Burger restaurant Pyt claims on their website, “You really can’t lose. Unless you don’t eat here, then you’re on your own.” I can attest to that statement; you truly can’t lose. With an extensive menu of interesting burgers (can you say donut bun?) and adult milkshakes, Pyt has something for everyone.
Located in the Piazza in Northern Liberties, Pyt is perhaps best known for its tasty, albeit unusual, sandwich ingredients. For example, a cheesesteak sandwich on a donut bun is currently being offered on their special menu. The regular menu includes a classic burger, as well as a Sriracha chicken burger and a veggie burger topped with avocado and their special PYT sauce.
Though the donut burgers were very tempting, I opted for a less caloric option (though who am I kidding? I probably got three days’ worth of calories in one sitting). For those familiar with chain eatery Tom and Chee (the closest location is in Lancaster, Pennsylvania), donut buns are becoming incredibly popular. Tom and Chee offers a variety of grilled cheese sandwiches on donuts and they’re the perfect combination of sweet and salty.
The burger I chose was the turkey club. It came with Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, fried onions and Pyt sauce. I’m not even kidding when I say this was one of the best burgers I’ve ever had. There wasn’t one flavor that overwhelmed the rest, creating a delicious combination of turkey, cheese and toppings. And at $12 it was certainly affordable.
The accompanying waffle fries were also great. They tasted exactly like Back Yard Burger’s fries, for all my Southern friends out there. The seasoning is ever so slightly spicy and the fries were perfectly crispy. The burgers also come with a spicy pickle, but I can’t attest to the taste of that side item because I personally think pickles should be outlawed as food. I feel strongly in my opposition to pickles.
Pyt is not only known for its burgers. The beloved burger joint was recently the subject of a controversy involving Eagles’ running back LeSean McCoy. As shown in a photo of the receipt posted to Pyt’s Facebook page, McCoy left a 20-cent tip, which amounted to 0.3 percent on his $61.56 bill.
While many people, including Philadelphia Magazine’s Victor Fiorillo, protested McCoy’s actions, others came forward defending the small tip. Several people, claiming to have waited on McCoy previously, said he tipped generously and accused Pyt as being at fault for having poor service.
The running back defended his tip, stating in a press conference that he stood by his actions and that it was an adequate tip given the poor service he received all night. With this in mind, I put Pyt’s service to the test.
I received a glass of water and a menu quickly, but I had to wait a considerable amount of time until the waitress came back to get my order. However, once my order was finally placed I received my food fairly quickly.Given the taste of the burger, which was out of this world, and the price, I didn’t mind that the service was on the slow side.I would definitely recommend Pyt to burger enthusiasts and anyone in the Northern Liberties area. Pyt is located at 1050 N. Hancock St. and is open until 2 a.m. daily.