BuzzMachine

The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

Lemmings to the fryer

18 comments on Lemmings to the fryer

fatburger1.jpg

Lemmings to the fryer

: Went to the new Jersey City Fatburger for lunch today. Ridiculous line. Didn’t move. I left. It’s just a burger, folks.

: UPDATE: Could New York be the death of Fatburger?

Ken Layne reports in the comments:

Fatburger is slooooooow. It’s not fast food. (And it’s not my favorite California burger, but it is very tasty and very substantial. More like a burger you’d get in a decent steakhouse.)

Even with nobody in line — say, at 2:30 a.m. — it takes forever. I will admit to falling “asleep” in my car at the drive-thru window. More than once.

Wait a week or two for the novelty to pass, then make your order, go out for a newspaper or whatever, and then you will have a happy lunch.

New Yorkers aren’t patient like Californians; I learned that first-hand when I lived out there. I’d go psycho waiting for a table while all around me were drugged. New Yorkers have places to go, people to see, things to do. New Yorkers have lives.

18 responses to “Lemmings to the fryer”

  1. kelly Avatar
    kelly

    I just went myself, line was rediculous, went next door to Pizza Uno and laughed at the people on line while I ate a deep dish, haaa…

  2. linkanator Avatar
    linkanator

    Jeff,
    Just saw this, its right down your alley. Give it a whirl.
    http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1092939830.shtml

  3. soybomb Avatar
    soybomb

    is this the one next to Exchange Place path train?

  4. Easycure Avatar
    Easycure

    In Issaquah WA, they put the Fatburger right next to the Krispy Kreme Donut place. Employees at both establishments now resemble Violet Beauregarde.

  5. Mikey Avatar
    Mikey

    There are darn few restaurants worth waiting in line for.

  6. Ken Layne Avatar
    Ken Layne

    Fatburger is slooooooow. It’s not fast food. (And it’s not my favorite California burger, but it is very tasty and very substantial. More like a burger you’d get in a decent steakhouse.)
    Even with nobody in line — say, at 2:30 a.m. — it takes forever. I will admit to falling “asleep” in my car at the drive-thru window. More than once.
    Wait a week or two for the novelty to pass, then make your order, go out for a newspaper or whatever, and then you will have a happy lunch.

  7. Ken Layne Avatar
    Ken Layne

    Hey, I have a life! That’s why I would only visit Fatburger as an anti-hangover measure before going to bed. It made life a richer, less painful experience the next day ….

  8. anne Avatar
    anne

    California is definitely in the slow lane. I remember going to Dodger Stadium once and it took almost an entire inning to get a couple of hot dogs and beer. And that was with no one in line ahead of me.

  9. growler Avatar
    growler

    The crowds were maddening for a month or more when White Castle first opened across from the Empire State Building.

  10. Harry Avatar
    Harry

    “New Yorkers have lives.”
    Unlike we “drugged” Californians. But apparently their lives aren’t too busy to waste time writing a post about a trip to fatburger.

  11. Soybomb Avatar
    Soybomb

    Yea, it was the FATBURGER next to Exchange Place. I ate there tonight. Its ok. Johnny Rockets is so much better. This place had a lot of problems getting orders right. While I was waiting there, about every third customer was returning their order for repairs. Though it was kind of funny that they shouted out every order and the fry cooks had to repeat it at the top of the lungs. “FATBURGER w/ Cheese, Onions, Tomatoes and Mayo!”

  12. tony Avatar
    tony

    i completely agree with mr layne. well worth the (long) wait. now owned by magic johnson.
    when you return make sure to enjoy the jukebox.

  13. Heiko Avatar
    Heiko

    Magic Johnson sold his share in Fatburger in 2003.

  14. Andrea Harris Avatar
    Andrea Harris

    “New Yorkers have lives.”
    New Yorkers have levels of caffeine in their metabolism 1000 times higher than the average human being. I fully expect one day to hear that everyone in New York has “disappeared” — only to hear the later discovery that they have in fact simply moved on into a faster dimension, like those people in that old Star Trek episode.
    I must say, though, that it was a pleasant experience getting served our meals promptly on my one trip to New York many moons ago. And anyway, you want slow? Come to Orlando. Bring a travel pillow and a couple of long novels.

  15. fat kid Avatar
    fat kid

    Fat Burger makes me ill. As does In-n-Out. While fatburger has no redeeming qualities, In-n-Out’s fries with their “special sauce” is one of the best things this side of the Mississippi. However, all things said and done, you’re not missing out on a damn thing Jeff. I’m surprised you even bothered to show up at that thing in the first place, then told us about it and called everyone *else* a lemming. *shrugs*

  16. Jeff Jarvis Avatar
    Jeff Jarvis

    Fat Kid: Oh, no, I’m every bit the lemming. I was just pissed that there was no room at the cliff.

  17. triticale Avatar
    triticale

    I had a life. Didn’t use it. Traded for a bigger hard drive.

  18. Howard Avatar
    Howard

    Fatbuger’s got nothing on In-N-Out Burger!!!!
    “like those people in that old Star Trek episode.”
    Wink of an Eye!
    Sorry Im a Trek geek! ;-P