Juicy burgers and fried pickles

By Angelina Ochoa

After a long day of exploring the streets of Manhattan, my mom and I were starving. We drove through the the Lincoln Tunnel and were now in New Jersey. I Googled into my phone “Best Burger Near Me’ and the top suggestion was White Star Bar, located at 230 Brunswick Street in Jersey City.

With an impressive 4.5-star rating, we were eager to revisit this favorite. I can definitely say that White Star Bar lives up to its pride by serving Jersey City’s best burger.

White Star Bar is located on the corner of Brunswick Street, nestled between residential townhouses and apartments in a quiet area of Jersey City. Tables are available outdoors and indoors.

There are plenty of seats and the wait time is not long. Televisions placed around the restaurant make it a prime destination for sports events. The dim lighting from antique-style lamps and fake candles on each table provide a sense of relaxing ambiance throughout the establishment.

Cards on the tables with a QR code let customers scan the menu on their phones. As an appetizer, the fried pickles are served with a side of chipotle ranch. These beer-battered fried pickles are perfect for sharing. They are super crispy, and the chipotle ranch offers a spicy kick. Another staple appetizer is the Mexican street corn, topped with chipotle mayo, cotija cheese, cilantro and lime. With three medium-sized pieces of corn being served, this appetizer is large enough to share and can definitely be filling. The corn is fresh and sweet, and all of the toppings come together to form a delicious appetizer.

Now comes the best part of the experience — the burgers. The Paulus Hook Burger is an eight-ounce Pat La Freida patty with portobello mushrooms, caramelized onions, Swiss cheese and truffle mayo. All burgers are served with fries.

When I order this burger, I ask for no mushrooms due to my personal preference. I am a huge fan of anything cooked with truffle and enjoy the umami flavor it gives off. Combined with smooth Swiss cheese and savory caramelized onions, this burger is nothing short of incredible.

The Buratta Burger stands out among the rest of the burgers for a very delicious reason: a creamy burrata ball is placed on top of a Pat La Freida Patty, roasted red peppers, arugula and garlic herb mayo. The combination of the smooth cheese with the garlic mayo is savory and delicious. With the side of fries, the burgers are very filling and guaranteed to satisfy your taste buds.

Seating is prompt and the wait time is short. I celebrated my 17th birthday at this restaurant with my friends, and the three of us definitely had a meal we would never forget. I recommend this restaurant to anyone looking to enjoy quality food and a rustic ambiance.

The total bill was $55, a reasonable price for the experience. I give White Star Bar a 5/5 rating.