Rogers Burgers is one of Flatbush’s newest dining spots, serving up a Caribbean twist on classic American fast food.
The burger joint, at 801 Rogers Ave., has been serving up burgers layered with ingredients familiar to the predominantly Caribbean neighborhood of Flatbush such as jerk, curry and pikliz (a pickled slaw). The inspiration to mix island fare with typical American fast food delights is because the owners are children of West Indian immigrants, exposed to a broader American culture.
“Part of that is eating burgers that’s a better quality than what’s being offered here,” said co-founder, Josue Pierre, who is of Haitian descent and a Flatbush native.
Their top two top selling menu items include the Creole Burger, packed with flavorful Haitian pikliz and the Yard Burger, a beef patty on a brioche bun with cheddar cheese and jerk-flavored aioli.
“The goal with Rogers Burgers is still providing burgers but in comfort within the culture,” said co-founder Jonathan Pierre-Lafleur. “I can still do the marriage of the Caribbean experience with American classics."
The duo also serves a crispy chicken sandwich and wings, with flavors such as jerk, buffalo and sweet chilli.
“You grow up here [Flatbush] and at some point in your life you've had griot, jerk chicken, and something that's curry based on one plate,” said Pierre, discussing the restaurant’s attempt to capture several parts of Caribbean cuisine in Flatbush. “Those are key aspects of the menu that we've integrated.”
Pierre and Pierre-Lafleur also recognized the potential for a Caribbean burger joint as a way to keep money in the Flatbush community.
“We don’t want to go all the way to Williamsburg or Manhattan or Downtown Brooklyn for a decent burger,” said Pierre. “We grew up here so we know there are people here who have the buying power.”
The genesis of Rogers Burgers was simply the founders' own late night craving for burgers. The duo had spoken about their lack of choices for quality late-night eats when a barber suggested to them that they should fill that gap.
“The barber said, ‘You know what's really missing here? It's going to sound crazy, but a burger shop,’” said Pierre. “It's one thing for you to suspect something, but when the market is showing you that's what they want, that's awesome, right?”
Pierre and Pierre-Lafleur then hit the ground running, doing market research to develop concepts for a burger restaurant.
“We visited different eateries that said they sold burgers in the area and then we started to refine the concept and think about what we would want this place to look and feel like,” said Pierre, listing customer service, an inviting aesthetic, and freshness and quality as a few concept priorities.
“There’s very little comfort,” said Pierre-Lafleur, speaking to the fast casual restaurant experience in the neighborhood, where many food joints are purposed for takeout.
So far, Rogers Burgers has seen a jovial response from the community. According to Pierre-Lafleur, they’re serving 200 people and 500 burgers per day, and sold out in the second week of business.
Much of the attention drawn to the shop comes from social media, contributing to the selling out of food that particular week.
“I would have projected that if we really put in the work, maybe in 12 to 24 months we could achieve this level of noteworthyness within our community – but the way things are moving now – I didn't anticipate this,” said Pierre.
