Sometimes you stumble upon a restaurant and wonder how you could have possibly not heard about or seen it before. Rick’s Famous Juicy Burgers is one of those places. Although seemingly under the radar, this spot has received significant recognition for its delicious smash burgers and ambiance. In the first week of April, the annual competition for best burger in New York announced its upstate semi-finalists, and Rick’s was right there in the Central NY section, alongside three other Utica restaurants, one New Hartford spot and a tavern in Rome. Although none of these spots made it to the 2025 finals, their nominations, based on public opinion, warrant a visit. Looking for a classic American meal, I visited Rick’s for lunch.
As I drove up, it became clear why I had never noticed it before. Located on Broad Street, just one block away from the Utica train station, the entrance to Rick’s is tucked on the inside of a parking lot, barely visible from the street. A small, bright orange sign in the window of an otherwise residential-looking building is the only sign visible to passersby. Once inside, the color scheme continues—the booths, signage and stools radiate a vibrant orange. The interior design seeks to sport a “1970s rock, American spirit,” the owner explained in the Utica Observer-Dispatch. The walls are all wood-panelled, with a cassette player built into the wall encompassed by an array of cassettes from 70s rock bands. Album covers, plastic dolls and images of women with 70s-style curled hair cover the walls behind classic diner style booths.
The decor and warmth of the dining area felt a little incompatible with the sheer size of the restaurant. Rick’s spacious interior is not quite what I was expecting for a cozy burger joint.
Rick’s Famous Juicy Burgers is owned by Francis Pezzolanella, who also owns Nostro’s and Ocean Blue. The quality of ingredients, from freshly ground beef to hand-cut fries, carries over, but the price range at Rick’s could not be farther from its sister restaurants. Burgers and sandwiches fall in the $8 to $10 range, as opposed to the steeper prices at the sister restaurants: the grilled chicken club at Ocean Blue is $19. Overall, Rick’s is a great option for a quick, cheap lunch.
For a place that markets itself as a burger joint, the highlight of the meal was shockingly the fried chicken sandwich. The burger comes on a classic soft potato bun, with a hefty load of pickles and chopped onions. The name of the restaurant misled me. Instead of the juicy patty the restaurant name promises, it had more of a smash burger style, with a thin, almost crispy patty. Overall, once I added more of the signature sauce, the burger was a great meal. It’s not going to blow your mind, and it certainly isn’t the best burger I’ve had in Central New York, but it absolutely satisfies the craving for a quick and delicious burger. Make sure to order an extra cup of the Rick Sauce and put it on everything, from the burger to your fries. The spicy version is slathered with a tangy sauce that brings a slow yet present heat.
The shakes are a welcome addition to the meal, the perfect thickness for slurping through a straw or dipping a fry. Don’t skip the desserts either— at the end of the meal, the store’s manager came over to drop off a pistachio cookie and an incredibly large fruity pebble Rice Krispy Treat, simply because he had heard us tell the cashier it was our first time eating at Rick’s. Overall, this restaurant is a great stop for a quick bite, with a classic and well-executed menu. Don’t come in expecting a burger that is going to change your life, and you will leave satisfied with the quality, speed and friendliness of Rick’s Famous Juicy Burgers.
