The latest news in fast food world is the New York Pizza Burger from Burger King that debuts in September at the chain’s New York City Whopper Bar. Just because it has “pizza” in its name doesn’t mean it will actually be a substitute for a real pizza though. Pizzerias need not fear the new burger because many people are viewing it mainly as a marketing tool and don’t really expect it to catch on.
The size, price, construction and availability of the New York Pizza Burger all serve to limit its chances of becoming a fast food staple. The new burger is truly a giant at 9-and-a-half inches wide and the $12.99 price tag is an eye-opener as well. Inside the huge bun you’ll find four quarter-pound beef patties topped with pepperoni, mozzarella, marinara, and Tuscan sauce, cut into six radial slices. In case you were wondering, yes, it has a lot of calories too.
At 2,530 calories, 144 grams of fat, 3,780mg of salt and 380 mg of cholesterol, the New York Pizza Burger is definitely not health food. The monstrous creation will not be available at regular Burger King outlets and will only be sold at the New York City Whopper Bar which serves as Burger King's 24-hour, seven-day-a-week flagship outlet in Times Square.
Burger King’s Whopper Bars are open 24 hours a day and feature create-your-own combination items and a special Whopper menu. Other Whopper Bar-only menu items include the Meat Beast Whopper, featuring beef, bacon, pepperoni, American cheese and mayo, and the Pepper Bacon Steakhouse burger, with bacon and melted cheddar cheese. Burger King vice president John Schaufelberger said the New York Pizza Burger is a tribute to New York’s spirit and added that it “…demonstrates the type of menu offerings our guests can expect.”
Burger King has emphasized that the New York Pizza Burger is cut into six slices because it is meant to be shared just like a real pizza. Although this new burger does “sort of” have some “pizza” heritage in it, there is not much chance it will replace the real deal for true pizza aficionados. Not even close.
