These are some of the best burgers in NYC — but they’re not on any menu

The early bird gets the burger.

Restaurants across the city are increasingly offering off-menu hamburgers only available to those in the know — and often in limited quantities and only during a specified time slot. While restaurateurs want to satisfy customers’ hunger for burgers — and be seen as neighborhood spots — they’re loath to be defined by them.

“We keep it as a verbal addition only available to the first few tables each night until they sell out,” Ed Szymanski, the chef and owner of Lord’s, said of the restaurant’s popular Welsh rarebit cheeseburger. “We don’t want to be known as only a burger restaurant.” 5

Just 12 of the burgers are available each night, so those that want one must snag an early reservation.

Crane Club, the buzzy, new, upscale West Chelsea restaurant an