How do you build business in a down economy? Take a tip from Madeline Poley and Spiros Zisimatos, who are making Valentine’s Day a burger holiday.
Their two New York Burger Co. restaurants in Manhattan offer the Valentine’s Day Burger Bouquet, which the restaurants promote, quite rightly, as “The fastest way to a man’s heart.” The $25 “bouquet” includes a sampler of three of its signature mini burgers: the Chicago burger (with cherrywood-smoked bacon, Cheddar and Thousand Island dressing), Dallas burger (Monterey Jack cheese, grilled onions and barbecue sauce) and Seattle burger (portobello mushrooms, grilled onions and house steak sauce).
I’d pay $25 for that, but, wait, there’s more. There’s three house-specialty dipping sauces, housemade potato chips and a brownie. And delivery is free. Not bad for a town where a coffee-and-croissant breakfast in a mid-scale hotel costs more than $25, and it sure beats buying dye-dipped flowers from a Mickey Rourke clone at an intersection.
In sum, it’s a clever, inventive way to boost business.
New York Burger Co. has two locations in Manhattan. Its menu goes beyond burgers to include chicken, salads, smoothies and more. Have a look.
Can't keep track of all the new menu additions? Check the 
The May Burger of the Month at R.J. Grunts in Chicago is the Chihuahua Burger. That's a ground chuck and sirloin patty topped with Chihuahua cheese, jalapeño cabbage slaw, pickled red onion, cilantro, and Cholula garlic aïoli. To see the full list of May's best Burgers of the Month around the country, click
Points to NY Burger Co. But let’s think this all the way through… a wise man would send this to his wife or significant other to prove he doesn’t think she’s fat or, better yet, that perhaps she needs to put on a few pounds. That says Happy Valentine’s Day.