By Nathan Duke
5 Napkin Burger, one of Manhattan’s most popular burger joints, has made its way into Queens after opening its first chain restaurant in the borough last week near Astoria’s Museum of the Moving Image.
The chain introduced its Astoria site, at 35-01 36th Ave., June 16 after its owners, Robert Guarino, Simon Oren and chef Andy D’Amico, decided to branch out of Manhattan. 5 Napkin Burger, founded two years ago, also has sites in Hell’s Kitchen and on the Upper East Side.
“We fell in love with Astoria because we felt it was the type of place where we’d have success,” Guarino said. “Hell’s Kitchen is like Astoria — it’s an influential area with a great food culture.”
The eatery has 140 seats and 20 bar stools inside the building and it will add 70 seats outside the building once its permits are approved.
5 Napkin Burger is known for its juicy namesake and features a variety of burgers, including non-beef varieties like turkey, veggie and lamb. But the restaurant also has a full menu that includes fish and chips, entree salads, steak frites and sushi.
“Our burger section is the main draw,” Guarino said. “But we see it as a great neighborhood restaurant at its core. Everyone has a 5 Napkin Burger on their first visit, but then they will see the other items on the menu and want to come back.”
It also offers a full list of desserts, such as American cheesecake, apple pie, espresso brownie sundae and thin layer chocolate cake.
The eatery will be open from 11:30 a.m. to midnight and will include free valet parking after 6 p.m.
5 Napkin has a full bar that features 80 types of beers, both foreign and domestic, as well as mixed drinks, 35 bourbon selections and cocktails.
“We have five drafts and 80 selections by bottle and a full liquor license,” Guarino said. “But we’re not a bar, we’re a restaurant. We’re first and foremost about food.”
The restaurant is close to the Museum of the Moving Image, Kaufman Astoria Studios and the United Artists Kaufman Astoria 14 movie theater.
Guarino said he expects the eatery’s clientele to be a mixture of families, young professionals in the neighborhood and tourists.
The restaurant’s full menu can be viewed at www.5napkinburger.com, but prices at its Astoria site could be slightly different than at its Manhattan locales.
Reach reporter Nathan Duke by e-mail at nduke@cnglocal.com or by phone at 718-260-4566.
