Squires of Briarcliff

Hidden in a dark corner of the wealthy and sometimes pretentious enclave of Briarcliff Manor lives the best burger you’ll ever find in New York outside of New York City. It lives on the end of a tiny little strip mall, up on a small hill, in a worn but rustic old wooden structure that appears as if centuries of time have passed it over. It is beloved by many locals, and yet other long-​time locals admit they have never set foot in the place. It has the feel of a dive bar in the very best of ways. The rooms are cramped but cozy, wood paneling abounds, and the smells emanating from the kitchen let everyone know something amazing is happening back there. It’s Briarcliff Manor’s anti-​Briarcliff Manor establishment; a place where wealth and status are equalized upon entry, where all patrons become unified in the single pursuit of great food and drink.
The place is called Squires. And this Jersey Boy waited patiently for fourteen years for my Briarcliff-​raised wife to finally steel up the nerve to bring me here. And let me tell you something people, it was every bit worth the wait.
Why some Briarcliff residents come here regularly, and others (like my wife) almost never do, is a mystery. Some may find the place looks intimidating, but that couldn’t be any further from the truth. I met the family running the place last night, and they are the nicest, sweetest people you’ll ever meet — especially up this way. And the place does a booming business. Expect to wait for a table or a seat at the bar if you go at a busy time. But as JS W. says — just order a drink, stand around and mingle with the folks at the bar, and you’ll have a seat in no time.
Everything coming out of the kitchen looks great, and I love that the food isn’t fussy in any way — it’s all about fresh ingredients, cooked perfectly, and prepared simply. The kitchen is partially open, revealing a frenetic, fast-​paced scene of controlled chaos. It’s hard to believe how these guys are able to operate in such a tiny space. If anyone remembers the kitchen at the original Il Bagatto in the East Village, you’ll know what I’m talking about. And man, do these guys work their asses off.
And then there’s the burger.
I had heard about the burgers at Squire’s for as long as I’ve been coming to Briarcliff, which is to a say a long, long time. I almost feared that for all the hype it would be next to impossible for them to meet and beat my expectations. But that’s exactly what happened last night.
I struggled with wanting to order off their specials menu, specifically, the Atomic Burger — made with bits of the elusive and deadly ghost pepper. But when I’m popping my cherry in a new restaurant, I try to keep things pure and simple. So I went with the Cheese Supreme — a half-​pound, hand-​formed patty, cooked medium rare, and topped with melted American, Swiss, Cheddar, and Mozzarella.
So many things go into making a perfect burger: the blend and quality of the meat, the percentage of fat, the type of grill you cook it on, how you season it, and of course, the way in which you cook it. Every great burger joint has their own secret formula for excellence, but Squires’ formula without a doubt yielded one of the most perfect, most delicious-​tasting burgers that I have had since moving out of Brooklyn. It’s hard to believe it’s only 8 ounces of beef. This thing was huge. The burger hangs off the bun by at least a half inch or more all around. I couldn’t even finish it.
And while everyone raves about their sweet potato fries (which are really good) my vote is for the onion rings. I couldn’t help but throw a few on the burger, which kicked it even further up into the stratosphere. This burger was so tasty and juicy that it didn’t need ketchup, mayo or any another type of sauce. *That* is how you know you are eating a great burger.
In less interesting news, my wife ordered the turkey burger and thought it was delicious, which of course is a good thing because I can’t wait to come back and she can now call herself a fan too.
Do keep in mind that a meal here will set your life back a couple of years, so I’d suggest spacing your trips out unless you have a really good heart surgeon or a super-​human metabolism. (Of which I have neither.)
Oh, and save room for ice cream cake. :D

I don’t know who thinks these burgers are even acceptable — served on a supermarket bun! — Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s gritty or authentic — it’s just dirty. This place literally stinks — there’s a terrible smell (sour tap beers? stick to the bottles) when you first enter the bar (after navigating through the smokers in front of the door), and it’s not much better in the back. The boring menu, mostly right off the SYSCO truck, appeals to the over 70 crowd that supports the place. Everything is bland and overcooked. If you do end up in the dining room, check under your table — there’s almost always a stray fried shrimp or half a burger in the floor. Also, stay away from the nasty men’s room (right next to the kitchen) and watch out for the ATM scam (they don’t take Visa or MC!!! but take AMEX so they say they take credit cards) …
ALSO — they never moved — something fishy with their Unilocal page: there are a couple of hundred reviews for Squires at another address…

I really like the food at Squires! Good burgers, great chicken burger, good specials… overall, totally satisfies my fried food cravings :)
Don’t be thrown by the appearance. It’s a total dive/​towny place, but people come for the good food and friendly service.

I have been eating at Squires for many years and what I came to love was the consistency of their burgers and fries. I went there for the first time on a Sunday at lunch time and they only serve the dinner menu. Disappointment #1. There are no specials and very limited choices beside $ 20 and up entrees. The dining room was empty and 2 people at the bar. Had to order the burger. It seems they changed the fries. They are now coated with something. They were all stuck together and difficult to pull apart. I asked the barmaid what happened to the old regular fries and she had no idea what I was talking about. It will be a long time before I go back

Ordered for take out tonight, ribs were terrible, overdone or underdone? meat did not fall off the bone, had to be cut with a knife and it was a chore. Ends were like leather. Ordered the Squire Burger well done, it was pink throughout, fries were limp and cold like they had been sitting a while yet we picked up the food at 8:30 as told to do. When they took the order they made the comment they were swamped. Maybe if you eat in the restaurant you get the better items but definitely for takeout forget about it, don’t bother. Never again

New restaurants come and go, open and close all the time. Squires has been here for decades. .hint — there’s a good reason — it’s A GREAT PLACE, serving reliably great food at reliably modest prices!
Even when they try new offerings, some of which only make it as far as the specials board, yet others become part of the menu — they are never bad!
Once upon a time I was ordering a flat iron steak with blue-​cheese crown comma and my girlfriend decided to try their meatloaf… the only mistake was that we didn’t come back the next day to order it again! Thankfully the portion was so generous comma we both had a meatloaf sandwich for lunch the next day!
The wait staff are always friendly, knowledgable, and accommodating. The beers on tap are good choices, I just wish there were more to choose from… But alas there’s always something to wash it down!
Squires still only accept the American Express card comma all others pay cash. But this isn’t really a problem, as there’s an ATM by the bar.
If you’re looking for fashionable, trendy and pricey, go elsewhere — but if you want damn good, reliable, consistent food that’s tried and true come on in and grab a table, or belly up to the bar. This is where the locals go – after all these years, so trust me – is good! !

Squires is a great place to grab a great burger! I had the smothered burger with onions and mushrooms, cheddar and Swiss cheese. My friend had the bacon cheeseburger. Every time we have gone to Squires the burgers have been really good! Fries are okay as well as the onion rings. The restaurant hasn’t been updated in a long time, but it’s a comfy atmosphere. Waitstaff is very friendly. Prices are very reasonable! Worth the hour drive for us.

Too much Cajun on the Cajun chicken sandwich… Too cajuny. the Asian chicken wrap is lit. Very nice service and a nice time for a casual meal.

I have to say that Squires is our local family favorite! There is definitely something for everyone here – and we have never been disappointed! All the waitstaff, bartenders, & Kurt (the owner) have always been friendly and attentive. Quality food and staff makes for a wonderful evening out!!!

I love Squires. Make no mistake: this is a JOINT. Nothing fancy-​pants about it. It’s an old-​school, kinda divey JOINT. And it’s awesome. Neighborhoody and sort of like a time capsule (I think it was originally decorated in the 60s and I don’t think it’s changed much), it’s comfortable and inviting. The waitresses and bartenders have all been there for a long time, so much as I can tell, and they’re all friendly (though they’ve got not patience for nonsense).
What Squires DOES have is one of the best burgers I’ve had anywhere. I would drive the 4 hours from my home to there just to get one. Always perfectly cooked, always just right. Five Guys and all of those «artisan» burger places that are popping up all over the place can get bent; Squires’ burgers are THE BUSINESS.
I pop in to Squires about once every two weeks and love it. Easy, no fuss, just right.

Food is not good. Had a corned beef sandwich and it tasted like they took sliced corned beef and dumped it into boiling water to heat it. Dark inside.

Food was good — service was ok — busy night –waited 30 minutes for table — tight dining room – if you like your privacy you may not like this