Mike Puma is the de facto leader of the Gotham Burger Social Club, a group of well dressed gentleman who pre-pandemic, gathered every so often to dine, photograph, and rate burgers. Mike has that George Clooney in Oceans 11 vibe. Well spoken. Well dressed. He looks like him too, though Mike would want you to know that Clooney doesn’t have his height.

Though the Gotham Burger Social Club is no stranger to NYC’s events scene, this summer the guys along with friends like @theninabobo have SHOWN UP week in and week out in order to feed the masses. Setting up grilling stations outside of bars like Marshall Stack, Ray’s and The Freehand Hotel, here’s everything you need to know about how it works.

1. GMBSC announces where they’ll be on their Instagram account, which you should already be following.

2. A line forms at least 20 minutes before their official opening hour. So get here early.

3. They always sell out before close. So get here early.

4. Be safe and be ready to use a contactless forms of payment like Venmo. So set this up while you wait.

But how good can one burger be? Here’s everything you need to know about why grabbing a Gotham Smash Burger (or two) is exactly what’s been missing from your backyard BBQ’s.

Patties: The meat is delicious because of its blends. Sometimes its blended with wagyu beef sourced from ranches like @Kowsteaks and @newyorvalleywagyu. Other times, you’ll find dry aged beef from Pat LaFrieda. The patty is smashed on a flat top grill by Mike and the team themselves, producing a nice crispy exterior that manages to crumble in your mouth because all those top notch beef juices are now trapped, which isn’t the best feeling for them but we do benefit from that delicious test. They also mix in grilled onions (Oklahoma style) which adds a layer of sweetness to the savory, salty meat.

Cheese: American. Melted on top.

Toppings: Pickles, ketchup, mustard, and Gotham Burger’s own blend of special sauce complete this meat. If you’re a purist, we suggest tasting one without toppings first to just appreciate the beauty of simplicity before adding on the works.

Bun: It’s always served on a Martin’s Famous potato rolls. You’re still going to get a little messy eating this - especially if you opt for the double or triple smash, but these edible sponges do a great job of soaking in all that fatty goodness.

Eat This Immediately profiles one delicious bite at one local business. All food is paid for by Leisurely staff out of our own pocket, and all menu items were currently available at the time of publication.