Burger 21

One of my favorite burger joints in the Capital District — I’d rank this easily ahead of BurgerFi and Smashburger.
The burger patties are well– seasoned/​flavorful and the toppings all come together nicely. Shoestring fries achieve the perfect balance of crispiness. Shakes and floats are delicious as well. And the dipping sauces! My go-​to is the Chipotle Mayo. The service is very friendly, the location is nicely lit/​clean.
My personal favorite was the Loaded Potato Spud burger — it basically had a fried potato patty paired with the beef patty. So much flavor; I wish this was a regular menu item and not a burger-​of-​the-​month.

I dislocated* the left side of my jaw while taking the first bite of my Burger 21 burger. Seriously, those suckers are TALL. But I pushed my jaw back into alignment, smushed that tender brioche bun just a little bit more, and soldiered on through it. And it was not too shabby.
They didn’t ask how we wanted our burgers cooked, and they came out well done, bordering on medium-​well. The burger was still juicy and flavorful, however. My only (minor) complaint was that it seemed to be unevenly salted, making some bites far saltier than others. But, better uneven salt than no salt at all. The toppings were ample, nicely distributed, and delish. And the toothpick did its job, because the burger and bun stayed put and didn’t do that annoying slip-​n-​slide thing that burgers sometimes do. This means I avoided getting burger juices all over myself and did not look like a slob.
The sweet potato fries were very good as well. They’re cut nice and thin, but they could have been cooked a bit longer for extra crunch. I tasted my husband’s chocolate shake without his consent, (which was risky, but I did it for you) and found it good but not worth the calories, IMO. It tastes like basic soft serve, which is not my preference for a milkshake. Stewart’s milkshakes 4 life.
Side note: we sat in a booth, which I quickly learned was not actually secured to the floor or wall, so I was spontaneously shifted around during the meal at the whim of the girls seated behind me. This was equal parts amusing and annoying.
Side note #2: I appreciate their spotlight-​style light fixtures, which are perfect for taking photos of food. There’s nothing more annoying than inadequate lighting for pics, amirite? I didn’t post any, however, because I try not to duplicate other Unilocaler’s pics… And it turns out that Burger 21 burgers/​fries/​shakes all look pretty similiar.
*“Dislocated” is not an official medical diagnosis, because seeking medical attention is way overrated. But it’s true — my jaw was out of alignment, it did hurt, and I did have to manually adjust it before I could close it and continue eating. Consider yourself warned.

Best Burger Ever… and ive had some great burgers but this tops them all. Also their fries with the cheese sauce is incredible. The service is amazing they listen to my allergy needs and the food alwayd comes out right away. They have a huge beverage selection alon with a milkshake bar and they also have many unique sauces you can put on your burgers. If you are look to have some of the best food you will ever eat you have to go here

We tried the black and bleu burger (with cheddar instead of bleu cheese) and the current special, the patty melt. We also had a side of large fries and a chocolate shake. The shake was thick and very chocolatey. Both burgers were cooked medium as requested at ordering. The highlight of burger 21 is the sauce selection but there are almost too many to try in one meal! I wouldn’t say it was the best burger I’ve ever had but it certainly would satisfy a craving.

Great burger and float — fries descent. Some of the staff is less than friendly and the prices can be a by on the high side for the quality and portion size but overall the selection and taste is where it should be.
The selection of dipping and topping sauces is unmatched.

I finally went in to see what all the hype was about for Burger 21– I must say, I was impressed!
I love food. I love GOOD food… this was good food. I ordered a BBQ bacon burger with cheese and it came with lettuce and tomato. There is a slew of different condiments from your basic ketchup to toasted marshmallow! I’ll get to that part eventually.
I also decided on sweet potato fries and a chocolate milkshake, minus whipped cream, which was nothing short of delicious! The fries were temperate. I would’ve preferred them hot :)
Now back to the sauces. I chose a little more BBQ sauce, as the burger itself didn’t come with much BBQ on it, but the condiments are free. I put a little bit of toasted marshmallow into one of the cups to use on my fries (I didn’t really know what else you would use it for?) and it was sour. So… I tossed that and just used BBQ sauce on my fries — I was happy.
The bun was a brioche and it was fresh and delicious. The ingredients were tasty and the service was quite good. Considering I went during lunch hour, I got my food relatively quickly. I sat and listened to the music and enjoyed my food — they had some funky music (a lot of 80s and 90s) which brought out the nostalgia.
This was around noon — I didn’t eat anything for the rest of the day –I was stuffed! It doesn’t look like a lot of food, but hot damn was it good and I left extremely satisfied.
Definitely recommend.

A bit confusing for the first timer when you walk in the door but move to the left and you will be on line. The menus are in a holder but if you want the gluten free menu, that is at the cashier station (a quick fix would improve that). They have veggie burgers, turkey burgers, beef burgers — something for everyone including chicken fingers and salads. They are also known for their made to order shakes — a big hit with my daughter. The gluten free bun is quite tasty. There are many different kinds of sauces to try such as chipotle mayo, apple cider mustard, and toasted marshmallow which is for the sweet potato fries I assume. The food is nicely cooked and pleasantly served to your table with a number you put in a holder to let them know which order you are. The tables are a bit tight on the floor — booths are prime seating. I enjoyed our time here and would come again.

I’m no burger connoisseur, not by a long shot. I usually avoid ground beef if I can help it, and I was able to here because they offer lots of different types of meats in burger form! I got the cobb burger with turkey and I swapped the avocado ranch sauce for the real deal avocado. My partner got the cheesy burger, with an egg on it, and a small fry.
I love the idea of my burger, bacon, blue cheese, tiny diced tomatoes, avocado etc. The burger was sadly pretty dry (probably since I didn’t get the ranch on it and it was turkey) but after I slathered it with their ragin’ cajun’ sauce we were good to go. I enjoyed it a ton after I put the sauce on and it really filled me up.
The small fry was a good amount to split for my partner and I. Fries were a little hard and unsalted (which I liked cuz then you can control toppings/​salt yourself). He really loved his burger, it was really messy because the yolk on the egg was super runny. He said next time he’d order the egg broken to avoid this. He got the peanut butter chocolate milkshake which he said was LITERALLY AHMAZING. Kind of pricey for the size but he thought it was worth it.
To reiterate some other reviewers mentions, this location seems to not reeeeally fit for what Burger21 needs it for. The milkshake counter where people pick up the milkshakes is located at the end of the bar seating and right next to the swinging door where runners come through with the food. There was constantly a clog of servers either coming out with food, going in, or id’ing the milkshakes. This also confused the patrons because there is seating near by and the milkshake guy had to ask someone to move because he was in the milkshake «drop off area». Odd. Also, when you walk in the «back» door from the parking lot — which really is the font door. You immediately are blocked by a counter top with no menu/​pricing or signage visually available. Instead you pick up a paper menu, turn 2 corners to get to the cashiers. The user experience here is lacking. Food is decent tho!
I want to come back and try the shrimp burger (anyone try this yet??)! Also, wish they had some equivalent of like regular mustard/​mayo/​hot sauce among their toppings bar. While the sauces there were cool and different, sometimes you just want to PLAIN jane you know?

All show, no go. All hat, no cattle. All. .. well, you get the point. Burger 21’s menu promises much, but based on a single visit, I’d say it’s more frills than substance, an ersatz replica of a good burger spot as opposed to the real deal.
I stopped in here recently with family. We were enticed by Burger 21’s menu, which offers a wider range of toppings and meats (beef, turkey, chicken, veggie, tuna, shrimp) than other ‘upscale’ burger chains. Collectively, we ordered the Black & Bleu burger, the Shroom, the Skinny turkey burger, a large order of fries (half sweet potato, half regular), and a few shakes.
We were expecting the burgers to be cooked to order, as they would be at 5 Guys, Shake Shack, or any number of other places. We sat down, and were surprised when our order arrived just a few short minutes later. Surely that wasn’t long enough to cook the burgers from scratch? No, it wasn’t. The burgers were all nicely topped, and were served on good brioche rolls, but the patties themselves were only lukewarm, and weren’t that flavorful. They clearly had been pre-​made, and hadn’t been warmed back up (note: if you’re going to cut corners, at least invest in a microwave so you can fake it). Everyone at the table noticed this. Likewise the fries, which seemed to have been sitting for awhile. B21 offers lots of flavorful dipping sauces, but when the fries themselves aren’t hot and crispy, the sauces can’t make up for that. I’ve had better fries at McDonald’s & Wendy’s, and when you’re charging 3x as much as those places, that can’t happen.
The one bright spot was the shakes, which were very good. The strawberry shake in particular was thick and creamy, and clearly made from fresh, whole strawberries.
Good shakes, good toppings. .. but the core ingredients (burgers & fries) need work. Maybe we caught them on an off night, but with so many other places to choose from, I can’t see coming back here anytime soon.

Much better than last visit! The burger and fries were mouthwatering and they definitely toned down the salt this time. I love the dipping sauces for the fries. .even used some on my cheesy burger! Fast arrival of food to table as well. Burger fixing satisfied!

Any place that offers multiple meat options for your burger is a 5 in my book! This place is like Five guys, Johnny Rockets and Shake Shack all mashed into one nicely packaged burger spot in a newly minted shopping plaza.
It’s a great Sunday «burger and shake night» spot. We’ve been multiple times and each time have walked out satisfied and with 1 notch looser on our belts– but so worth it!
I had the burger of the month: the «over easy bacon cheesy» which boasted an over easy egg, avocado and Dijon mustard. I modified it due to my food preferences to exclude the bacon and had a turkey patty. Delicious! Plain and simple. We skipped the fries this time but if it’s your first time here definitely get them so you can have the full sauce bar experience: personal faves– toasted marshmallow with sweet potato fries (we had the same reaction, but it totally works), the apple cider was good and of course the staples– honey mustard and ranch.
My husband opted for the hot dog and turkey chili which he combined to make a chili dog. He loved it and said it hit the spot. We topped this all off with a (free) strawberry shake (the spoils from coming when they had recently opened). Had we paid for it I think we would’ve opted for the shake of the month: s’mores!
Bonus: 1. outdoor seating in the summer. 2. Hand washing station (Mom would approve). 3. New app– if you download it you get a free burger!

Burger21 is the latest in a growing number of burger chains in our area, each vying to be the go-​to spot. How one likes a burger is a matter of personal taste, but even considering that, I’ll have to rank Burger21 as only middle of the pack.
The room is bright and the service is good. The space is kept clean and floor staff seem to be in perpetual motion cleaning off tables and ensuring that condiment trays are properly stocked. The owners deserve some credit for this because it looks like a fairly young crew of high school and college kids, but I saw some excellent customer service. The kitchen screwed up a special order for the table next to mine and then inadvertently overcharged the customer to boot. The young manager noticed the overcharge on the bill when the food was returned and came over to personally apologize and offer a freebie. These are signs of good training.
I liked the french fries and thought there were probably the best attempt I;ve seen at recreating McDonald’s french fries. (and that’s really a complement in my book), but I thought the portion for a large fry was on the small side. I appreciated the various creative dipping sauces. The cider sauce, which plays like a cider infused honey mustard, provided a great taste contrast with the properly seasoned fries. I just wish I had more of them to dip.
Unfortunately, I thought the burger was average. The patties are a little too neatly shaped to be fresh, and while the kitchen got the medium temperature correct (I thought it was interesting that the cashier suggested that temperature without prompting when I ordered), the meat came across as bland and could have used a touch of some basic seasoning. Their creative burgers toppings are appetizing on paper, but the various add-​ons are too much and some toppings were overly salty.
I’ll be back to try some of the other menu items, but on headline item, Burger 21 is not bad, but does not stand out from the group.

I really like this place. The burgers are delicious, thick and juicy. I love that you can get burgers made with seafood, poultry and veggie, since I am staying away from red meat. You must try the Ahi tuna burger, very tasty. Also I love the bread-​less option that is offered. Upon request they can omit the bread and wrap your burger in lettuce. The fries are thin shoestring and delectable with a nice crisp to them. Burger 21 offers a sauce bar with about 10 types of sauces for your fries. Everything from regular ketchup to toasted marshmallow. Yes I said toasted marshmallow… don’t make that face… Try it! Other favorite dips of mine are apple cider, chipotle mayo, rajun cajun and Thai ketchup. I am glad we have this establishment in the Capital District.

First things first. I doubt the corner of this newly constructed building was designed specifically for a Burger 21 franchise. Even though I’ve never been to or even seen another Burger 21, it is apparent that some things about this place just don’t seem totally copacetic. The pick-​up area for orders to go is in the middle of the restaurant. The doors to one of the outdoor dining areas are blocked by a booth. But for the most part, the place is clean and the staff make every effort to keep it that way.
If you park in the parking lot behind the building, you’re not likely to make the mistake of entering through the street side doors and wonder where you go to place an order. Coming in through the parking lot door there is a sign on a stand, holding paper menus, directing you to the next available cashier, who you can’t see at this point, to place your order. It also says that you should then seat yourself and your order will be brought to your table. I imagine those people who never read the instructions before operating or assembling a newly purchased phone, TV, microwave, bicycle, or outdoor grill would not notice the sign and probably still find their way to the cashier.
The menu is quite extensive with multiple variations of burgers made from beef, seafood, veggies, chicken, and turkey. There are also various hot dogs, salads, fries, shakes, floats, sundaes, and cookies. You want beer or wine with those fries? Sure enough! Hey, whatever floats your «bloat!»
Unfortunately, I did not have the companionship of my typical dining companion on this trip so I was forced to order two different burgers in order to feel like I tasted a representative sample. For this reason, I resigned to staying with the ¹⁄₃^rd pound size and avoided the advertised «Double-​Stack» for an additional $ 2.99. I also passed up on adding a fried egg on my burger for $ 1.
The Bacon Cheesy ($ 6.99) comes with lettuce, tomato, red onion, apple wood smoked bacon, a choice of cheese, mine was cheddar, all on a toasted brioche bun. I was asked if I’d like any ketchup or mustard and I went with some ketchup. Overall, my reaction was that the onion was the strongest of all the flavors. I was surprised that the ketchup flavor came through as strong as it did, and the bacon flavor and crunch were really nice. Where’s the beef you ask? I was actually initially startled at the height of the sandwich because their ¹⁄₃ lb. patty ends up being a good 1 inch thick after being cooked, and the base of their brioche bun is another 1 inch thick. Add the toppings and the top of the bun and you’ve got a tower over 3 inches tall. But what about the beef?
I have to say that I did not get much flavor from the beef. That thick bun bottom was good for preventing the bun from becoming soggy with all the ingredients, and the overall flavors were good, but I don’t believe I can give much credit to the beef.
For comparison, I also ordered a turkey burger that they call The Skinny ($ 6.49). It came with tomato, sun-​dried tomato aioli, on a crisp «lettuce bun.» I made a mistake here, so I never got to find out what a «lettuce bun» was. I’m guessing that maybe the turkey is surrounded by lettuce instead of a brioche or whole wheat bun, but a picture on their web page still shows it within a wheat bun. The ground turkey had some herb mixed into it, but overall, I found the entire sandwich lacking in flavor and very dry. Maybe it needed more aioli.
It wouldn’t be a burger joint without trying the fries. I ordered the Regular ($ 2.59) size which was just enough, especially considering I was also consuming two burgers. They were quite good when they came out hot, but lost some of their luster when they cooled, even though the potato flavor was still there.
The piece de resistance, however, was their Signature Shake ($ 3.49/$ 3.99). I ordered a small Vanilla which I was told came with cinnamon and whipped cream unless I didn’t want either. I passed up on the whipped cream and was glad I kept the cinnamon. Next time I’m ordering the larger size, even if I don’t order anything else. But I probably am not going to be in a hurry to return unless my wife twists my arm.

Fun new place for the Capital Region. You order at the register, are given a number, pick your own table, and they bring your food out to you. The tables are cleared for you (wasn’t immediately obvious) which is nice.
As for the food, the burgers are huge and there are lots of different options. The sweet potato fries are a favorite of mine — thinly cut, crispy, and served hot. The milkshakes are super thick and very creamy. I’m not personally a fan, but my husband LOVES them. Like most burger joints, you can easily consume your daily caloric needs in one sitting, but it always seems worth it here unlike other places.
There are several different dipping sauces for the fries (such as marshmallow which is fun with the sweet potato fries), which makes it fun for foodies to test a little of everything.
Pro Tip — get lots of napkins or don’t be shy about using a knife and fork — ‘dem burgers be huge and messy!

Best burgers in the Capital District at the old Hoffman’s Playland-​Rt 9. All burgers served on a brioche bun. Try the sweet potato fries with a Crème Brûlée shake. Sleek contemporary interior. Great vegetarian, seafood burgers and hormone free turkey burger. Also five salad options.

I had a great first experience at Burger 21 today! I placed the order online and my husband picked it up. There were zero hiccups — the order was ready and prepared exactly right. I think their online ordering menu could use a little tweaking. The options that pop up with each menu item didn’t always make sense to me, but I made it through.
The burgers though! SO GOOD. I ate my cheesy burger with avocado, gouda and a bunch of sauces in about 2 minutes flat. The huge slab of gouda was about as wide as the slices of avocado, and no complaints about that here!
Unlike my other favorite online order and pick up burger joint, Five Guys, Burger 21 asks for TEMPERATURES and actually pays attention. My medium rare burger was perfectly pink.
We ordered a large fry and thoroughly enjoyed their seasoning. This is definitely just the first Burger 21 lunch out of many, many to come.

Attention Smashburger: Consider yourself smashed. With the growing market of gourmet burger chains coming to the Northeast, getting in first means a great market share but doesn’t guarantee you’re the best. For me, I liked Burger 21 better in multiple categories, including atmosphere, service, food, and price.
I see the reviews are all over the place, and I think it’s a combination of getting your act together after opening, and not necessarily being able to handle crowds. I experienced none of that, as I came in a few minutes before a lunchtime rush, and I had no problems. I also saw numerous large groups come in while I was eating. I figure if this place can’t get its act together, these large group won’t come back a second time. Time will tell.
The burger I ordered had everything I wanted (lettuce, tomato, red onion, bacon, choice of cheese) and did not include things I didn’t want (mayo, mustard, ketchup) unless I specifically requested them. There’s plenty of condiments beyond the basic 3 at the condiment station as well, though it would be nice if horseradish were an option.
Instead of regular fries, I ordered sweet potato fries. It was a decent portion of matchstick type fries. They were crisp but could have been slightly crisper, and very salty. I suppose they’re matchstick sized to cook quicker, but a couple more seconds would not have hurt.
If I order a shake at a place like this, I usually prefer one without whipped cream or other unnecessary ingredients (leave more room for actual shake). But I decided it was worth trying the Key Lime Pie shake with all the extras, including a gratuitous lime slice. I’m not sure just how much actual dairy or actual lime is in one of these (thanks again New Jersey for artificial flavors), but it was thick and delicious without being overstated in flavor.
As to that other aforementioned burger joint on Wolf Road: You won’t be hurting for business, you’ve got everyone from that area who’ll visit. But Latham has Route 9 business. And for me, if I’m in the area, I’m usually traveling through on my way north or south, so I can choose where to stop for a burger. For now, I choose here.

Since my initial review we’ve been back to Burger 21 a couple of times.
On our most recent visit, I had the chicken burger, my wife had the turkey burger and my daughter a hot dog. We all enjoyed our food very much. Everything is delicious and of high quality. My wife enjoyed her turkey burger so much she asked if we could return to try the chili and salads.
On top of that the prices are reasonable.

Definitely a new favorite burger place for me. This place reminds me of shake shack, but with more flavor and pizazz. I would have to say the Cobb turkey burger is the best turkey burger I’ve ever had. The party is flavored with seasoning and the perfect balance of meat and bread crumbs. It was served hot as a beautiful masterpiece. My husband got the Tex Mex burger that was amazing!
Highlights: great menu, not too big or small, just right. The burgers are delicious. They have skinny fries for those of you that prefer this type. The sweet potato fries were light, flavorful, and did not feel greasy. I love the vibe and ambience of this place. They offer plenty of seating including outdoor and bar seating. Kind of reminds me of an old school burger and soda fountain that you’d hang out at after school.
Lowlights: took a little longer than most burger places. Granted it was their first week but it took 15 – 20 min. To their credit they did warn us it would. Soda options did not include one of those high tech coke machines with a millions flavor combinations.
Tips: they have a gluten menu for those who are allergic. They also have a whole array of dipping sauces adding to the experience. Definitely try one of their shakes, it will rock your world.