Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer
The Truffle Burger – Wagyu Beef Burger, Smoked Gouda, Baby Arugula, Truffle-Yuzu Vinaigrette, Black Truffle Mayo with French Fries
Chili Cheese Burger – Prime Beef Burger, House Chili, American Cheese, Zesty Cheese Sauce, Frizzled Onions with Onion Rings
The Pizza Burger – Prime Beef Burger, Zesty Tomato Sauce, Fried Mozzarella, Shaved Parmesan with Sweet Potato Fries
Cotton Candy Strawberry Shake – Vanilla Frosting, Chocolates, Lollipop, Rock Candy, Whipped Cream, Cotton Candy
Brooklyn Blackout Chocolate Shake – Chocolate Frosting, Chocolate Chips, Chocolate Brownies, Whipped Cream, Chocolate Drizzle
Churro Choco Taco Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake – Vanilla Frosting, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, Choco Taco, Churros, Whipped Cream, Dulce de Leche Drizzle
Previously visited four months prior, an impromptu dinner during Las Vegas’ snowfall discovering The Venetian’s replacement for B&B Burgers & Beer to be a more fully-envisioned concept built around the same kind of Food, it was on Saturday evening that Black Tap Craft Burgers & Beer was again found jumping, a brief wait in the queue outside soon seating three guests in a comfortable booth.
Still popular nearly 18-months after opening, fair prices and Social Media savvy combined with excellent service undoubtedly part of Black Tap’s appeal, it was learning from previous mistakes of ordering everything at once that three Sandwiches were requested first, the high volume of patrons creating nearly thirty minutes delay during which wait-staff repeatedly stopped by with updates as The Notorious B.I.G. rapped overhead.
Louder than remembered, both the music and several tables of teenagers on summer break contributing, it was in the middle of a conversation about the rise of “upscale” Burgers that three arrived simultaneously, Chef Isidori’s signature Truffle Burger featuring ground Wagyu, smoked Gouda and two truffled toppings immediately setting a high bar while Fries were crisp, hot and appropriately salted.
Continuing with two SoHo staples built on Prime Beef from Pat LaFrieda, the iconic butcher’s Patty unfortunately a bit overcooked in the case of Black Tap’s Pizza Burger crowned by fried Mozzarella, it was instead the Chili Cheese Burger that impressed by way of both its medium center and Brioche Bun that stands up surprisingly well to meaty Chili and thick Cheese Sauce.
Underwhelmed by Onion Rings and their non-adherent coating, but happy with Sweet Potato Fries in a reversal from last visit, it was after watching staff build CrazyShakes for over an hour that three were finally ordered, the fact that all threaten to topple over a given but the bases all rich and creamy with the recently-debuted Churro Choco Taco Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake particularly memorable as it tasted like Cereal Milk beneath a frozen treat that hadn’t been tasted in over a decade.
FOUR STARS: Although many will argue that there is nothing quite like a classic Burger it would be hard to claim Black Tap is not dedicated to their craft, a Patty of Prime Beef from Pat LaFrieda the base to several fun concoctions supported by a good Bun while the eye-candy Shakes are silly but delicious, and backed by great service.
RECOMMENDED: The Truffle Burger, Chili Cheese Burger, French Fries, Churro Choco Taco Cinnamon Toast Crunch Shake.
AVOID: The Pizza Burger was overcooked but otherwise enjoyable, Onion Rings a mess and Chocolate Brownies on top of The Brooklyn Blackout dry.
TIP: Open 11am until midnight Sunday through Thursday, and until 2am on Friday as well as Saturday.
WHAT THE STARS MEAN: 5 World Class, 4 Excellent, 3 Good, 2 Fair, 1 Poor.
www.venetian.com/restaurants/black-tap.html
