Photo: QueensPost
July 7, 2013 By Bill Parry
A promising new burger joint has opened in an unlikely location.
The restaurant, called Williamsburger, opened three weeks ago at 36-17 Greenpoint Ave. (near 50th Avenue) serving gourmet burgers, hot dogs and milkshakes in a laid back and comfortable atmosphere.
The restaurant is not located in an area known for dining and entertainment. Instead, it is surrounded by a number of small factories and houses–in the vicinity of St. Raphaels Church.
“Queens Blvd. wasn’t right for me,” said owner Cory McPherson adding, “I didn’t want to get lost in the shuffle. My own oasis works best for me.”
This is the second restaurant for Woodside resident McPherson, who opened the original in Williamsburg, Brooklyn five years ago. However, he is growing tired of that location. His rent is soon to go up and he is fed up with workers and customers who have bad attitudes.
McPherson is more optimistic about the new branch in his own borough.
The owner is very pleased with the staff he has put together in this neighborhood—most of whom were born and raised in the area.
“People have been nothing but genuine and welcoming and glad that I came here, and that’s so different from the reception I got in Brooklyn five years ago.”
McPherson gets his freshly ground black Angus beef daily from Master Purveyors in the Bronx, the same company that supplies the meat to the famed Peter Lugar’s.
“All you need is some kosher salt and some black pepper and you’re good to go,” said McPherson. He cooks the burgers at 550 degrees on a flat top grill and serves them on Martin’s potato rolls.
The burgers start at $9 for a basic cheeseburger and go up to $15 for a sesame crusted yellow fin tuna burger.
“People don’t have Williamsburg money over here, so I think about the prices a lot,” said McPherson.
To address the challenge posed by a lack of parking in the area, McPherson opened a drive up window along the side of the resident that allows customers to wait for their food in their car. People can also walk up to the window, making it a popular attraction for nighttime dog walkers.
Delivery service is also available. McPherson’s 80 year old father, Ron, lends a hand with this. “He helped me build both restaurants and he does deliveries, too!” said McPherson.
