Here’s the UWS Dish: Westville’s Hamburger

By Abigael T. Sidi

The city-based Westville franchise is a solid and reliable choice for healthy, customizable eats, with a focus on generous salads and a wide range of veggie dishes. The first time I visited their Upper West Side location (on Broadway between West 82nd and 83rd streets), I went for their famed Market Plate, which consists of three to four market veggies (chosen from 19 offerings) cooked in various ways.

However, on that same day, I was shocked to see my dad, an irrecuperable carnivore, declare with utter stupefaction that Westville’s burger was one of the best he’d had in a “long, long time.” Intrigued, I gave it a bite. From that point on, the nutrition-focused Westville paradoxically became my go-to destination whenever I crave a juicy, greasy, gluttonous burger.

Westville’s hamburger stands out because of its thick, eight-ounce beef patty, a monster compared to the four-to-six-ounces that seem to be standard at many city restaurants — let alone the quasi-flat “smashburgers” currently in vogue. Westville’s eight-ouncer is by default cooked medium rare but does come out more on the rare side. So, it’s not for everyone, though I’m assuming asking for medium should do the trick. However, the char-grilled Angus is sooo fresh, tasty, and juicy that I’m happy with the slight undercooking (the French would refer to it as a perfectly acceptable saignant, i.e. bleeding).

The burger comes with lettuce, a thick slice of red onion, pickles, and tomato, and is served on a Portuguese muffin, whose sturdiness accommodates the oversized patty and excess dripping juices (on a regular bun, the whole thing would probably fall apart). While it is offered with a side of fries or salad, I recommend the salad. First, it eases your conscience – most everyone else at Westville is eating veggies, so you can at least claim you’re somewhat in the same boat (while hiding the burger behind the salad and using discretion with every bite).

Second, the arugula is fresh, crunchy, and delicious, seasoned with lemon and olive oil that lets the pungent leaves shine.

Third, the salad is topped with marinated red onions (not too sweet, not too tangy, just barely pickled), which can be added as a tasty topping for the burger in case the thick slab of raw red onion is “too much.”  I also recommend going with a drizzle of their top-notch brown mustard.  

At $15 a pop for weekday lunches ($17 at dinner or weekend brunch), Westville’s hamburger with salad is one of the best deals in town. Note that the cheese is $2 extra. Veggie and vegan variations are also available.

Westville is open every weekday from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. and on weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. (brunch), and 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. (dinner). Takeout and delivery are available. The UWS location is open, bright, and cozy, but expect many families with young children on weekends.  

The Dish: The hamburger ($15/$17) with cheese supplement ($2)
The Restaurant: Westville, 2290 Broadway (between West 82nd and 83rd streets)

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