Taste The 518: 605 Smash makes one satisfying smashburger

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Happy Tuesday, Capital Region! Today, we’re taking you to Albany’s 605 Smash for some of the tastiest burgers in town. Plus, our Top 5 Weekend Picks is your ticket to a splendid wintry weekend.

—Phat X. Chiem & Karley Sullivan

Does 605 Smash have the tastiest smashburgers in town?

Smashburgers are a magical alchemy of meat, heat and fat.

Take a handful of minced ground beef, loosely packed so it doesn’t turn into a hockey puck, and smash it onto a searingly hot flat-top grill. What comes out is what a great burger should be: deeply caramelized, cooked-through beef, with crispy edges all around, yet still juicy and dripping with fat.

You know who does a terrifically tasty smashburger? The recently opened 605 Smash at 560 Madison Ave, across from Albany’s Washington Park.

Owners Gabe Moya and Cory Winne, the team behind Restaurant 605, launched 605 Smash after seeing nonstop demand for their signature burgers. Inspired by NYC’s best smashburger spots (and Moya’s own experience at Shake Shack), they’re keeping the menu super simple: 

• 🍔 Smashburgers

• 🐔 Fried chicken sandwiches

• 🍟 Fries, regular, cheesy & loaded

The burger joint is a fresh take on a historic Albany space. The building, home to Ralph’s Tavern for decades, has been a neighborhood staple since the 1870s. 

We dropped in last week to try their food. Here’s the verdict:

The burger: Very tasty. The well-seasoned, craggy-edged beef patty is topped with a Martin’s potato bun—which could have benefited from more toasting (it got soggy fast).

The cheeseburger is topped with something called New School American Cheese, an artisanal version of the classic, melty cheese but made with aged Cheddar, and a dash of paprika and turmeric. The excellent thick pickles added just the right punch of acid to cut through the fat.

Is the burger a bit on the greasy side? Yes, but you kinda expect that from a smashburger.

The chicken sandwich: Some folks might say this is the real star of the show. A huge breaded and fried chicken patty is doused with a perfectly balanced, slightly spicy sauce that’s akin to Buffalo sauce. Forget Chick-fil-A; come here to get your chicken sammy fix.

The fries: Totally forgettable. Not great, but not bad. Maybe we shoulda gone for the loaded version.

The deets: 605 Smash, 560 Madison Ave, Albany. Single cheeseburger: $8.50. Double cheeseburger: $11.50. Fried chicken sandwich: $12.50. Fries: $4; loaded fries: $8. Impossible patty: $2 extra. Pro tip: Get your burger “Oklahoma style” if you love onions. Also, bring cash to avoid the extra credit card fee.

❄️ WEATHER WATCH

Since the early 1900s, the Attanasio family has been associated with decorative concrete masonry and superior swimming pools. With decades of experience (going on 36 years in the Capital Region), our incomparable, handcrafted pools not only look stunning, but also meet the highest standards for quality, safety and reliability. 

Caribbean Pools & Spas has expanded its offerings into all of the newest types of swimming pools and masonry, including in-ground vinyl and fiberglass pools, concrete masonry, and renovations. We offer fiberglass pools in 23 different styles and 5 colors, giving homeowners a wide range of options, no matter the size of their backyards.

Our reputation is built on quality, selection and value. With Caribbean Pools & Spas, you are getting the peace of mind that comes with the highest quality construction, state-of-the-art equipment, comprehensive warranties and personalized customer service.

Call 518-356-4364. Let us know that The 518 sent you!

🤖 A must-see exhibit called “Realms Unreal” at the Art Center for the Capital Region explores the rupture of artificial intelligence in contemporary art. Yesterday’s review by the Times Union took a downright dour and dismissive tone, but curator Taliesin Thomas has brought together some serious artists tackling emerging technologies that can’t be ignored.

👩‍🍳 Katianna Hong, who grew up in Clifton Park and graduated from Albany Academy, will be one of 15 competitors on the new season of “Top Chef,” which premieres March 13. We’re huge fans of Top Chef and cannot wait to cheer on Katianna! [Times Union]

💰️ Make less than $67K annually as a household? A New York program will match you with a volunteer tax preparer to file your tax return for free. [WAMC]

🚧 It’s not just your imagination. All those potholes and bad roads across the Capital Region are costing residents real money—an average of $1,800 per motorist. [WAMC]

⭐️ = The 518 Staff Picks

⭐️ 🤖 Troy Night Out is the monthly municipal celebration that attracts hordes of folks to its charming downtown. This month, the Realms Unreal AI exhibit explores the disruptive, transformative effects of emerging AI technologies in contemporary art-making. Don’t miss this thought-provoking show, auspiciously located in the heart of the action at Arts Center of the Capital Region. Fri, 6—8p, free.

⭐️ ❄️ Lake George Winter Carnival is a bonanza of high-energy winter activities, including duck hunts, outhouse races and glacier golf, along with lumberjack breakfasts and chili cook-offs. Weekends through March 2, $0—$50.

⭐️ 🖼️ Ever heard of a Pecha Kucha? It’s a fast-paced presentation or story told in 20 slides, with each slide shown for only 20 seconds. See what it’s all about at Opalka Gallery’s Pecha Kucha. This event was PACKED last time we went, so get there early to grab a seat and enjoy snacks from Honest Weight Co-op. Fri, 7p, free.

⭐️ 🥣 If you got all souped up at last week’s SoupFest, just wait for the 12th Saratoga Clay Arts Center Chili Bowl. Saratoga’s top restaurants, including Kindred, Lago By Druthers, and Rhea, are competing for the best chili in town. Plus, area clay artists are busy making 2000+ custom ceramic bowls, which will go home with happy chili tasters! Proceeds benefit the Wilton Food Pantry. Sat, 11a—2p, $30—$36.

⭐️ ⛄️ The Huyck Preserve invites you to its annual WinterFest, featuring local vendors, live animals, educational demonstrations, hot food and drink, and winter activities. Get out and enjoy this outdoor wonderland, in Rensselaerville. Sat, 11a—2p, free.

Plus, a bonus Top Weekend Pick this week…

⭐️ 🖼️ Join the opening reception, sip some wine, and be among the first to view Albany Institute of History & Art's new exhibitions: Americans Who Tell the Truth and Portrait Pairings. Fri, 5:30-7:30p, $25 for members; $35 for non-members.

🎟️ MORE NOTABLE EVENTS

🧊 Opening for three weekends in February, the 9th annual Fire & Ice Bar at The Mill in Round Lake features a 30-foot ice bar, apparently the longest ice bar in the Capital Region. The Adirondack Brewery in Lake George is also hosting its Funky Ice Fest this weekend. And the Lagoon Ice Bar will be open for the entirety of the Lake George Winter Carnival.

THURSDAY

🎤 The Cher Show at Proctors highlights the singer’s 35 smash hits, six decades of stardom, and two rock-star husbands 😂 Limited run ends tonight!

FRIDAY

🤣 Catch the funniest comedians at the collegiate level and more seasoned professionals at the National College Comedy Festival 2025, hosted by Skidmore College.

❄️ A sound bath to wash away seasonal depression? Count us in. On Friday, Carols of the Heart presents “Shake It Off: A Sound Journey to Banish the Winter Blues.”

SATURDAY

🧙 Double double, toil & trouble: Get all the oils, crystals and candles you need to brew up some magical craft at the Winter Witches Fest in Guilderland. Sat-Sun.

🎖️ Cohoes Music Hall raises the curtain on “A Few Good Men.” Explore the high-stakes world of honor, duty, and justice with this military legal drama.

🪐 A new series at miSci, Starfilled Storytime is designed for young explorers and features storytelling in the planetarium as stars and constellations move around you. $5.

🔥 The Pinehaven Country Club puts on an LA Wildfire Benefit Concert featuring two bands and a prime rib dinner for just $25.

SUNDAY

🏀 Cheer on the Siena Saints as they play the Quinnipiac Bobcats at the MVP Arena.

Looking ahead: 9 fun ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day—without the fancy dinner.

Saratoga Springs poet Natalli Amato invites you to join “The Alchemy of Writing,” a 4-week journaling series for loving self-discovery. Workshops held online, starting Feb. 5.

Next Friday is First Friday Albany! Take a peek at the events for Albany’s monthly celebration of arts & culture.

🎸 LIVE MUSIC & MORE

GET YOUR EVENT ON THE LIST 🎸

Sundays are the deadline to be included in the coming week’s list!

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