CHELSEA — Time for a burger, eh?
Canadian burger joint Big Smoke Burger is opening its first New York location in Chelsea, bringing fresh patties and Canadian grub to the city.
The 74-seat restaurant at 70 Seventh Ave., launching in mid-June, will serve handcrafted burgers and hand-cut fries, covered in toppings like horseradish mayo, smoked Canadian cheddar and jalapeno havarti cheese, said Anthony Fauci, the restaurateur who owns Calexico's Rivington Street location and is behind the new burger spot.
The restaurant will also offer classic chocolate, vanilla and strawberry milkshakes, and unlike its Canadian counterparts, the Chelsea Big Smoke will have a selection of craft beers, Fauci said.
"We're bringing in both hard-to-find Canadian and local craft beers," Fauci said.
In addition, the restaurant will serve a house brew, aptly named Big Smoke Burger Beer.
Also on the menu is poutine, a French-Canadian classic that will be composed of the restaurant's french fries, real cheese curds and gravy.
Fauci said the Chelsea location will have a 36-seat enclosed backyard atrium, and he also hopes to set up a sidewalk cafe in the future.
Big Smoke Burger has spread throughout Ontario, Canada, and also has locations as far away as Denver, Colorado; Kuwait; Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; and Dubai.
The Chelsea spot, Fauci said, will not be the only one in the city for long.
"We're developing Big Smoke Burgers all over New York and Chicago," Fauci said. "This will be the first of many in New York."
