The Country Burger

We recently ate at The Barn (www.thebarnnj.com/) in Wyckoff after we asked friends to recommend a great burger place. The folks who live in the area have known about this homey hangout forever.

The Barn

Inside The Barn

The restaurant is tucked away from the road in a rustic former dairy barn, built in 1779, where generations of locals have carved their initials into the walls and booths. It is famous for bountiful burgers and a ho-down ambience in gentrified Bergen County. No calorie counting allowed. You won’t be swinging your partner far after one of these — but  who cares?

The Barn Burger is eight ounces dripping wet — sautéed onions, bacon and cheddar cheese, slathered in barbeque sauce. You’ll need both hands to hold it, and a bib to collect the drippings. But if you love burgers, it’s worth every splatter.
 
The cheeseburger is moist and flavorful, without being greasy. Freshly made Idaho fries accompany.  

The Barn’s owner, Eli Batin, says the secret is the restaurant customized “special blend” of Black Angus beef from its supplier, and it’s all fresh, not frozen. No industrial patties here.

Why is the burger so juicy? The flame is just right, not too high or low. And no salt before you grill. Salt “drains the juices from the meat onto the grill,” says Batin.

 Batin, a jeweler by trade, bought The Barn seven years ago and built his new house next door so he could spend plenty of time at the restaurant. “I enjoy food,” he says. “If it’s not right, I get very upset.”

He won’t have to worry about aggravating over these burgers. The writing on the walls and uneven wood plank floors seem to intensify the flavor. The Barn is a  little bit of country and a whole lot of burger.

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Tags: Wyckoff | The Barn | hamburgers

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