Our side-by-side comparisons of the Boston and New York food scenes continue now with a look at burgers, soup, and cookies. Currently, New York is in the lead with wins in pizza, barbecue, and hot dogs. Boston has won the all-important categories of sandwiches and ice cream. Bread was a tie. Let’s see how things shake out with these new categories, shall we?
BURGERS
Boston: There are plenty of Hub restaurants that just so happen to serve out-of-this-world burgers (think R.F. O’Sullivan or The Cantab Lounge), but we’d argue that the shining jewel in our city’s glistening burger crown is Bartley’s Burger Cottage, a veritable temple to the humble hamburger.
New York: New York sure does have some great burgers. We’re partial to the brilliant specimen served up at the Shake Shack, as well as the super-flavorful options from brgr. While New York also has a few solid burger chains (Five Guys and New York Burger Co. come to mind) that top what the Hub has to offer, we must deduct points for the lack of any iconic Bartley’s equivalent.
Advantage: Tie
SOUP
Boston: We have five words for you: lobster bisque and clam chowder. We could rest our case there, but we’ll add that we also have excellent matzo ball soup, great pho, and some killer ramen.
New York: While New York has great Asian soups (many, many points are given for the presence of Momofuku Noodle Bar) and, of course, great matzo ball soup, so-called “Manhattan clam chowder” is an abomination onto the world.
Advantage: Boston
COOKIES
Boston: The chocolate chip cookie was invented in Whitman, Massachusetts, a mere 24 miles south of Boston. The chocolate chip cookie is the world’s greatest cookie. That’s just a fact.
New York: Though there are some fine cookies in New York (the TKO at Bouchon Bakery comes to mind), New York did not invent the chocolate chip cookie.
Advantage: Boston
Boston and New York are tied, three for three. Tune in on Monday for the tiebreakers: burritos, street food, and seafood.
