New Restaurants: The Vanderbilt, Bill's Burger, Corsino, Giano

We called it: New York is heralding the return of the basic burger. And though we're sad to see the Hog Pit go, Bill's Bar and Burger seems like a fitting replacement. Darkly adorned with pressed tin and exposed brick, Bill's is not trying to reinvent the burger experience, they're just trying to make it as good as possible. The menu is filled with good, basic burgers, such as the "Fat Cat," a beef burger with caramelized onions on an english muffin, or the "Bobcat," topped with green chiles and jack cheese.

We decided to go with the Bill's classic cheeseburger. The patty was flavorful, with a perfect outer crust that only comes from a grill covered with delicious fat. It didn't need ketchup, but the lettuce and tomato were fresh and added some nice crunch. The fries were hand-cut with the skin on and had the right amount of crisp, but lost most of their flavor as soon as they began to cool. Bill's Chili Cheese Dog lacked flavor as well, mostly because it wasn't topped with chili so much as pulled beef in BBQ sauce, but the dog itself was good (reminiscent of Nathan's or Gray's,) and the Texas toast it was served on was nice and fluffy.

The shakes are the other main draw, and do not disappoint. Though they were out of the Vermont shake (vanilla with blueberries and maple syrup), the classic Vanilla shake is light but powerful. It's not so thick that it gets stuck in the straw on the way up, but fresh vanilla and homemade whipped cream give it substance. The "Peanut Butter Banana Fluff" shake also incorporates real chunks of peanut butter and bananas, but never sticks to the roof of your mouth. Getting that shake with a shot of bourbon in it is a popular serving suggestion. The beer is plentiful, the setting is warm, and sticking to the burgers and shakes will leave you nice and full. However, if you're still hungry you can always head to 675 Bar next door for some chocolate covered bacon. Yes, we're serious.—Jaya Saxena

22 9th Avenue, 212-414-3003