Bonnie's Grill
"Bonnie's Grill has the feel of a college diner…AC/DC blares from the speakers and photos of the Ramones and other Bowery punk bands overlook the counter," writes Aaron Rasmussen for New York magazine. "As the 'Grill' would suggest, meat is the focus here, and most diners go for the Spiced Black Angus Sirloin Burger—a giant sandwich that tastes like a well-cooked, zesty steak, topped with wedges of fresh tomatoes."
AlwaysEating describes the burger as "crispy and charred on the outside but a nice pink on the inside," and recommends dipping a side of shoestring fries in the restaurant's "homemade spicy mayo (bottles are on every table)." Bonnie's is mentioned several times on a Chowhound thread about Brooklyn's best burgers. There are some 'Hounds who "don't see what all the fuss is about" and describe the burgers as "overcooked and tasteless," but these haters seem to be in the minority.
And burgers aren't the only thing on the menu. "The owner-chef hails from Buffalo, which could explain why the crunchy chicken wings—served mild, medium, hot and hottest—are so good," says Time Out New York. "This may also be one of the only places where you can find authentic beef on weck, a Buffalo delicacy of sliced roast beef and horseradish served on a kümmelweck roll (kaiser sprinkled with salt and caraway seeds)."
Reviews (20)
Fjorder wrote a review on July 21, 2008 12:42 PM
Tasty burgers/veggie burgers w/ spicy fries and cold lager at a fair price. Ambiance? This place does not pretend to be anything it's not; it's a burger joint (though it does have several great prints of rockers gracing the walls).
Service is solid and not too chatty in a good way. A great warm-up spot before a night of drinking several pints of 8%+ ABV across the street over at the Gate.
hangonsloopy wrote a review on July 21, 2008 12:57 PM
I love Bonnie's. We ate there pretty much every week for the 6 years we lived in Park Slope, and it's one of the main places we go back to the neighborhood to visit. The owners are kind people, the food is inexpensive, quick, and delicious, and the staff are total sweethearts. I always get the turkey burger. Wings and fries are both killer. And I love that they have seats at the counter for if you're alone or just with one other person. Good sports-watching, too.
Johnny wrote a review on July 21, 2008 12:58 PM
Great burgers, tasty fries and succulent wings. All made a smidge better by service that's above what should be expected at a diner-esquelocation. Always a good selection of tap and bottle beers. For the "bar basics" best in the 'hood.
10thStreetReno wrote a review on July 21, 2008 12:59 PM
Forget about the Cholesterol watch when you go here ! No wonder the food tastes so good. I like the fact that it's nothing fancy and really the burgers / wings speak for themselves. Prices are decent and the service is good.
Brooklynnative wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:01 PM
Generally very solid, but I hate it when they don't do the fries properly and they're soft and soggy. The flank steak sandwich is my recent favorite.
11217 wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:05 PM
Love the Turkey Burgers here! Never been let down.
I've found the service above par for the type of establishment and they keep up the place well...clean, well-maintained and overall a fun place to grab a bite and a beer.
Went here Friday before a night of drinking at Union Hall and Commonwealth.
Polemicist wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:05 PM
I like Bonnie's. Meals aren't too expensive, but service is fast and the beer is cheap.
I'm really surprised the Bonnie's model isn't copied more frequently. There are so many restaurants in Park Slope that are completely uninteresting and have slow business as a result. You'd think there would be one restaurant similar to Bonnie's in the neighborhood.
Combustiblegirl2 wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:18 PM
Love, love, love Bonnie's. It's one of the restaurants I miss most since moving from PS. They have the best veggie burger I've ever had (probably because they put some effort into it and don't just throw a Boca burger on the grill) and their catfish sandwich is amazing. Also the side salad that you can get in lieu of fries is the best I've ever seen with red onion and olvies. (Not that the fries aren't dynamite.) All in all I've never had anything bad here and I love the vibe.
jawbreaker wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:33 PM
Usually pretty good food as described above, service OK, once in awhile I've noticed that the place could use a good cleaning (not necessarily the food prep areas, but a coat of dust on the decor). The owner-chef who opened it is no longer involved.
hangonsloopy wrote a review on July 21, 2008 1:49 PM
Just to correct above - I beleive there were 2 partners originally, one is no longer involved, but the other remains and is awesome.
Pragonetti wrote a review on July 21, 2008 2:00 PM
Best Burger in the Slope and most likely Brooklyn. Great Wings and mean great. I love this place. I love the Japaleno on the burgers. Be carefull with the Hottest Wing Sauce it will get you.
Mamacita wrote a review on July 21, 2008 2:04 PM
Bonnies is the best burger and 'crack' fries in town. Absolutely addictive. Burger is enormous and perfectly charred on the outside juicy as all hell on the inside.Fries are cripsy, golden and perfectly salty. Wings are not frozen or battered, always excellent. Tons of hot sauces to choose from and all the chipotle aioli you want. Been going to here for years and it's still my #1 burger, you just can get so much, so well, for so little.
lambretta76 wrote a review on July 21, 2008 2:04 PM
Wings are the best in the city, I'm a big fan of the beef on weck, and the burgers are pretty tasty. The chipotle mayo for the fries is incredibly addicting, although I have to admit it's not all that great.
panda10 wrote a review on July 21, 2008 2:52 PM
Wow- I'm one of the few that think this place is way over-rated. The turkey burger is very dry. The regular burger can't hold a candle to the burger at Belleville- which I think is the best burger on 5th Ave. Generally- I think Bonnie's is just ok- but I always leave feeling I should be more satisfied.
Mr Joist wrote a review on July 21, 2008 3:37 PM
Good burgers. When I get hit with that cloud of grill smoke on 5th Ave I need to have a burger ... great free advertising.
Why don't they deliver? I would eat here 2x what I do if they did.
BTW, I tried that new burger place on 5th ave and 6th st (in old Mediterra space) since they deliver and they sucked.
just me wrote a review on July 21, 2008 4:08 PM
I love Bonnie's. I love walking down 5th and getting hit with that delicious grill smell that takes over the avenue! I'm gonna have a hard time when 5 Guys opens cause they'll be the only other onw to give Bonnie's grill a run for MY money!
zapzap wrote a review on July 21, 2008 6:11 PM
Love the burgers and the fries, but wish the salad were not so "refrigerateor-cold" and bland. It could be more imaginative than half a jar of red peppers on a bunch of lettuce...
downtownbrooklyn wrote a review on July 22, 2008 9:07 AM
The burgers are over-rated. The patties are big but lacked the charred taste I was expecting from the grilled meat. The bun was dry, a bit stale, and too big. It's not bad for a diner that's around your corner, but not a destination.
Fjorder wrote a review on July 22, 2008 9:55 AM
zapzap:
ordering a salad at Bonnie's Grill is akin to having the fish at Peter Luger.
Molly wrote a review on July 28, 2008 1:54 PM
Bonnie's is one of the best bargains on 5th Avenue. I love sitting at the counter. I'll echo the commenter above and say, I don't know why the model isn't copied more.
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