Barclay Prime is no stranger to decadent sandwiches, with its $100 cheesesteak and buttery kobe sliders, but the new pub menu’s dry aged burger may very well surpass them all.

Served as a couplet of square mini burgers, slightly larger than the sliders, the burger patties consist of ground NY strip, kobe strip, ribeye and kobe filet.  The result is by far, the most flavorful burger we’ve ever tasted. And though we are loath to part with $19 plus whatever else from the overpriced beer list, we would, in fact, go back for the deeply satisfying, explosive flavor.

The firm but soft twin burgers are plated on homemade bread with translucent onions sauteed with mustard and just a bit of aged cheddar that did not overpower the meat.  A light smear of Russian dressing on the bottom bread offers a hint of creamy sweetness that balances the rich and juicy medium-rare burger.

Rather than fries, the pub burger is served with a dish of homemade mini tater tots that were as fun to eat as they were delicious.  Also on the plate were sliced pickles, tomatoes and iceberg lettuce, which we believe was a statement of humor and irony as opposed to a genuine culinary pairing.

Aside from lightening the wallet a bit more than we’d like, our only complaint was that the burger came presented wrapped in paper, perhaps a tongue-in-cheek reference to the White Castle sliders it somewhat resembles.  It was more of a detractor and an annoyance than an enhancer, a speed bump on the road to an otherwise brilliant burger.

Barclay Prime
237 S 18th St Philadelphia, PA 19103 (Google Map)