The trick with Astor is to ask first if it will be cooked on the flat grill out front by the bar. They don't always have the time or staff to do it there. From the kitchen you'll get the smaller, horrid, pre-made patties.

My vote goes to New Park Tavern. Krugs is a notch below, and even though I visit Newark often, the location makes it a rare visit. Besides, in the Ironbound there are too many better options than a burger.

the burger at The Kitchen at Grove Station!
best I've had in JC

here is my take and opinion on this -

the best, Park Tavern (on facebook its called New Park Tavern, as there are others of the same name around in including Rutherford)

my recollection, it used to be similar to Krug's, but within the last few years, it got slightly smaller and more tasty (cooks a little faster too.) the fries used to be steak fries (also like Krug's) but now are very good regular, (double cooked?)

Krug's is very good (and massive), right behind Park Tavern, but the steak fries are unremarkable.

Astor Bar is more like the Krug's burger and has regular fries, but that only applies to weekdays. On weekend's, there is a much more limited menu and we have had only had pre-made patties. Note, the bar pizzas are only available on weekdays.

for restaurants, Skinner's Loft is a second to Park Tavern.

Guess Krugs won.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/foodanddrink ... AfYYpe?ocid=iehp#image=31

The one burger I had at Astor was horrid.

I have not been to Astor Bar in years but remember thinking that their burgers were always better than Park Tavern. Just may have go back and see if they are still good.

I tried Fox and the Crow for 1st time last week and NYC price aside really enjoyed the burger and ambiance.

The burgers at the Fox and Crow in the Heights. So good. Soo good.

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People who moved to JC from Ohio.

Holla @ Yo Boyz

What kind of toothless, drooling troglodyte refers to the Park Tavern as "New Park"?

I haven't tried New Park, but Krug's, is good. It's huge, and perfectly cooked, but a little bland for my taste.

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Aside from my own damn good burgers, I'm good with New Park Tavern's. I wouldn't say that they're world renowned, but they use good meat and a lot of it.

i've tried both Krugs and New Park and found them to be comparable to one another, but nothing that i would go out of my way for in the future.

Can't personally speak for the one up in whippany, but the other two pretty much nailed it. Park's "on-site parking" is generous, as they have about 5 spots, some of which are usually taken by staff.

Both suffer in that it's tough to get a well browned but rare burger. The bartender has to man the griddle and pour drinks, so they keep the griddle at medium heat, so you don't get a great sear. That said, I probably go to New Park or Krug's once a month or so. That both have onsite parking is a plus.