Grab your big back buddy and show them what some people call the best burger spot in New York City. 7th Street Burger has some seriously delicious smash burgers just steps from campus at 171 W. 23rd St. behind the plaza.

This spot has blown up since launching in the East Village back in 2021, and Baruch College students are all over it when hunger strikes between classes.

It was founded by Kevin Rezvani, who used to run Diesel & Duke in New Jersey. Rezvani keeps it simple with a menu inspired by Detroit and Oklahoma onion burgers, like smash patties,

Impossible options for the plant-based squad, crispy fries and Mexican Coca-Cola. No extras, just straight-up take it or leave it.

Its smash technique is rather cool, creating juicy patties with crispy edges that melt in your mouth. Many students would agree the single patty is kind of skimpy but will still cost you $7.67.

As Zulaay Mendez, Baruch’s Black Student Union Starr Steppers team manager, puts it, “The burgers are honestly the size of the palm of my hand.”

Most students will go with the double for $11.21. Not dirt cheap, but you’re honestly paying for flavor in this spot not quantity.

The real star of the show? That house sauce. Nearly everyone mentions it, and for good reason; it’s the secret weapon that elevates these burgers from good to crave-worthy. Jason Torres, a finance major graduating in 2025, described it as “a sauce he would make life choices around,” recommending you definitely try it.

The Impossible options have got some tasty credibility, with Torres stating, “Tell me why my brother wants a bite when he has the damn beef one.”

And those loaded fries? Topped with chopped burger, cheese, grilled onions and that glorious sauce. They can be a good contender for Forefeather’s Fries Madness in terms of flavor but pale in size.

Their Impossible options have earned praise from meat-eaters and vegetarians alike. Torres describes their flavor with an “umami punch” and notes they’re every bit as good as their beef ones.

The loaded fries topped with chopped burger patty or Impossible patty, American cheese, grilled onions and that famous house sauce make for a decadent side or meal on their own.

Is it messy? Absolutely. The place does not seem to take packaging much into consideration. Torres described it as “…like it was placed in my bag and then smashed on the floor.”

However, he still seems to agree the flavor is so mouthwatering that nobody really cares. The napkins definitely become your best friend for this meal.

Not everyone is completely sold, though. Some Baruch students prefer Smashed or Shake Shack, with Nikita Bijlani, secretary for the transfer student organization, unfavorably comparing it to Five Guys, lamenting the “worse fries and no free peanuts.”

Others question whether 7th Street can maintain quality while expanding so rapidly; it is projected to have 19 locations by this summer.

7th Street also sells some pretty cool Godzilla t-shirts and merch online for reasons that remain mysterious but add to the place’s intrigue. It’s perfect for those looking to show off their burger allegiance while stomping around campus.

7th Street Burger offers a solid, if slightly messy, burger experience that’s worth trying, especially if you’re into smash burgers with an amazing sauce.

It might not be everyone’s favorite, but with its convenient location, quick service and both meat and veggie options, it’s earned its place in the Baruch student food rotation.

Just be prepared to shell out a bit more than you might expect for such a simple concept, and don’t wear your white shirt on burger day.