Out to Eat…at Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More in Schenectady

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SCHENECTADY — Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More offers three unique cuisines cooked by one master chef under one roof.

Dave Kahn, a self-taught chef, worked in restaurants in places like Sri Lanka, Singapore, Hong Kong, Turkey and Greece before coming to the United States in 1999. Now, the restaurant he owns offers a variety of gourmet burgers, Greek and Indian options.

Years ago, cooking at a Ruby Tuesday, Khan was given the name “Burger Centric.” He said, at the time, he did not really know what that meant. Then, the recession hit in 2008 and his hours were cut, so he decided to open his own restaurant called “Burger Centric” on Delaware Avenue in Albany. He eventually closed that restaurant and opened a new one called “Dave’s Gourmet and Exotic Burgers” on Fuller Road. The second restaurant offered 19 meat options for its burgers, like alligator, snake, kangaroo and python.

In 2016, Kahn opened his third restaurant, first on upper Broadway in Schenectady, before moving to its current home at 16 Edison Ave. in Schenectady.

The Daily Gazette recently spoke with Kahn about Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More.

Q: What are some of your most popular items?
A: We have a whole menu of them. I can’t just tell you one or two…we have a whole list of our most-sold burgers since 2009. Our flagship is our Juicy Lucy, it’s got cheese sealed in the meat, we seal it, then we steam it, we cook it inside, then we smoke it. That’s the most [popular]. If you look at my menu, it says right here ‘money back guarantee.’ In New York, I am the number one for Philly cheesesteaks.

The best thing about my restaurant is I sell three cuisines, and I’ve mastered them, American, Greek and Indian. I have the upper hand on other restaurants because I sell three cuisines.

Q: How do people order your food?
A: Some people eat here, some people take-out, some people order online through our website.

Q: What are some of the things that you like about running your restaurant?
A: Not specific to this restaurant, but I love cooking, I cannot stop cooking. I cook constantly. For the last 16 years, I’m at my grill. I never allow anyone else to cook at my grill, so no matter what is cooked, it’s a masterpiece. Whatever comes out of my kitchen is a masterpiece.

Q: As far as costs go, what do customers typically spend at your restaurant?
A: $20, maybe a little more or less.

Q: How would you describe the atmosphere of your restaurant?
A: Casual, informal. You can come in whatever you want, khakis, pajamas, naked, I don’t care, I’m just here to cook good food.

Q: Why should someone who has not been here before consider coming to your restaurant?
A: They should come because they’ve never had good food until they come to my restaurant. They’ve only had mediocre food, but if they come they’ll get the top notch. If they want food that’s cooked by a professional, each and every time, that’s not cooked by an assembly line cook, then they must eat at Dave’s Gourmet Burgers and More.

Q: Is there anything else people should know?
A: If you come here, you will be treated like family. You will be treated like a person, not a number. I make sure people understand, regardless of their race and gender and anything [like] that, I will make them feel welcome, and make them feel like they belong here. I strictly believe in love, kindness and serving people. I’m in the industry that’s called hospitality and my background, I have an eastern background, is purely hospitable, very kind, very polite to our guests.

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Categories: Business, Email Newsletter, Food, Life and Arts, Life and Arts, Local Flavor, News, News, Schenectady, Schenectady County