About Mike Puma and The Gotham Burger Social Club:
Mike Puma started the GBSC in 2013 as a way to bring his love of food and friends together.
What was suppose to be a one year burger tour with his close friends has now developed into a lifestyle of great food, beef and spirits. Gotham Burger Social Club has been credited for putting some of NYC’s best burgers on the map.
On instagram they have earned a reputation "as one of the most trusted palettes in NYC and Beyond” based off of the GBSC reviews and social media posts reaching over 180k food followers.
What sets GBSC apart is that they are honest and not scared to write the truth about their experiences, even if their honesty is interpreted as negative! Through COVID and 2020 GBSC has had to pivot and lend their services to the struggling restaurant and bar community hit hard by the pandemic. This has led to supporting many restaurant partners with the GBSC pop up experience. The NYC community has embraced the weekly pop ups, with lines of people waiting to taste the award winning Gotham Smash Burger.
For years GBSC has served up smash burgers at numerous fundraisers and events and the now famous Gotham Smash is available at pop ups at various locations in NYC. After eating and reviewing over 1000 burgers Mike Puma believes that the nostalgic burger he has mastered is the burger that every one loves. What is next for Gotham Burger Social Club? The response has been humbling and the next stage is to find a Brick & Mortar location to call home.
Biggest Supporters:
Our amazing followers. Their love and support has literally saved businesses and has turned the passion of GBSC into a business.
Most rewarding GBSC moments:
Guest bartending for Andy Cohen’s “ Watch what happens Live.”
Being interviewed and written about by numerous media outlets like...NBC’s NY Live, Fox 5, NYPOST. CNN. NYC HERO Fox 5, CNBC, Page six.
The acknowledgments from local restaurants, they have had great success and additional revenue from the GBSC reviews and testimonials.
Kate Krader at Food and Wine Magazine credited GBSC for putting one of NYC best burgers on the map.
When Mike Puma gets recognized in public and acknowledged with gratitude for what he does by his fans/ followers
Chef Angie Mar asked GBSC to review her burger and appreciated that GBSC put her burger on the map.
Role Models:
Josh Capon- 6x Burger Bash Champion
Michael Chernow- Founder of Meatball Shop & Seamores
Danny Meyers- Founder of Shake Shack.
Name & Insta Handle:
Ben Davis
no Insta handle (off the grid, #Where'sBenny?)
Favorite NYC Neighborhood & Why:
Harlem - great history and rising restaurant scene
Favorite NYC Restaurant & Why:
Bowery Meat Company - fantastic room swagger, excellent hospitality and the duck lasagna!
Favorite Burger Topping & Why:
Cheese - A burger without it is just incomplete.
Why Gotham Smash Burger In Your Own Words:
GSmash is the perfect combination of quality seared beef and caramelized onions delivered in the buttery goodness of a toasted Martin's potato bun.
Single or Double:
Double or nothing!
Use One Word To Describe Your Personality:
Optimistic
Name & Insta Handle:
Nikki
@thecubancarrie
Favorite NYC Neighborhood & Why:
West Village - There’s nothing quite like it anywhere in the world
Favorite NYC Restaurant & Why:
Too many to count, but a few faves include Rezdora (amazing italian), Sushi on Jones (super well priced omakase, Dante (beautiful ambiance and great cocktails)
Favorite Burger Topping & Why:
Pickles and crispy onions. I mean, do I really need a reason? It just goes so well!
Why Gotham Smash Burger In Your Own Words:
There’s a reason why people wait two hours...and don’t complain. Enough said!
Single or Double:
Depends on the day. I used to be a Double kind of girl, but now I’m about two singles.
Use One Word To Describe Your Personality:
People Person (that’s technically two, but hey, who’s counting?)
Name & Insta Handle:
Nina Scholl
@theninabobo
Favorite NYC Neighborhood & Why:
Williamsburg because it’s home and there’s nowhere better to walk aimlessly. Which I tend to do a lot of these days.
Favorite NYC Restaurant & Why:
I can’t believe you’re making me choose! I explore new restaurants every week but I guess my go-to for special occasions is Llama Inn. My most frequent food is Rosa’s pizza. I love both the hometowns- Hometown BBQ and Hometown Hot Pot. Ramen at Mr. Taka and sushi at Kissaki. I just ate the craziest meal at Dhamaka and it’s now a new favorite. I could go on and on.
Favorite Burger Topping & Why:
Pickles because the right acidic crunch complements a burger soooo well. Can’t say I’d want to go without a perfectly melted slice of cheese either though... great, now I’m hungry.
Why Gotham Smash Burger In Your Own Words:
It’s the perfect balance of quality ingredients, always super fresh. It’s simple but the method for every ingredient is on point, given the GBSC’s years of researching aka eating f***tons of burgers. It’s science.
Single or Double:
Aren’t you worried about your single patty getting lonely?
Use One Word To Describe Your Personality:
Goofy
