Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Elevation Burger Will Open in New York
By
Hugh Merwin
Published May 15, 2009
Modified May 16, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Hugh Merwin
Published May 15, 2009
Modified May 16, 2009
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
While the West Coast based In-N-Out Burger isn’t likely to be coming to the city anytime soon, another out of state burger chain has set its sights on Manhattan. The 4-year-old, Northern Virginia-based Elevation Burger has signed a “multi-unit franchising deal” with local business partners Fabian Rosario and John Harris. The franchise is frequently compared to Five Guys, so it might be speculated that the business will grow just as fast here: two years ago—almost to the day—there was only one Five Guys in New York; there are currently eight in the five boroughs and about a gazillion more scattered in the suburbs like chargrilled fallout.
Burgers at Elevation are made from free-range and grass-fed beef. Additionally, fries are cooked in olive oil, which is unusual in any restaurant kitchen. Elevation Burger also serve two different veggie burgers (one is grilled, one is vegan) and even serves a two-patty punch consisting of ½ beef and ½ vegetable, seemingly designed for Christian Slater's My Own Worst Enemy character(s) or those who just cannot make up their mind. The chain’s “Elevation Sauce” might be secret sauce by any other name, and grilled cheese sandwiches are on the menu. That’s what we know so far.
Locations of the burger chain aim for LEED certification and are outfitted with energy saving equipment; dining rooms have compressed sorghum tabletops and bamboo flooring. Used olive oil drained from the fryers is carted away and converted into biodiesel. The first shop is projected to open this year. Elevation Burger’s New York partners are experienced restaurateurs: Rosario is the co-owner of the pancakes-spring-eternal Downtown Brooklyn IHOP and Harris owns The Spot in Prospect Heights, a bistro that currently has a bunch of mediocre reviews racked up on Yelp. [Photo: WallyG]
Tagged
cheeseburgers
Elevation Burger
Fabian Rosario
hamburgers
ihop
in-n-out
John Harris
Hugh Merwin
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
The global dish is shapeshifting and ubiquitous.
By
Robert Sietsema
Published Sep 12, 2026
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
Food
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
Is it worth the high price and ridiculous wait? Gothamist needed to find out.
By
Sonia Rao
5 NYC banana puddings as good as Magnolia's
By
Hannah Frishberg
Where to eat in Greenpoint, Brooklyn right now, from Polish to Sichuan to Iberian
By
Robert Sietsema
Can a congressional candidate's dumpling diplomacy win over Queens’ immigrant communities?
By
Caroline Shin
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .