Salt Bae restaurant that sold £78 milkshakes and was branded 'the worst' closes

13 June 2023 , 13:49

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Salt Bae Burger New York is owned by Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe

A Salt Bae burger chain once branded as the 'worst restaurant' in New York City has closed its doors.

Salt Bae Burger New York is owned by the controversial Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gökçe, who has racked up millions of followers with his iconic sprinkling of salt on pricey meat.

Now he's facing hot water again as the burger restaurant has closed, according to a sign on the door - shortly after being branded the 'worst' with 'all the charm of an airplane hanger.'

The eatery sold wildly priced items including $99 milkshakes, $180 signature sandwiches and a $100 golden burger - but critics have said despite the hefty price tag the menu was "terrible and "flavourless."

Some have also claimed the truffle fries tasted no different than regular fries.

UK takeaway chef says he's just as good as Salt Bae and his food is way cheaper

The restaurant was soon slammed as having 'all the charm of an airplane hangar' with critics saying its food was overpriced (Tripadvisor)

Nusret Gökçe

Nusret Gökçe has Salt Bae restaurants all over the world where customers are billed expensive prices for a meal - but now that seems now longer the case for the New York eatery.

Salt Bae Burger New York opened at 220 Park Avenue South, near Union Square Park, just a month before the coronavirus pandemic closed restaurants to indoor dining.

Critics were quick to slam the chain with one Gothamist food critic stating it was the 'worst restaurant' in New York City.

The menu at Salt Bae burger (@eater_ny/Instagram)

One of the burgers (@eater_ny/Instagram)

Eater’s critics wrote at the time that “it had all the charm of an airplane hanger,” while its menu reminded them of a more expensive, worst-tasting version of the Black Tap burger chain.

The sign on the Salt Bae burger chain door said the business was relocating to the same address as Nusr-Et Steakhouse—Gökçe’s global steakhouse chain at 412 West 15th Street, according to NY Eater.

Turkish restaurateur Nusret Gokce, also known as 'Salt Bae' (AFP via Getty Images)

Nusr-Et Steakhouse will continue to serve the burger chain’s menu, according to a spokesperson for the brand.

The steakhouse has an additional location at 60 W. 53rd Street, near Sixth Avenue, in Midtown.

Nusret Gökçe, a chef and butcher from Turkey, became famous in 2017 for bouncing flakes of salt off his forearm and onto other people's food, which gained millions of Instagram followers, and earned him the handle Salt Bae.

Mr Gökçe has turned his success into international fame with dozens of chains of steak houses and burger restaurants.

The burger chain was a follow up to to Nusr-Et Steakhouse, a restaurant chain with more than 20 locations worldwide that the Turkish butcher brought to Manhattan in 2018.

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The very first Salt Bae Burger opened in Dubai in 2019, while the now non-existent Union Square location, opened a year later.

Nusr-Et and Mr Gökçe have been approached for comment.

Gemma Sherlock