BRGRS opens in Huntington
Single and double smashburgers with curly fries at BRGRS in Huntington. Credit: Newsday/Marie Elena Martinez
There's a new place to get smashburgers in Huntington and almost everything on the regular menu costs $10 or less. BRGRS is a new fast-casual spot owned by three Melville brothers who opened on New York Avenue in the heart of the village.
It’s been a long, hard journey for the Singh brothers. In 2017, the oldest, Amarjit "Rana" Singh, had opened a bar and grill in Bayside, Queens, and an Indian tapas spot in Manhattan when he was paralyzed from the neck down in a car accident. He ultimately left the businesses.
"Our family was broken," explained Jasprit "Bobby" Singh, who along with their other brother, Daljit "Raja" Singh, became Rana's caregivers. For the next seven years, the family plotted their next food concept with a goal "of giving Rana back all that he had lost," Bobby said. Rana’s wife, Manpreet "Manu" Kaur, owned House of India in Huntington, which was recently sold.
"She was always bragging about Huntington Village, and we fell in love with it, its charm," Bobby said. Now the family is continuing forward in town.
BRGRS's no-frills menu is short. Smashburgers come in single ($8), double or triple stacks, with chicken and Impossible varieties. There are classic hot dogs ($5), as well as BLT, vegan, and Chicago options, fries (regular or curly, $5), onion rings and thick shakes ($6). Daily specials top out at $15 and have included a chicken bacon ranch sandwich, loaded fries ($9) topped with meat, cheese and sauce drizzles (chipotle mayo, BRGR sauce, spicy BBQ) and a chopped cheese patty melt-meets-cheesesteak.
The cozy white storefront is decorated with black-and-white tiles. On a recent weeknight, an equal number of patrons were eating in and carrying out, keeping the family busy.
"You couldn’t get a burger for under $10 in the village and we love smashburgers," Bobby said of the BRGRS concept. "Now, you can. Perhaps there will be two, three, four, five more in the future. For Rana, we hope so."
BRGRS, 392 New York Ave., Huntington, 631-470-2013; open Sunday through Thursday noon to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from noon to 2 a.m.
A global freelancer who has checked her suitcase to raise her young daughter on her native Long Island, Marie Elena will always make time for good mezcal, even better tacos and killer conversation. Preferably, in a corner bar seat. She can be found on Instagram at @mariesworldeats.
