Just curious ... I've read good things about both burgers ... any opinions on which is better? Seems like McHale's gets better reviews for their fries. Also ... I remember reading that one place had great home made pickles but I can't recall which one?

* Sorry about the double post, I forgot to select New York the first time.

I prefer Jackson Hole, but it's really a matter of taste. Jackson Hole's burgers are huge -- it's tough to eat 'em without a fork. If that's what you like, then you'll love JH. I had one last night, in fact.

When you sit down at JH, you get a bin of delicious sliced pickles to munch on while you pick your burger.

Forgot to mention, Citysearch does a "best burger in NYC" poll that you can check out anytime on the website.

I live around the corner from Jackson Hole and have found that I DETEST their hamburgers. And I usually like hamburgers. They are so big, you cannot eat them without a fork and knife -- which means you are pretty much prevented from eating the burger with condiments. It's just one huge piece of cooked beef. Nothing special about the preparation or spices. Just big. And bad.

I like the JH burgers, but the location on 3rd Ave (@35th St) is superior to the other JHs.

If the fork thing is a problem for you, it can be solved by ordering your burger on a hard roll (which i've done, but still prefer the regular burger roll).

re: Jackson Hole burgers -- I know people like them but as I recall from being there & watching them cooked -- the burger is basically browned and then steamed -- it's cooked with a cover over it. Am I making this up? That's what I think they do. Which is non-burger-y to me, I want them cooked in a frying pan or over a fire, not stew-fashion.

They're not cooked and then steamed... they're cooked under a pan on a grill which allowed them to cook (brown) as well as steam in the flavor as they cook.

Best burger imho is at Cozies on Broadway - near Astor Place.

Best pickles are to be found in the lower east side...on or near Essex Street. =)