Trama

Marshall claims that he had the best hamburger in the world during his first week in New York City, but he forgot where the burger joint is located. The gang then hits the streets of Manhattan to help him find it.

Barney can't stop promoting his new job at Goliath National Bank (GNB). He keeps asking Marshall to interview for a job. Marshall tries to find a job. Robin is on a 7 day cleanse diet. Everyone is at the pub and they're promoting a new burger. Everyone gets the burger and that leads to Marshall reliving his first days in New York when he found the "best burger in New York City." This leads to a quest to find the place with a neon red burger sign and a green door. A crazy strong Regis Philbin gets in on the action.—Anonymous

In a hostile takeover, the company that Barney works for has just acquired Goliath National Bank (GNB). As Marshall is still unemployed with what seems like few prospects, Barney tells him that he can probably get him a job at GNB. But working for GNB is not quite the environmental law job he had in mind. Meanwhile, MacLaren's has just hired a new cook who according to Wendy the waitress makes the best burgers in New York. As the gang takes their first bite of the burger, they do agree that the burger is pretty good, but Marshall claims that it is nowhere near as good as the best burger he had when he first moved to New York eight years ago. Unfortunately, he never remembered exactly where the burger joint was and never could find it again. Needing something positive in his life, Marshall convinces the gang to find that burger joint as Robin believes she knows which one he's talking about. With a little pressure by Regis Philbin to find the place, the gang come to the conclusion that Marshall needing to find this burger is more than just about the burger. Through it all, Robin takes the brunt of the problems of the night.—Huggo

Future Ted begins by stating that when he first moved to New York City, it was an ugly, dirty place, but goes on to say that it changed, unfortunately, with good bars becoming banks, like Goliath National Bank, the bank Barney's company just bought (it took 2 months and cost 2000 jobs), which he advises Marshall to get a job with. Lily rebukes this suggestion, saying even though Marshall had been to a lot of bad job interviews (and with every interview his expectations from himself and from his job kept going down), he was still going to be an environmental lawyer.

Later, the group goes to the bar, and are advised by Wendy the waitress (Charlene Amoia) to have the burger, a new special from the new cook. After an argument, they agree to try the burger, mainly because Robin hadn't eaten anything in two days due to a new diet. Once the burgers arrive (Robin's is late), the group all say how good the burger is, except for Marshall, who says it's just 'OK', seeing as he had the best burger in New York eight years ago.

Marshall explains that he was scared and bewildered when he first moved to New York, but quickly finds the city is nicer than he thought. While taking a walk, he accidentally finds a burger joint, and has the 'best burger in New York'. He also notices an autographed picture of Regis Philbin on the wall, saying how good the burger was. Afterwards, he rushes to tell Ted about the place, but quickly forgets where it was, being new to the city. Since then, Marshall has tried every burger joint he can in an attempt to find the place, even meeting with Regis, who says he can't find where the place is either, and is also desperate to find it. He gives Barney his number so he can call him if he finds the joint. A customer from the next booth says he knows the place, the corner bistro. Marshall brushes him off saying that its only the highest rated burger on the Zagat guide, which Marshall has already eaten and that's not the burger. He has already tried every so-called best burger in NYC trying to find that burger. Corner Bistro, Paul's place, 21, Veggie Heaven and many more.

When Robin says she knows the place, the group rushes downtown to find it (before Robin can try her burger). On the way, Barney texts Regis telling him where to find the place, causing him to leave a TV show recording. They all order the burger (Robin's is late, again), and once more they agree it's an incredible burger (Lily has a burg-asm, Barney wants to spend the evening with the burger, take it to dinner, then a movie and then to his place for fooling around). Unfortunately, Marshall says it's not the right burger (sesame freckled bun like the breast of an angel, resting on a bed of ketchup and mustard, with their flavors mingling. A pickle, playful little pickle, a slice of tomato and lettuce. A patty of ground beef so exquisite, breaking and combining in the mouth in a fugue of sweets and savories. This is not a sandwich, this is God speaking to us through food). Marshall becomes desperate, and Lily says he's really upset about not getting a new job. The radius of the region where he goes without pants has been increasing over the last 2 weeks. At first it was within the house, then one day he went to get the paper, day after that went downstairs to get the mail, culminating in him going to a burger joint in his underpants. As the self esteem grows smaller, the underpants radius gets bigger. The group resolves to find the place for Marshall, and asks a waitress for help. She tells them "this burger joint was modeled after another one, uptown".

Again, the group rushed to the new joint. On the way, Regis calls, and Barney tells him about the new place. In frustration, Regis mangles a post box with his bare hands. Once they arrive, Marshall is sure it's the right location, but in its place is a Goliath National Bank ATM from Barney's bank. Lily attacks Barney, and Marshall admits the reason Barney's been talking up the bank is that Marshall got a job there. While they talk, a guy nearby promoting a strip club tells them the place isn't gone, but has just moved. After paying him, thanks to the ATM, he tells them where the place is.

Finally, the group reaches the joint, Marshall deems it to be the exact place, and the gang finally enjoys the burger together (Robin wants the burger inside her, Barney is worried that he might get the burger pregnant), as well as fulfilling Marshall's long search for it.