ASTORIA — Anyone with weight loss on their list of New Year's resolutions should steer clear of the neighborhood's newest burger joint.
Burger Bistro, which has been known to offer the diet-crushing cheeseburger on a glazed donut, just opened at 37-03 31st Ave in mid-December. The spot is the mini-chain's fourth location after Bay Ridge, Park Slope and the Upper East Side.
Chef and co-owner Vincent Dardanello said they were drawn to Astoria for it's small-town vibe in the big city.
"We just love the neighborhood — it's still a neighborhood, even though it's New York City," he said
"Everybody knows each other in this neighborhood, and we really like that whole feel."
The Astoria location will offer the same fare as the other Burger Bistros, Dardanello said.
The menu lets customers build their own unique burgers, choosing from an expansive list of different types of meats, cheeses, buns, sauces and toppings, checking off the ones they want.
Burger Bistro is also well-known for its unique weekly specials, which in the past have included elk, antelope and kangaroo patties.
"Something a little bit out of the box," Dardanello said.
The eatery's most popular special to date is the "Donut Burger," a beef patty topped with bacon, American cheese and a fried egg, served on a glazed donut.
But the heavy-hitter isn't offered all the time — Darndanello says they only bring it on as a special every now and then, in part because of its high calorie count, and also to keep things interesting.
"We don’t want to overdo it, because then it kind of loses its fun," he said.
