#DealAlert There Ain’t No Burger Like A Mark Burger…

If you love burgers and looking for a cheap meal in the city then Mark Burger, (rightfully located at 33 St. Marks Place) is the place for you. They serve huge shakes that pair perfectly with their sliders (you get 1 slider with every order). You also don’t want to pass up on their chili cheese fries.

Mark Burger is a great deal because their sliders start at $2.50 and are pretty big, topped with American Cheese and Grilled Onions. They also have an interesting take on a bacon burger because instead of it having it on top of the burger they put crumbled bacon into their meat mix which is a rarity in the city.

Trying one of their shakes is a must, they are huge but delicious. I had the black and white shake but they are known for their Guinness shake.

They have a lunch special 2 sliders, fries & a soda for $8 and happy hour Monday-Friday from 3-7pm.

Next time you’re in the Lower East Side and are looking for a quick, hearty bite that won’t break your budget go to Mark Burger…your stomach and wallet will thank you!

Happy Eating! 😀

*Disclaimer: The PR team paid for my meal. I was not required to write about these experiences and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

#SCBD Exclusive Preview: Zinburger in Garden State Plaza

Photo Credit: DFPR

This past weekend I was invited to go to the media preview dinner at Zinburger that opened today at Garden State Plaza. If you love burgers, shakes, and a variety of cocktails then Zinburger is the place for you.

Photo Credit: DFPR

I went with my boyfriend Jason where we basically got a tasting of the menu and their cocktails.

The tasting menu

We started off with the Dulce de Leche shake which was delicious. They split it in half for us so we could each have a taste of the shake.

The Dulce de Leche shake 🙂

We were really hungry so we decided to start with a side of the famous Zinburger zucchini fries which were really good and flavorful. I’d recommend them or the truffle fries to anyone, the sweet potato fries at Zinburger aren’t too bad either.

Zinburger’s zucchini fries

Next, we each ordered a cocktail because they all looked so great around us. Jason got the sangria & I got The Lemon Sipper. We enjoyed both of our cocktails which complimented our fries while we waited for our burgers to come out.

The Lemon Sipper

Next, our burgers came out. Now, if you like your burger done Medium Rare then you’ll love Zinburger because they cook their burgers on the lighter side. I got the Samburger which has Applewood Smoked Bacon, American Cheese, and Thousand Island dressing on it. I requested mine be Kobe Beef since it’s an option at Zinburger. I ordered it Medium but next time I go I will order it Medium Well since it was still a bit read for my taste but it was delicious and huge! Jason ordered El Diablo which is topped with Fire Roasted Jalapenos, Pepperjack Cheese, Caramelized Onions, and Chipotle Mayo. Unlike me he likes his burgers Medium Rare so the red didn’t really bother him. He also enjoyed it and thought it had just enough kick to it.

The Samburger

El Diablo

If you’re looking for a burger that is different then usual and options when it comes to fries then Zinburger is the place for you! The Paramus location also has a full bar which is great to watch the game. I’m definitely looking forward to more girls night out and date nights at the Paramus location since it’s so close to where I live.

The Zinburger in Paramus is located at 1 Garden State Plaza, Space #1146, consider it your lunch/dinner option next time your shopping at the mall!

Cheers! 😀

*Disclaimer: The PR team paid for my meal. I was not required to write about these experiences and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

A Good Veggie Burger is Hard to Find…

When’s the last time you had a great veggie burger?  Chances are it hasn’t happened in a while!  If you share my mission of finding great meatless meals, you may have noticed there is a slight deficit… especially in restaurants that have more carnivorous themes.  However, I am happy to report that Zinburger recently broke the mold, and delivered a seriously awesome veggie burger!

If you haven’t heard of Zinburger yet it may be because they are new to the East coast.  Our very pleasant and knowledgeable server informed us that Zinburger is a West coast based company, and the Clifton, NJ location I was dining at was the first one on the east coast.  Don’t fret though, because Paramus and Cherry Hill locations will be opening soon!  Zinburger is a self proclaimed “wine and burger bar”, offering a broad spectrum of both.  The full bar includes 18 wines by the glass and 17 beer selections, 8 of which are on tap.  The menu contains no shortage of burger offerings, including a build your own burger option.  There are also a variety of fry options available, some salads, and shakes to tempt your sweet tooth.

I started my Zinburger experience with a trip to their cocktail menu, and I chose the Skinny Margarita.  Made with Sauza Silver Tequila, Triple Sec, orange juice, agave nectar, and lime juice, it provided a great blend of sweet and sour flavors.  You wouldn’t know it was “skinny” if it didn’t say so on the menu!

I decided on Clint’s “Almost Famous” Veggie Burger, for a very affordable $9.  The veggie burger was served with smoked mozzarella, avocado, pea shoots, and mayo.  Another win for Zinburger – this item can be ordered vegan!  The burger had a soft texture and didn’t resemble a typical “patty”.  It was loaded with flavor, and the avocado and shoots just made it that much more delicious.

In my opinion, every good burger needs a side of fries, so I ordered personal favorite – Sweet Potato Fries for $5.  Zinburger serves their sweet potato fries with a yogurt dipping sauce which was a yummy alternative to ketchup!

Make sure you stop by Zinburger soon and let us know what you think!  And don’t forget to keep your eyes open for locations opening in Paramus and Cherry Hill soon!

Grab a Bite Off the Beaten Path at Maxwell’s in TriBeca

The Saturday night before Superstorm Sandy hit I had the opportunity to go to Maxwell’s, downtown in TriBeca with Jason (my bf) and fellow blogger, Charisse of Travel Ink Blots. It was Halloween weekend so Maxwell’s was decorated and had Halloween drink specials!

Blood Orange Margarita

I started off with the Blood Orange Margarita which tasted great. I’m not normally a huge margarita drinker but I liked it and it was served in a martini glass which added a nice touch. Jason got his favorite drink, The Red Death by request and Charisse got a beer which she enjoyed.

We all decided to order burgers because they are Maxwell’s specialty. Charisse & I got the Maxwell’s burger and Jason got the Southwest burger– all served with fries! The Maxwell’s burger has sliced angus ribeye, red wine gravy, sauteed onions, fried egg, and horseradish mayo. It was unlike any burger I’ve had. I loved the way the steak was sliced with the gravy & egg on top. Jason enjoyed his Southwest which is an 8 oz pure angus beef with pepperjack cheese, bacon, guac, & sweet chili sauce. The kitchen sent out their signature mac & cheese, a blend of asiago, pecorino, romano, parmesan reggiano & truffle oil. It was a great blend of cheeses, I could see how it’s a crowd pleaser.

I feel very fortunate that we were able to dine downtown before Sandy hit. It was definitely a night to remember especially since it was Halloween weekend and everyone could feel it in the air that Sandy was about to pick up.

Grateful 🙂

*Disclaimer: The PR team paid for part of my meal. I was not required to write about these experiences and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

Sara Monica, Founder

At the young age of 23, Sara is the founder and head editor of Smallchickbigdeals.com aka #SCBD. Sara is a Jersey Girl raised by the shore, currently residing in Northern New Jersey. When she is not working, she is finding something new to post and share with her readers whether it be a new food product, recipe, restaurant review or another interview. Read her full bio, here. Read the full story behind #SCBD, here.  When she is not writing for #SCBD she also contributes to Jersey Bites,Carter Int’l Concierge, & New Fork City. Follow her @SmChickBigDeals!

#SCBD loves: Shake Shack (Madison Square Park)

A few weeks ago, well before Wingfest to be precise. My roommate Leah & I took a trip over to the Madison Square Park location of Shake Shack since the event was in the area. It was actually my first time at Shake Shack, which was even more motivating for me to try it. I actually won a gift card for Shake Shack from Black Board Eats (New York). Black Board Eats is  one of the top foodie deal sites I know, they give you 20-30% off some of Manhattan’s best restaurants weekly. So I highly recommend you sign up & check out their weekly deals.

Shake Shack, Madison Square Park

So with gift card in hand, it was time to order from Shake Shack. Mind you, the line was long but thats expected and totally worth it! We decided to get cheese fries to split and each got a Shack Burger with beers. Leah got the Oktoberfest special beer they had available and I got the Shackmeister beer. I had to try the classic beer they serve and judge it for myself. It was what I would like to call our pre-Wingfest ‘linner’ (meal between lunch & dinner but it’s not brunch!)

Our burgers, cheese fries, & beers from Shake Shack– delish!

So here’s what I thought:

1. My burger was delicious, great on flavor and size. I’m big on eating good portions and Shake Shack’s are perfect.
2. Cheese Fries are some of the best cheese fries I’ve had (now I want some!) It’s a delicious mix of their Shack cheddar & American cheese sauce, on top of their perfectly cooked fries.
3. I had low expectations for the beer, but Shackmeister beer was great. Not too heavy,  just perfect. I wish I could’ve brought a case home with me! It was also a perfect compliment to my meal.
4. Oh yeah how can I forget, even though I had a gift card– the prices aren’t too bad & totally worth it. It’s a perfect deal because you can get a meal for two for no more than $30! I love it!

Yes, I’ll say it, I’m hooked and am now a loyal Shake Shack fan. Next time I go of course I also plan on trying a shake. I was really impressed with the burgers, beer, and fries– Shake Shack is worth the wait!

Danny Meyer is definitely doing something right with Shake Shack in the city, now can he bring it to Jersey?

I think I might just have to stop at Shake Shack when I’m in NYC this weekend!

Well I have tons more coming up for you all this week– stay tuned! 😀