skin-on fries were quite good, too, especially when you consider that they sat there patiently while I polished off my burger. Previously: A pulled pork sandwich (below; $8.60), thickly packed on a soft bun, needed some spicy balance in its sweet, tomatoey sauce.

This tiny storefront squeezes in a pair of tables for two; most folks rely on Harriet's for takeout or delivery. The burger and fries travel very well, reports Ed Levine of Serious Eats.

Harriet's Kitchen
502 Amsterdam Ave. (84th-85th Sts.)
212-721-0045