Whether you're a tourist or a local, Black Tap Craft Burgers and Beer is a must-visit spot in NYC. Aside from their funky and unique Craft burgers like the Pizza burger, the Californian, and the Falafel Burger, Black Tap has eight different Crazy Shakes. They are $15 of pure heaven in a milkshake. Some of the crazy flavors include the Cake Shake which has a whole piece of funfetti cake on the top and the Brooklyn Blackout with an entire brownie on the top. Aside from all the perfection that Black Tap has to offer, it can be quite tricky to make the best out of your experience if you don't do your research first. Lucky for you I have the best Black Tap tips and tricks to help you out.  

Tip#1- The Right Location At The Right Time 

One of the most important things to know about Black Tap is that they don't take reservations. This means you have to go to the right location at the right time or else you will be waiting in line for anywhere from 30 minutes to 2 hours. Obviously, if you can go on a weekday versus a weekend that is the best option.

From personal experience I have learned that there is strategy in picking which of the Black Tap locations to go to. My first time going, I assumed 3 o'clock on a Saturday in Midtown would be fine, only to be forced to the end of a 2 hour line in the freezing cold. Instead of waiting we decided to try the location on 14th street in the Meatpacking District. When we got there there was no line and we only waited 10 minutes for a table. As long as you pick the right time and right location, you can have a great experience. 

Tip #2- Choosing Sides

All Black Tap Burgers come with fries, and don't get me wrong, they are great. However, for $2 extra you can get the biggest and crunchiest onion rings I have ever seen. I thought I would budget myself and just get fries, but when I saw the onion rings at the table next to me I was tempted to ask for an order. Definitely take this tip into consideration on your next visit. Trust me, you wont regret it once you bite into the fried goodness.

Tip #3- Shakes

YES the shakes are amazing....and yes they are $15. This is when tip #3 comes in. Because the shakes are on the pricey side and because they are so big, why not split one with your pal or even a date? Not only does it save your wallet, but sharing the same milkshake is a classic date move. Even just splitting one with your friend is a good idea because they are HUGE. When I went, I split the Cookie 'N Creme Supreme and it was plenty for two people. In no way is this tip discouraging you from getting as many milkshakes as you want, it's just a good tip if you are trying to budget your way through NYC.  

Tip #4- Get Those Pics

Black Tap puts it best in their caption "Pics or it didn't happen". Unlike some restaurants, Black Tap encourages people to take pictures of your food and shakes. So there's no reason to be embarrassed when posing with your food and having fun with your pictures. They make their shakes look pretty for a reason, so photograph and Instagram away.

#SpoonTip: Use the fun and funky posters, floors, wallpaper, and decorations they have in Black Tap as your background. 

Tip #5- Treat. Yo. Self. 

The last and most important tip of all is to treat yourself. Black Tap is about having a guilt-free and fun experience where you should indulge and enjoy. You can go to the gym any day you want, but how often can you say you had a milkshake with an entire piece of cake on it?

I hope by now you are already planning when you're going to SHAKE-on-down to Black Tap.