This was, hands down, the best steak I’ve ever had in my life.

I landed in JFK Friday evening and made my way directly to Minetta Tavern to try their $26 Black Label burger. On top of that, I also tried the oxtail and foie gras terrine, and the roasted bone marrow. Everything was beyond flavorful; it was like shoveling fat that dissolved in your mouth before you even had a chance to chew any of it.

Perfectly cooked, the dry-aged LaFrieda prime meat patty essentially did the chewing for you. It was so robust that I don’t think I was able to fully appreciate the flavor that was packed into the burger. Maybe it’s not worth the $26 price tag, but it’s something to try at least once (though I still prefer the Spruce burger as a more realistic option for every-other-week consumption). I’m going for the côte de boeuf at Minetta next week.

An amazingly detailed look at the process behind Minetta Tavern’s $26 Black Label burger.