Fritzl’s Lunch Box

Love this place. Great quality and good prices. The apps are unbelievable. If they have an eggplant or other dip as an app get it.

This place has become my go-​to spot in the neighborhood for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It’s conveniently located and always satisfying, if not totally delicious. It’s true that the service can be pretty slow; the last couple times I’ve been there it’s just been the chef in the kitchen, but maybe they only bring in more kitchen staff for dinner. Anyway, I’ve come to understand that this place is not where you go for a quick bite, but a place you go to enjoy the time to sit and chat. The reward you get for the wait is well worth it, especially if you live super close anyway. Plus the servers are always courteous and considerate.
So onto the specifics of the food. Literally everything I’ve ordered here in the past year or so (over a dozen visits) has at least been fresh and made with care. What they do especially well are sandwiches. The quality of their burgers are at this point are well-​documented, but every one of their other sandwiches deserve praise too. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, they make one of my favorite breakfast sandwiches (the Late Riser with a bomb sausage patty) and *the* best grilled cheese I’ve ever had. They’re all so well balanced in terms of textures and flavors and they’re just a joy to eat.
Sure, price-​wise this place is not to as cheap as the Mexican delis out there, but for what you get it’s usually pretty fair.
Feeling #blessed to be neighbors w Fritzl’s.

Amazing food /​slow service. You’re better off ordering it to-​go or pickup. Get the cheeseburger!

Oh god damn, the cheeseburger. And really everything else! The chef here is one of the best in town and has an evolving menu of pure deliciousness and extremely high quality ingredients. Also, the beer menu is one of the most extensive and unique in the neighborhood. Get your Fritzl’s on asap!

We’ve been living off of the Jefferson stop for a couple of years now and Fritzl’s is officially our go-​to dinner spot. We have never had a disappointing meal there; the burgers are my favorite burger in all of New York City!
The staff is friendly, the space is welcoming and the food is always delicious. The menu changes on a frequent basis and we are rarely burned when trying new/​experimental dishes. The prices are slightly on the higher side but honestly, I feel like it’s justified for a consistently pleasant dining experience. These guys really love to make good food. There usually something interesting on the menu whether it’s a lamb pasta or eggplant dip; paired with a cheeseburger, you can’t go wrong. Their beer menu is really dope and their happy hour is an amazing deal.
Pro tip: Always start your meal with their tempura fried vegetables

This is one of my go-to’s in the neighborhood. I take all my friends here and it’s always a home run! The beer battered broccoli is a must try – the sauce is amazing. My favorites change every now and then but currently I have an obsession with their veggie burger! Seriously probably the best I ever had. I don’t like veggie burgers that are bean based, this ones got mushrooms, sunflower seeds and a whole lot of magic!!! Also the regular burger is AMAZING as well! Definitely a must try.
(Only downside is sometimes the food is a little on the salty side!)

Fried chicken sandwich
And a can of beer– perfect!
Can’t wait to return

So here’s the deal, I used to work at Fritzl’s and want to shed some light on a few things that they downplay. First off, I was fully converted from being a vegetarian for 8+ years to eating any meat item on the menu. The food here is THAT good. Also the main reason I was a vegetarian was because I don’t trust the industry or quality of meat products. I don’t trust «organic free-​range farm raised» packaging because it’s an advertisement, an empty promise. But after watching the painstaking efforts that go into creating the food here first hand, I can say with conviction that you have nothing to worry about. You are getting the freshest, highest quality ingredients that are available and they are being expertly handled.
They hand make EVERYTHING. Countless hours go into the preparation of the food and the quality of product is insane. It was almost heartbreaking to read some of the reviews people would write complaining about pricing when the food there barely has a profit margin. I cannot stress enough that the quality of the food is much higher than you imagine because they are not bragging on it. We live in a society where we assume if the buzz words we are looking for aren’t plastered all over the walls and menus and chalkboard outside that you must be getting Costco burger patties. You couldn’t be more wrong. They let the food speak for itself. You take one bite of that burger and you can taste the fact that this is not only the best burger you’ll ever eat, but that shh ain’t Costco. Ain’t nowhere close.
So now that you know you’re having insanely good food at as reasonable of a price as they can possibly allow, let’s move onto the next best overlooked thing… the alcohol selection. Now some people know what’s up and look at Fritzl’s as destination: rare beer, but some people come and are so totally bummed out that they can’t have a bloody mary at brunch it’s almost unreal. Though I like to indulge in spirits too, there’s nothing «lacking» about the alcohol selection. There’s like ten different ciders on the menu for god’s sake. The wine selection is super on-​point, there aren’t a ton to choose from but all of them are excellent… seriously. I had some of my favorite wine of my life here. And this place is beer heaven, with a huge range for different tastes and a finely-​curated selection of micro brews that’s constantly rotating.
That’s the other thing, aside from a few staple menu items, that thing is always changing, and not only changing, but evolving. The most wonderful thing about Fritzl’s is undeniably the chef/​owner Dan. He is unapologetically true to his vision. This is his place. This is his food. These are his beers. This is his life. He is back there cooking your perfect med-​rare and mixing your salad, he’s making every dish to order and taking a tasting spoon to your pasta before it goes out, he’s creating new, inventive dishes to add to the fall menu. There’s no manager at Fritzl’s, no sommelier, no finance guy or PR team. There is a family of people, a very small team, who help bring the vision to life and that’s it… that’s all the support he’s got.
Dan does not make food that he does not believe in. So do yourself a favor, try everything. Try the cantaloupe gazpacho and the hen of the woods farrotto… try everything you’re uncertain of how it will taste. Try the things you’ve never heard of or tasted before. I guarantee you they will be delicious. I don’t know how else to say it, he makes perfect food. Spice that hits you at the right time and lingers just enough, a bite of food that you can’t distinguish the ingredients of because they all work together to become this new, entirely balanced flavor.
I wrote this review because I think it’s important that people understand the difference between this place and the trendy restaurants nearby in trendy Bushwick. This food is better and this place has a lot of heart. That is real talk.

Chicken sandwich was very good.

This place is awesome. Inventive food & pretty backyard in Bushwick. I always wanted to go here so on a blazing day I ventured there. Way out on Dekalb, but only a block from the train. Bushwick has long blocks. It’s a long thin space with an open kitchen. I want for lunch & sat in garden. Service seems to be a predominant theme in Bushwick, mine was friendly & efficient, but this isn’t Manhattan which is somewhat the point.
Ate:
Codfish cake under greens’ hard boiled egg & crushed potato chips
Potato salad
Banana parfait
Limeade
The codfish was warm– such a lovely, clever dish, the potato salad was not mayo based — simple and good. Banana parfait with layers of banana and walnut caked topped with chocolate was über tasty. Great spot!

Yo this place is so weird.
First off they wouldn’t let me drink coffee that I had bought from somewhere else !!~even though~!! I was taking away food from their establishment. I was only waiting for my food when a waiter asked me to chug my coffee, twice. Like… no. Are you trying to give me heart burn???
To be fair, the omelettes were good but the salad was skimpy and overdressed. They also charged us for an extra side salad when the sandwich technically comes with a salad. I’m probably not coming back here.

#Awesome rich buttery burger. It’s best with cheese.
#The «Palace» Fried Chicken is also good. Kind of like a #fancy version of a mushed-​up on the inside processed chicken patty that you would get at Palace Fried Chicken or #Kennedy Fried Chicken… or Burger King.

top 3 best burgers you can find in NYC.
Really charming little restaurant. Never tried anything on the menu that wasn’t a home run. Caesar salad delish. Gotta get their fried cauliflower app too. Sounds weird but trust me on that one.
Menu also rotates!

Nothing here tasted less than amazing.
Ordered the veggie burger with mixed greens. The flavor of the burger was outstanding. I almost did not believe I was missing any meat. I have been a big fan of the mushroom burger of Shake Shack but this burger beats it.
Not to mention their food and ingredients are really fresh.
The mole poblano beans were also something different and really tasty.
Nevertheless I enjoyed the atmoshere, its cute and small.
Recommend & will be returing for more!

I really enjoyed the burger! I ordered it medium-​rare and it wasn’t dripping everywhere while I ate or soak the bun in juices. A delicious relish and special sauce on a toasted sesame seed bun with cheddar cheese. So good.
FLB is more expensive than going to a no-​name place or fast food restaurant, because it’s gourmet food. I feel that some of the less than stellar ratings here are due to some people’s inability to appreciate a really good burger or conceive that the portion doesn’t have to be big enough for two meals. I’d tell them to not compare a really good burger to what they expect to get at an inexpensive chain restaurant.
I can’t wait to try other items on the menu. Great beer and wine selection, too.

Such a good burger! It is juicy and delicious and the chopped pickles/​onions on the top make the perfect relish-​like condiment ever. I ate half and was full — and even the leftover half was good cold the next fay (I know, I am gross but mmm meat!)
The prices can get a little high here — Bushwick tends to be more expensive than I would expect and Fritzl’s is no different. The quality of the food is great but I moved here because I couldn’t afford Williamsburg any more, ya know?
The service is amazing, friendly and fast.

Hands down, one of the best burgers I’ve ever had in my life. French fries were obviously fresh cut and simply delicious.
Was driving, so opted for a non-​alcoholic Brown Sugar Limeade. Another winner!
Can’t comment on anything else on the menu, but I will be back to try the fried chicken sandwich!

Basically, the food is good but overpriced. I had the fried chicken sandwich, which was just ok. My boyfriend had the cheeseburger and said it was one of the best burgers he’s ever had. The patty was very thick and juicy. I recommend trying the wings. There’s not a lot of meat on them, but the sauce is great! The ricotta cheese dumplings are also good, but not worth $ 17 in my opinion.
The place is very small (only about 7 tables). The service was really good and fast (we went during non-​peak hours).

Living around from the corner from FLB, I’ve had the pleasure of frequently walking by their establishment and seeing how many patrons are inside. It’s usually empty. Night or day. To be honest, the local «Mexican» «restaurants» (They’re GOOD!) that it is surrounded by have more guests.
But I don’t judge, even spots that many hipsters feel like they are trying too hard but fall short.
So…
I decided to take myself out to dinner. WEE! After all, a chalk board sign with «Burgers & Beer» seems enticing and fun, right?
Eh.
After my burger and beer, I immediately understood the void that is Fritzl’s Lunch Box. The beer was great, don’t get be wrong, but it was the burger made me feel like I was on a Candid Camera TV show. Was I about to be Punk’d for thinking this was their REAL burgers? It was real. Really bad. I was upset, but not surprised.
I am mostly disappointed that people would go here on a consistent basis with no many other options around (LIKE SANTA ANA’S ACROSS THE STREET! You have to speak Spanish, though).
The buns they use are store bought and fall apart into flaky, bready pieces with a pinky’s touch. Their meat HAS to be frozen. It was a bland hockey puck. And the whopping TEN fries they served on the side? Awesome, thanks. They tasted frozen too. Ugh, and for some reason also ordered their potato salad. I couldn’t finish it. I tried. They failed.
I’m being SO generous with 2 stars. The only thing this place has going for them in the service. She was nice. I won’t be back and can truly not see how FLB can stay afloat for much longer.
So many other places to eat in the area that are SO much better. Don’t bother!

One of the best places in Brooklyn and simply one of my favorite spots anywhere, period. By now you’ve likely heard about the places magnificent burger, and it is all it hyped up to be and more. It is among the richest most decadent thing you could possible put in your body, and you might likely not eat again for the rest of the day, that is if you went here for lunch. Whichever magical blend of cuts this genius has formulated and mixed together has resulted in a burger that literally melts in your mouth, particularly when ordered medium rare, which of course it the only way I would ever possibly order one, and a meaty smokey flavor that is unmatched. The patty is elevated and counter matched by its brilliant pairing with a buttered griddled, sesame seed bun which cracks and crunches when bitten and the resulting wonderful interplay between the two components. While other sides are offered for pairing, one would probably be remiss for not choosing the pretty much perfect house fries.
As incredible as that burger is, shockingly its pretty much a toss up between that and another permanent menu item (most others are changing somewhat frequently) as to which can be legitimately named best of the house sandwiches. That contender would be the hilariously named Crown Fried Chicken sandwich. Its been a favorite obsession of classically trained chefs to pull homages to low brow fast food favorites for some time now, and this Momofuku vet may have taken the idea to it’s furthest extreme yet, honoring the chicken sandwiches found in one of the most ratchet off-​brand chains that proliferate in the most desperate, dangerous parts of the inner city, here and elsewhere. The chicken patty does indeed resemble the specimens found in the crowns and its peers like Kennedy Fried, albeit being millions of times better in quality and taste. «Its all about brining nowadays» my friend duly noted when tasting the sandwich, and indeed this patty is a testament to the potential for greatness that can be achieved by the technique. Like the burger, it is as rich and decadent as it is delicious, and may well be the most juicy chicken I have tasted in any form. It is also paired with those unique yet wonderfully simply bun as the burger, and likewise it very well served by the pairing.
In addition to those permanent features the small menu is usually in some degree of flux, and while many of the items won’t be around for long, they almost always have wound up being delicious. A few favorites of the specials I have sampled included light and flavorful fried seafood fritters that instantly give one the feeling of summer on a Rhode Island beach. Another summer evening a friend and I had two of the best apps of the year out back, in the pod lima beans, served in a manner like edamame with a flavorful sauce and pumpkin seeds, which were by far the best limas I have ever had, and a small serving of chicken wings, cooked confit style to maximum deliciousness. The serving side was modest but the flavors huge, and probably for the nest considering we were about to down those two monstrous sandwiches. On another working lunch I had what was maybe my favorite pasta dish of 2014, huge tubes of paccheri pasta cooked perfectly al dente, served with an amazing ragu from house made spicy lamb sausage and pulverized black olives, topped with a dollop of super fresh ricotta. I have salivated over its memory for months afterwards but have not found it back on offer since. Other pastas also displayed both a deft hand with the format, as well as an opportunity to showcase the chefs talents for creatively utilizing farm fresh ingredients to ingenious effect, like ricotta gnocchi with crab, trout roe and rajas en crema. Oddly enough it was another pasta dish that proved to be the one slight disappointment I have ever experienced here, the linguine with clams. Its likely due in large part to the fact that this particular dish is perhaps my most beloved specialty that I cook, but I found that this dish was merely just ok, and surprisingly didn’t exhibit any of the mind boggling creativity that is on display with pretty much every dish that this master reinvents here.
The interior of the place is narrow, and minimalist, white. The back garden is as lovely as you could find and definitively Brooklyn. Beer and wine are the only alcohol available, but the selection is exceptionally well chosen. One canned beer in particular has likewise had me salivating but I have yet to find it anywhere else, the hoppy yet refreshing cardinal pale ale from Nebraska brewery. The staff to a person has been equally lovely, down to earth and friendly, yet professional. This is an attitude that obviously comes from the top down, as the chef is as friendly and gracious as he is brilliant, and also looks cool as hell. To me, Fritzl’s represents the very best of what a Brooklyn restaurant should be.