Pop Burger in , , | Hamburger Restaurant

Two new buildings have recently arisen in uptown Manhattan, New York,  one east, the other west — both of which deserve at least a moment of your attention. The first, and certainly the more striking, is Pop Burger, at 20 E. 58th St.  The name, Pop Burger,  is admirably accurate, since the establishment does indeed serve burgers, and its dominant aesthetic, from the bubbly glass protrusions of its façade to the Warhol-inspired dining area in the back — not to mention the mod lounge and pool room upstairs — is an homage to Pop Art.
It is rare that a restaurant takes over an entire building in Manhattan, but such is the case with Pop Burger.   Restaurant buildings represent a very different typology from that of residential or office architecture. With a restaurant as client, the façade becomes, as here, a massive three-dimensional billboard. Its purpose is to communicate neither the safety of residential architecture nor the sturdy monetary conservatism of an office tower, but to pull you in by the lapels and sit you down at one of the tables. At the same time, the façade is meant to suggest, especially in a burger joint, that fun of a slightly rebellious and demotic order is in the offing.
Roughly where Chelsea hits the Meatpacking District, Pop Burger is a fast-food storefront that meets a trendy bar/restaurant.   At Streetside you can order fantastic tiny burgers, fries etc, but at night the lounge at back sizzles with trendoids and an expanded menu that sometimes includes a fantastic lobster club sandwich as well as other fare. Up front at Pop Burger, the fare is hardly hustle & bustle, and self-service means lower prices. In contrast, the truly enjoyable bar/lounge has all the right entertainment features: a nice long bar, a comfortable lounge, video screens showing just about everything under the sun (including one hard-to-find little peep-show screen), a billiard table, and of course, those terrific burgers. While some complain the food is overpriced, you are paying for the innovative design and style. So make your choice; Pop Burger is two places in one.