Speakeasy-Style Burger Joint In Nassau County Falls Short As Best In State

LONG BEACH, NY — This time, the mouthwatering taste wasn't enough to propel Long Beach's Black Door Burger to victory.

It fell short of reaching the Top 4 in a competition conducted by the New York Beef Council. That would have sent Frank Monteforte Jr. to the finals in Syracuse in crowning the Best Burger in the State.

Monteforte's burger made it to number two a couple of years ago.

Voting was done on social media to pick the best, or favorite. Winning, Monteforte said, mostly brings a bit more pride.

"I don't think we actually got anything last time for second [place]," Monteforte said. "I think it's really just about the recognition."'

Black Door was nominated both times by Long Beach-based dietician Nicole Rodriguez. She didn't have to think long and hard about which item to select.

"I only have one burger on the menu," he said.

Monteforte's smash-style burger is topped with American cheese, pickles, onions, tomatoes, and his so-called "red-light sauce" or the house special sauce on a potato bun. The meat is an 80/20 mix from Janowski's Hamburgers in Rockville Centre.

Remember, there's no "Have it Your Way" when ordering the Black Door Burger.

"The only thing you can do to it is take stuff off of it," he said. "It's only a single patty, never a double."

Monteforte created the Black Door Burger, almost as a pop-up location behind his Long Beach Sandwich Company on West Beech Street.

There may only be one burger to choose from, but the unique experience isn't lost on foodies.

Reminiscent of the bygone era speakeasies, "I've got a big iron knocker [and] a 12 by 12 cut hole [with] an open and close door on it," he said.

The backdoor also has a steel cage viewing window and upon the door is a red light.

"The idea is, if the light's on, the grill is on," Monteforte said.

You'll find the red light flashing, primarily, on weekends from Memorial Day to Labor Day. They are running a pre-summer schedule, Saturdays from 7 p.m. to midnight. Whenever the day or time, aside from fries and soda in your bag, don't expect anything else.

"It was as simple as I could possibly make it because of the type of crowd that we serve at that time of night," he said.

Beech Street has several bars, so the Black Door slides open from 10 p.m-4 a.m. (or 7:30 p.m. -1:30 a.m. Monday morning) to accommodate the late-night partiers.

There is one way you need to wait for the light to munch on the burger. Monteforte is getting into catering, with a 50-burger minimum. This season they'll take a mobile grill to the functions.

What began for The Black Door Burger as a way to "help pay for staff and the rising cost, has turned into a pretty cool following and experience."

It's a family affair for Monteforte, who owns the businesses with his brother Dan and his dad Frank Sr., starting the "Sandwich Company" in Aug. 2017. "Black Door" emerged the following summer.

The sandwich shop is year-round, but don't look for the signature burger.

"The only time you can get the burger is when the red light is on," he said.