In an age of tightening budgets, there is undoubtedly still a very strong need for Manhattan to have top-notch, impressive options for business lunches, client dinners, special events and milestone celebrations. Mocha Burger Lux + Steakhouse, which opened last month at 4 East 46th Street, near Fifth Avenue, is a perfect place for major moments, with a very of-the-moment feel. Whether it’s taking out a new associate for a meal or celebrating a promotion or an engagement, this is the kind of memorable place where the drinks and the fare will create buzz and add to the experience. Mocha Burger Lux is the fourth restaurant in Naftali Abenaim’s Mocha “restaurantverse,” which now includes Mocha Bleu in Teaneck, Mocha Burger in Soho and Mocha Red in midtown, this time along with his partner Ofer Biton.
While the restaurant is in midtown, the vibe of Mocha Burger Lux, at least in the evening, is definitely downtown. With a selfie wall at the front and a long bar filled with many choices of mixology-friendly beverages, this OU-certified restaurant has a young, hip feel. The louder music in the evening and the “Birthday Song” that plays when someone celebrates a birthday—only complete with a pitch black, lights-off moment when firework sparklers become the only illumination in the restaurant—adds to that sense that this is a celebratory place for millennials on the go, and of course the young at heart. The restaurant also offers more budget-friendly lunch specials (with burgers and steaks between $25 and $35) from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and a happy hour with specials from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Whatever time you go, however, the food is designed to be central and impressive. As appetizers, the salmon skewers and Buffalo lollies with Thai chili sauce were each magnificent. The salmon was extremely fresh and crisp, and probably one of the best fish dishes I’ve had in the States since my last visit to the famed Fish Grill in Los Angeles. The salmon paired very well with a Goose Bay Sauvignon Blanc, which is my go-to kosher New Zealand wine that is always a great choice to accompany fish. I also tried the tacos with pulled beef and found them piquant and crunchy. The dish was served with a salsa verde which was flavorful without being spicy, but the pico de gallo did have a bit of heat. Both the Buffalo lollies and the tacos were paired with a Barkan Reserve Merlot, which was an inspired pairing as it stood up to the spice without being overpowering or adding heat, as a more dry or viscous wine would.
While there are multiple burger options at the restaurant and all burgers are made from grass-fed, hormone-free and antibiotic-free beef, my table enjoyed the “S’mocha MBurger With Smoke Show,” a 12-ounce smoked short rib burger that basically included every topping the restaurant serves. It was close to a foot high and included barbecued pastrami, lamb bacon, pulled beef, fried onions, cole slaw and vegan cheddar. It’s kind of the burger to end all burgers. It must be eaten with a knife and fork; there’s no picking up this guy. This particular dish is brought to the table in a heavy glass smoke-filled dome, which seeks to infuse a little extra smoke into the authentically smoked burger. It’s a crowd-pleasing moment and it’s hard not to applaud when the dome is removed as the smoke clears and you finally get a good look at this culinary anomaly.
We also greatly enjoyed the “Truffle Cowboy Burger,” which is a 16-ounce hamburger infused with truffle oil and truffle spread, served with truffle fries. For someone like me who generally manages about half a teaspoon of truffle oil a year since I find it has such a strong flavor that takes over everything else being served, I really liked this burger. The sense of truffle sort of takes over your life and you have to just accept it and appreciate it. The burger itself was tender and the truffle flavor added to the general sense of buttery, garlicky goodness. If you love truffles, this one’s for you.
I also sampled the pepper-crusted Delmonico steak, as well as the steak filet. Both were perfectly prepared and the filet was served with a next-level chimichurri sauce. Both were textbook medium rare, showing that the kitchen staff knows what it’s doing, and each bite was a nice moment. The steaks are truly done well here.
Our burgers and steaks were paired with a Psagot M-Series Cabernet Sauvignon, which was an excellent choice and a great accompaniment to all these dishes. The Psagot is a big, fruit-forward “fruit bomb-style” Israeli red, and it was the right call to serve this rather than a drier French wine, which wouldn’t have been as complementary to the many flavors being presented in the burgers, such as truffle.
Finally, I was lucky to try a variety of desserts in addition to an amaretto digestivo and an espresso martini. For people who might not be aware that espresso martinis are having a moment, please note that Mocha Burger Lux is a great place to try out this trend (and wonder why the trend ever left back in the early 2000s). The martini is made with Grey Goose Vodka, agave syrup, espresso and espresso liquor. It basically tasted like the best iced coffee you’ve ever had, very refreshing, smooth and pleasant after a heavy meal. We particularly enjoyed the apple crumble (which tasted homemade), the seven-layer chocolate cake (a huge slice), churros with chocolate sauce and vegan cheesecake.
If you are looking for an upscale foodie adventure that is sure to delight even the most picky palate, be sure to visit Mocha Burger Lux + Steakhouse.
Mocha Burger Lux +
Steakhouse
4 E 46th St, New York, NY 10017
(212) 517-6353
Mon. 11 a.m.-midnight
Tues. 11 a.m.-midnight
Wed. 11 a.m.-midnight
Thurs. 11 a.m.-2 a.m.
Fri. 11 a.m.-4.p.m.
Sat. 9 p.m.-2.a.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-midnight
