NYC (Winter 2011): Day 3, Max Brenner

Shawn and I went for lunch at Max Brenner by Union Square. Max Brenner is famous for their chocolate and consequential chocolate desserts and drinks, but if you think the rest of the menu isn't worth looking at, you'd be wrong. I decided to order The Best B.A.L.T., and I have to say that it is, as the sandwich is so aptly named, the best version of the BLT sandwich I have ever had in my life. It's made with perfectly crispy bacon, thick slices of avocado and tomato, and creamy cilantro-avocado mayo on toasted rye. It's so simple, but so epic. It's not too heavy that you can't fit in dessert afterward, but it's definitely a substantial sandwich. If Max Brenner existed in Toronto, I would go there over and over again for this sandwich alone.

Shawn ordered The Brenner Burger with Kobe beef (you can opt for regular Angus beef), of which I may have taken a bite or three, and it was also ridiculously delicious. The beef, cooked medium rare, was tender and juicy and grilled to perfection. It's topped with melted cheddar cheese, fresh lettuce and tomato, a crunchy onion ring, and their "secret" barbeque sauce. This burger is definitely for bigger appetites, 'cause it's pretty huge. It's maybe not the best burger I've ever eaten in my life, but it's definitely up there among ultimate burgers. Both sandwiches are served with waffle fries dusted with chili and cocoa powder in a small glass cup. I couldn't really taste the chili and cocoa powder, but hey, you can't go wrong with waffle fries. I like that they only put a small portion of fries and let the focus shine on the sandwiches. Most places will always add a monstrous amount of fries on your plate, fooling you into eating them instead of your main food. Anyway, the point is, if you ever get a chance to go to Max Brenner, try going there for an actual meal rather than just the dessert. You won't regret it.

Of course, we couldn't leave without trying at least one of their famous desserts. So we decided to get the 100% Pure Chocolate Chocolate Experience Ice Cream "Max-Wich" – dark chocolate truffle ice cream and pure chocolate chunks sandwiched between old fashioned double chocolate cookies, drizzled with pure chocolate and served with pure dark chocolate ganache for dipping. Holy shit. This dessert is for serious chocoholics. It's rich and decadent and filling. It's surprisingly not too sweet, which makes me enjoy and appreciate chocolate desserts more because it doesn't leave me feeling sickly. The warm, crunchy cookies and the cold, thick ice cream provide a really nice contrast to each other. It was supremely good as far as chocolate desserts go. The next time I visit Max Brenner, though, I will make room to try the Banana Split Waffle, because it looks way too good to be true.

And before we left, we decided to get a cup of their famous hot chocolate to go. They have a variety of hot chocolate, but we decided on the classic hot chocolate made with milk chocolate (you can also choose dark or white). It's $4.95 for a small cup, but that's really all you need. Shawn and I shared one cup and could barely finish it because we were so full and the hot chocolate was so rich. It's almost like a chocolate soup because it's so creamy. As with the dessert, I liked that it wasn't too sweet. That would definitely have sent my sweet tooth over the edge after the dessert we had just demolished. But for those who have yet to discover the delights of Max Brenner, it should be at the top of your lists of places to visit in New York City.