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It’s heeeere... The Burger That Ate Philadelphia is a horror-theme delivery eatery from Stephen Starr

Starr played off his love of old horror movies for his new ghost kitchen,

A double smash burger from the Burger That Ate Philadelphia, a ghost kitchen by Starr Restaurant Organization.
A double smash burger from the Burger That Ate Philadelphia, a ghost kitchen by Starr Restaurant Organization.Read moreCOURTESY STARR RESTAURANT ORGANIZATION

It came from Stephen Starr’s head.

Preparing to open a delivery-only burger concept, he started brainstorming names and decided to play off his love of 1950s and 1960s horror films.

Hence, The Burger That Ate Philadelphia.

TBTAP launches Thursday, April 29, serving its menu out of Frankford Hall in Fishtown for pickup as well as for delivery through the major apps.

Starr said his culinary team used burgers throughout the group for inspiration, including the Burger Américain served at his Washington, D.C., restaurant Le Diplomate and the signature burger served at Upland. They’re all double smash burgers, with an optional third patty. The bun is custom-baked by Orwashers Bakery in New York.

Cinematic-theme burger names include All Work and No Play, Well Clarice, Beauty Killed the Beast, and Whatever You Do, Don’t Fall Asleep. The triple is called Gonna Need a Bigger Boat.

Delivery-only “ghost” kitchens have cropped up during the pandemic to keep kitchens busy while their business from in-person dining has declined. The ghost kitchens also serve as proofs of concept, as restaurateurs such as Jose Garces (Livy’s Plant-Based Foods, Rustika) and Barry Gutin and Larry Cohen (Empanada Alley) test new menus and public acceptance.

Starr saw initial success with Pete’s Place, a “kinda-Korean” eatery from Serpico. More recently, he launched chicken concepts called Wing Wing Wing and Chicken Scratch, plus a Tex-Mex kitchen called Jackass Burrito. (In a stunt last week, two donkeys were led around Rittenhouse Square while Starr employees handed out 150 oversized burritos. The donkeys live at The Farmette, a horse and donkey rescue sanctuary, and Starr has adopted a donkey.)

The Burger That Ate Philadelphia’s menu includes seven burgers, three kinds of fries, and assorted dipping sauces. Hours are 4 to 10 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 4 to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 4 to 9 p.m. Sunday.