Three years after being labeled as “The Worst Restaurant In NYC Right Now,” Salt Bae’s burger establishment in Manhattan has shut down.
Salt has become famous among customers with different tastes, as Gökçe Nusret, a renowned butcher and chef, is known for his skill in sprinkling edible flakes of salt and has gained popularity on social media as the “Salt Bae” in New York City.
Salt Bae Burger opened its outlet on Park Avenue, in a city that was obsessed with finding the best burger. The outlet had faced a bumpy ride, undergoing various challenges, but it managed to open its doors in late February 2020, just before the city went into Covid-19 lockdowns. Accusations of sexism arose because the restaurant offered a free veggie appetizer-sized “ladies burger” with pink buns, exclusively for women.
Al Avci, the general manager of Told Eater, expressed to the ladies, “We intended to praise you,” as they clarified that the performance was well-received in Dubai. “Our intention was not to come across as sexist.”
The gold-coated burger and gold-flecked milkshake, priced at $100 and $99 respectively, as well as the charm of an airplane hangar, drew disapproval at Burger Bae Salt’s home. In terms of ambience, “it had all the charm of an airplane hangar,” wrote Eater critic Robert Sietsema, which caused consternation.
Salt Bae, unfortunately, had a few weeks ago the opportunity to eat several sad servings of food at the hospital. “I had everything and worse,” said Scott Lynch, a reviewer for Gothamist. He wrote that the menu, framed in metal, was like a tombstone, apparently marking the death of pleasurable eating.
Lynch deemed Salt Bae Burger as the most abysmal eatery in the city. He further commented that the affordable Wet Burger was “essentially a modest patty nestled in a damp, unappetizingly sugary bun. Moreover, it’s minuscule, although consuming more than a solitary mouthful is infeasible.”
The Turkish restaurant impresario, Gökçe, who became famous in earlier years through his technique of bouncing crystals of salt off his bent arm in a swan-like formation, earned more than 52 million followers on Instagram through his chain of Nusr-Et steakhouses located in over 20 worldwide locations. He was often seen wearing tight white T-shirts and aviator sunglasses while cooking.
When Gökçe wondered if some health codes could be violated, he donned gloves to perform the salting technique, which also attracted unwanted attention.
Leonardo DiCaprio, who is known for his critically acclaimed film roles as well as his dating life, raised eyebrows after boasting about feeding the conservative US leader Donald Trump and the Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro. The company behind Nusr-Et restaurants, also known as Burger Bae Salt, faced legal claims ranging from wage theft to sexual harassment.
And the feedback was not excellent, either.
The salad, priced at $25, consisted of wilted iceberg lettuce and unknown leafy greens paired with bland goat cheese and a handful of walnuts, raisins, and pomegranate seeds. The unsatisfied diners were left desiring a snack, and the total cost for their dinner for two amounted to $521.45, earning it the title of “Public Rip-off No 1” by the New York Post.
Pete Wells, the New York Times critic, said that he had a pair of trousers that were seasoned like a steak with Bae Salt. He experienced more of a theatrical application of his salt.
“Mr. Gokce, who is known as a floor dance expert, confidently performs his moves with total confidence. He added, “That’s sufficient,” but he only has one move.”
However, Gökçe’s popularity has been genuine enough.
He told The New York Times how much he loves New Yorkers and Americans, describing how he serves the meat to his customers after cutting it.
The final touch on this artwork is like the meat of a move, and I view my job as making this artwork stand out. I don’t see myself as just a restaurant owner or a butcher. Sometimes, I go to the same table three times. It came from within me.
The coveted distinction of being New York’s finest – and most disappointing – burger is available, despite the recent closure of Salt Bae Burger.