Having eaten my way through too many sliders, I've come to a new respect for the original White Castle model. I've also arrived at the conclusion that fancier and costlier -- i.e., American Kobe beef on a toasted brioche -- isn't always better. A slider, after all, does have to slide down easily. Here are some I've sampled recently.
NASSAU COUNTY
Cheesecake Factory, 1504 Old Country Rd., Mall at the Source, Westbury, 516-222-5500. Served four to an order, these pleasing little beef patties have just the right meat-to-bun ratio. They come with very good pickle chips, too. $6.95
Champions Sports Bar Restaurant, Long Island Marriott, 101 James Doolittle Blvd., Uniondale, 516-794-3800. This sporty spot serves four mini-cheeseburgers (topped with mustard, mayo and grilled onions) on wooden skewers, two apiece. The burgers go down easy, accompanied by fine fried onion rings. $7.95
George Martin's Grillfire, 13 N. Park Ave., Rockville Centre, 516-678-1290. The three straightforward beef mini-burgers served here are, in my view, lots better than their upscale Kobe counterparts. I found them smoky, juicy -- sliders in the true sense. $8
Sagamore Steakhouse, 650 Jericho Tpke., Syosset, 516-496-8000. It took two attempts to get this "flight" of three mini-Kobe-beef burgers cooked with even the slightest bit of pink in them. They're plump but a bit dry, despite their fancy toppings (pickled ginger, bacon and asiago, and mushroom demi-glace). $14
TGI Friday's, 829 Merrick Ave., Westbury, 516-832-8320 and other locations. Friday's cheeseburger sliders, three to an order, are topped with sauteed onions, which add that White Castle touch. They also have a nice char-grilled flavor. $7.29
Toku, 2014C Northern Blvd., Manhasset, 516-627-8658. At this new and chic Modern Asian restaurant, three 2-ounce Kobe beef teriyaki-marinated sliders compose an order. Plump and juicy, they're served on toasted (but not dry) mini brioche buns topped with pickled cucumbers and accompanied by wasabi mayonnaise. Quite good, as this kind of slider goes. $15
SUFFOLK
Argyle Grill, 90 Deer Park Ave., Babylon, 631-321-4900. Though the three little Kobe beef burgers are fine, their thick toasted brioche buns overwhelm them (I had to pull out the insides). Sliders in the true sense these are not. $14.95
Ay Caramba!, 441 E. Main St., Centerport, 631-261-2828. I was impressed with this "eclec-Mex" restaurant's flavorful juicy Kobe beef burgers served, two to an order, on soft Martin's potato rolls. Sharing the plate are cole slaw, guacamole and corn relish, at $12. The restaurant also features pulled-pork sliders topped with cole slaw at $7.
Jackson's, 6005 Jericho Tpke., Commack, 631-462-0822. I'm partial to the pulled-pork sliders here, two to an order, which are topped with sauteed onion and cole slaw, a steal at $6.50. You can also get simple burger sliders for the same price and, at $6.75, indulgent Philly cheese-steak sliders.
Perabell Food Bar, 114 W. Main St., Patchogue, 631-447-7766. At this casual-chic spot, the sliders are dubbed "pop" miniburgers and are served as two 3-ounce burgers to an order, along with French fries. The bun is soft and in proper proportion to the nicely grilled burger, topped with tomatoes, cucumbers, scallions and ketchup. $7
White Castle, 540 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station, and all branches. No pretense here -- just a small perforated square of meat fried up with chopped onion and served on a soft bun with lots of ketchup and pickle, with or without cheese. True to its reputation, it slides right down. Not bad, especially at 53 cents apiece. Also available as a "double" (two patties). For other locations, visit
whitecastle.com
OTHER SLIDER SOURCES
Elaine's Asian Bistro & Grill, 8 Bond St., Great Neck, 516-829-8883. An appetizer plate comprising three sliders: a minibeef burger, a fried crab sandwich and a grilled chicken sandwich. $10
Prime View, 37 Shore Rd., Port Washington, 516-767-0022. Meatball sliders on Gorgonzola puffs; three to an order at $9.
Chi Dining Lounge, 103 Post Ave., Westbury, 516-385-3795. Three Kobe beef sliders topped with Japanese pickled cucumber relish and a trio of sauces, $18.
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar, 360 Walt Whitman Rd., Huntington Station, 631-427-3504, and various locations. Four mini bacon cheeseburgers to an order, $8.99.
Off the Wall, 65 Wall St., Huntington, 631-385-9255. Chef Steven Del Lima vows sliders will remain on the menu when he completes his plan to transform this restaurant into a seafood and chop house this January. Three silver-dollar-size Kobe beef burgers are quite good, served with fries and a salad -- a mini burger plate. $15
Tellers Chophouse, 605 Main St., Islip, 631-277-7070. Three Kobe beef burgers served at the bar only, on mini brioche rolls, $12.
North Shore
