I just spent an entirely satisfying couple of hours at Bonnie's.
You must take into consideration that I went for lunch on a Monday; there were other folks, but it was not crowded.
It is one of those narrow spaces. I sat at a table in the very front, and got to see the interesting folks walking on 5th. There is a long counter, and tables in the back. Those back tables were filled with several groups of friends, it seemed to me. It is necessarily darker in the back, but for friends, that would not be an issue.
And in the front, it was possible to see the beautiful summer day, beautiful even though, actually because of, the alternating sun and threatening rain.
I eat four cheeseburgers a year. One for each season. I want my cheeseburger to be good.
This cheeseburger was very good. I got it medium, and it was a perfect balance of charred and juicy. The meat was flavorful. I got all the toppings, and it was especially nice to have the jalapeno strips on it.
The single drawback was the roll. The founders of Bonnie's are from Buffalo, and they ought to know better. The roll was not bad; it was just not perfection. Perfection would be a roll like Costanza's or several other bakeries in Buffalo, all of whom (for some odd reason) outclass NYC rolls (pizza is better in Buffalo also, but that is another story).
The french fries were good, but not perfect. They were crisp and tasty. But then, no one has good french fries any more. Again oddly, the best ever french fries were made by a chain called Ground Round, which went out of business years ago. The combination of meaty potatoe-y, shattering greasy-crispy, and piquantly but not too much salty is, apparently, like alchemy.
The service at Bonnie's was thoughtful, observant, and amiable. I realize service is always a singular experience, and that only so much can be inferred from a particular experience. When I come to NYC, I want to absorb NYC. No better than Bonnie's.
Pros: All good
Cons: less than perfection