Once the clocks “fall back” during the first weekend in November, there are very few things that can get me out of the house at night. Darkness descends at 4 p.m., and a dreary, frigid air engulfs Medford, greatly diminishing my aptitude for external munching.
However, in the midst of an interminable Instagram doomscrolling session, something caught my eye. Something so enticing that it caused me to break with my self-imposed hibernation and resume my culinary crusades: $3 smash burgers, from 10 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., at Boston Burger Company.
I’ve reviewed Boston Burger Company’s Davis Square location for this column before, and really enjoyed their Hot Mess Burger. This Smashburger deal, though, is only available at their Boston and Cambridge locations. While I don’t enjoy repeat reviews, this deal seemed too good to pass up.
So, at 9:30 p.m., hours after my standard dinner timeframe, I found myself trading my down comforter and pajamas for a seat on the Red Line in pursuit of burger bliss. While not quite Paul Revere’s midnight ride, my pent-up hunger in the late-night hours made it clear: “The munchers are coming!”
Disembarking at Harvard Square, my two friends and I trudged through the rain and wind until we reached Boston Burger Company. We left at 9:30 p.m. to try and get a seat as soon as the late-night deal kicked off. Though we arrived minutes after 10 p.m., there was already a line out the door.
Hearing our stomachs grumble, though, we knew there was no turning back. So, for 45 minutes, we toughed out the conditions and, sandwiched between Harvard football players and rowdy townies, eagerly awaited our chance to enter. When a table for three opened up, we felt as if we had struck gold.
Before I touch on the burgers, a few notes. First, purchasing a beverage is required to participate in the $3 burger extravaganza. This stipulation is probably in place to simultaneously promote Boston Burger’s $2 Pabst Blue Ribbons, which is also a great deal. However, purchasing a non-alcoholic beverage also triggers the burger frenzy.
Another disclaimer: Beware that the rest of the late-night menu is not $3. Those of us who did not read the fine print on the menu shown in the restaurant’s Instagram Reels were mistaken in assuming that the other items offered after 10 p.m., such as chicken sandwiches, fries and tenders, were also served at reduced prices, but, alas, they were normally priced. Now, back to our regularly scheduled programming.
After we settled at our table, I ordered four burgers. Some people, like my younger brother, may be underwhelmed with that output, while others may think that I’m a crazy person. In any case, the wait for our smashburgers was longer than we expected, due to the immense crowd.
The burgers, it turns out, were worth the wait. After having my Harold and Kumar finally getting their White Castle moment, I tucked into the mounds of beef and buns stacked in front of me. Despite their abundance, the burgers were appropriately sized and were by no means sliders. The patty was juicy and tender, not having entered into the overcooked trap that many smashburgers fall into. The pickles and the grilled onions were fresh, savory and plentiful. And the tangy smash sauce tied everything together. A well-rounded, easy-to-eat smashburger that checked all the boxes.
As always, my gut reaction:
$3 smash burger: Yes, there’s a wait, but it’s a fun experience. The burgers are pretty good, too.
So, while I “settled” for only four burgers, I hope you don’t minimize your munching this Thanksgiving. In the words of Jack Buck, “Go crazy, folks, go crazy!” with your holiday plates. After all, you’ve worked hard this semester. You deserve a Jumbo jamboree.
