From pop-up sensation to permanent fixture, Kevin Morgan’s burger joint delivers restaurant-quality meals late into the night, with house-made cookies and soon-to-return BBQ specialties, all with a hidden speakeasy in the back from veteran bar owner Michael Lombardozzi, who’s also behind Bushwick’s versatile day-to-night hotspot Mervs
In Bushwick’s vibrant nightlife landscape, a common scenario unfolds nightly: as bars prepare for last call, hunger-strikes, and options dwindle to fast-food chains or corner stores. Enter Lacey Burger at Ra Ra Rhino, where Caribbean-born, Brooklyn-raised Kevin Morgan is transforming late-night dining expectations by serving quality smash burgers, wings, and more into the early morning hours. But there’s more than meets the eye at this Willoughby Avenue location…step through the functioning photobooth inside Lacey Burger, and you’ll discover Ra Ra Rhino, a hidden speakeasy offering craft cocktails in an atmospherically designed space, conceived and operated by Bushwick hospitality veteran Michael Lombardozzi, whose multifaceted approach to neighborhood hospitality is also evident at his other venture, Mervs on Irving Avenue.
The Late-Night Quality Gap
“When you’re going home at three, four in the morning, you want something good to eat and not just stopping by a random taco truck or McDonald’s,” explains Morgan, describing the void he aimed to fill with Lacey Burger. “You might want a good meal.”
This insight, born from his own experiences as a Brooklyn night owl, drove Morgan to create the kind of late-night food spot he always wished existed. The kitchen routinely serves customers late into the night, often experiencing a rush around 2:30 a.m. that keeps the team cooking until 3 a.m. “It is what it is, everyone’s talking, having a party,” Morgan says, embracing the after-hours energy.
From Home Kitchen to Neighborhood Staple
Morgan’s path to culinary entrepreneurship began during the pandemic when restaurant closures forced him to get creative. “I didn’t have access to a lot of things to eat,” he recalls. “So whatever I wanted to eat something specific, I figured out how to make it.”
Without professional training, Morgan taught himself through cookbooks and YouTube videos, initially focusing on barbecue. His resourcefulness extended to his cooking setup: “I bought a portable pellet grill and I put it on my fire escape, and I was making briskets, ribs… all on my fire escape.”
This makeshift operation evolved into a small business run from his home for about six months before a friend offered him space for a weekly pop-up. From there, Morgan’s cooking career accelerated, expanding to three days a week and multiple venues across Brooklyn including Skinny Dennis and Lovers Rock.
The burger concept emerged organically when Morgan and his wife were considering additional food options for their pop-ups. Looking for something “fast, great, delicious,” they landed on burgers, a decision that would define the next phase of Morgan’s culinary journey.
After successful pop-ups, Morgan connected with Ra Ra Rhino. “We did a pilot last year, last July 31st. And good night, we packed it out,” he recalls. A month-long residency in September followed, after which the team was invited to take over the kitchen permanently, creating the unique partnership that exists today.
The Menu: Crafted for Late Night
Lacey Burger’s menu reflects Morgan’s focus on quality late-night comfort food. The signature “Lacey” burger comes in two sizes priced at $10 and $14, with variations including the “Onion,” “Rodeo,” “PlainJane,” and plant-based “Beyond” burgers.
The offerings extend beyond burgers to include chicken sandwiches, wings in “Smokey Mild” and other flavors, and hot dogs as “Glizzy’s.” Sides include regular fries and chopped cheese fries.
A notable collaboration features Mike’s Hot Honey, which Morgan uses on his wings, Rodeo Burger, and in some of his sauces. “They sponsor us. They give us tons and tons and tons of honey,” Morgan explains, highlighting how this partnership has helped his business grow.
Meanwhile, behind the photobooth, Ra Ra Rhino complements the food menu with an innovative cocktail program featuring unique creations in a distinctively designed space that provides the perfect nightcap after enjoying Morgan’s culinary offerings.
Consistency as a Cornerstone
For Morgan, consistency is non-negotiable. “When I go out to eat, you want it to be good for what you pay, you want it to look the way it looks online,” he explains. “So when we make food here, that’s a big thing for me… it’s going to look the same every time.”
This commitment to quality control has helped Lacey Burger build trust with its growing customer base. After a slower start when they first opened in late 2022, business has picked up significantly since February as neighborhood awareness has grown through Instagram, foot traffic, and word of mouth.
This philosophy aligns perfectly with Lombardozzi’s approach at Mervs, where consistency across dayparts has been key to building the establishment’s dual identity. Whether serving morning coffee or evening cocktails, maintaining quality standards has created loyal followings for both businesses.
Evolution and Expansion
While burgers remain the core offering, Morgan continues to evolve the menu. A recent addition to the kitchen is a smoker that will allow him to reintroduce his barbecue specialties. “We’d like to do some brisket here, like at least once a week, some brisket, some ribs,” he shares.
The team has also started making cookies to satisfy sweet cravings. “People started asking, you know, what are we offering? Donuts are gone,” Morgan explains, referring to the previous concept, Dromedary Doughnuts.
The partnership with Ra Ra Rhino enhances this evolutionary approach, giving patrons reason to visit at different times for different experiences, from early evening cocktails in the speakeasy to late-night burgers after a night out.
Caribbean Roots, Brooklyn Soul
Born in the Grenadines and moving to New York at age nine, Morgan’s culinary perspective is informed by both his Caribbean heritage and his Brooklyn upbringing. “The last 25 years of my life I’ve been in Brooklyn. I’ve lived all over Brooklyn, the last 12 years, I’m a Flatbush guy,” he says.
Food was central to family life growing up. “We’re a big family, so food is very important,” Morgan recalls. “At events, I was always cooking. My mom’s always cooking.” This foundation, combined with his self-taught experimentation during the pandemic, created the culinary philosophy that guides Lacey Burger today.
This authentic approach to food resonates with Lombardozzi’s hospitality philosophy at Mervs, where co-operator Carlos Ordonez brings his Colombian coffee heritage to the extensive coffee program featuring single-origin Colombian beans across 18 different preparations.
Beyond the Burger: A Culinary Vision
Morgan sees Lacey Burger as just one concept under his broader “Kitchen Time” umbrella brand. “I just want to develop different concepts and kind of just throw them out,” he explains, envisioning a future where his various food concepts, burgers, barbecue, and tacos, each have dedicated spaces.
“I honestly just want to be able to express myself through food,” Morgan shares, revealing the passion that drives his entrepreneurial journey. “For me, that’ll make me happy. You can have you come here, you can go to my burger spot, have a burger, want my tacos, have a taco, want my barbecue, have a barbecue.”
Until that vision fully materializes, Morgan and his team continue serving up quality late-night fare at Lacey Burger, while Ra Ra Rhino provides the perfect complement with its hidden speakeasy experience, ensuring that Bushwick night owls never have to settle for subpar midnight munchies or ordinary drinks again. And for those seeking daytime quality, Mervs stands ready on Irving Avenue with coffee, food, and workspace from 10AM daily.
A Dual-Concept Experience
What makes the Lacey Burger location particularly special is its partnership with Ra Ra Rhino, the speakeasy hidden behind the photobooth inside the restaurant. While Lacey Burger satisfies late-night hunger with quality comfort food, Ra Ra Rhino offers an immersive cocktail experience in a dramatically designed space. The speakeasy operates Tuesday through Sunday with hours complementary to Lacey Burger’s late-night service: Tuesday-Wednesday (5PM-1AM), Thursday (5PM-2AM), Friday-Saturday (5PM-3AM), and Sunday (5PM-12AM).
This dual-concept venue creates a complete nightlife experience in one location where patrons can enjoy Morgan’s burgers and then discover the hidden cocktail sanctuary without ever leaving the building.
Bushwick’s Multi-Concept Maven
While Ra Ra Rhino represents Lombardozzi’s more refined hospitality concept, his newest venture, Mervs at 266 Irving Avenue (at Menahan Street), showcases his versatility as a nightlife entrepreneur. Co-operated with Carlos Ordonez (formerly of House Party Café), Mervs functions as a chameleon-like establishment that transforms throughout the day, starting at 10AM daily as a spacious café serving single-origin Colombian coffee before transitioning at 4PM into a neighborhood bar with $10 espresso martinis, a $2 pool table, and weekly specials like $1 Wing Wednesdays.
“Each space reflects a different aspect of what makes Bushwick special,” explains Lombardozzi. “Ra Ra Rhino gives you that hidden, sophisticated experience, while Mervs is more like hanging at a cool aunt and uncle’s place, comfortable, unpretentious, but still with quality offerings.”
This dual approach to neighborhood hospitality creates complementary experiences rather than competing ones. Where Ra Ra Rhino excels at late-night refinement, Mervs shines as an all-day institution where you can grab a morning coffee and breakfast taco, return for a $14 Birria sandwich at lunch, and wind down with an affordable espresso martini and vinyl night, fulfilling different neighborhood needs under one entrepreneurial vision.
Cocktails For The People
Behind Ra Ra Rhino’s innovative beverage program is Lombardozzi, whose cocktail philosophy remains consistent across his establishments: craft quality without industry pretension, favoring accessible, crowd-pleasing options.
“The cocktail menu is designed for our customers, so we’re not trying to offer ingredients that they don’t know or haven’t heard of,” explains Lombardozzi. “We’re more throwbacks and retro cocktails at Ra Ra Rhino.”
Among the standout offerings is an Amaretto Sour cut with Cognac, made with house-made sour mix rather than pre-packaged ingredients. “That’s an old-school term for sweet-and-sour that comes out of a gun,” Lombardozzi notes. “We make ours with super orange juice and lemon-lime syrup, and we don’t use egg whites, we use a foam that’s vegan-friendly.”
Another distinctive creation is a milk punch that combines coconut watermelon, coconut water rum, and Szechuan beazu. The careful attention to ingredients and preparation reflects Lombardozzi’s commitment to serving elevated cocktails that remain approachable and enjoyable rather than intimidating.
This same philosophy carries over to Mervs, where the signature $10 espresso martinis have developed a reputation as “some of the best in the neighborhood,” proof that quality cocktails don’t need to come with Manhattan pricing. “It’s about creating experiences that feel special without being exclusive,” Lombardozzi explains. “Whether you’re having a craft cocktail at Ra Ra Rhino or an espresso martini at Mervs, the goal is the same, quality without pretension.”
Lacey Burger at Ra Ra Rhino
Address: 1329 Willoughby Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11237
Phone: 917-563-3411
Email: [email protected]
Lacey Burger Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 5 p.m. until late (kitchen typically cooking until 3 a.m.)
Ra Ra Rhino Hours:
- Tuesday-Wednesday: 5 p.m. – 1 a.m.
- Thursday: 5 p.m. – 2 a.m.
- Friday-Saturday: 5 p.m. – 3 a.m.
- Sunday: 5 p.m. – 12 a.m.
Access to Ra Ra Rhino: Through the photobooth inside Lacey Burger WiFi: Available for customers Reservations: Walk-ins welcome at Lacey Burger; reservations recommended for Ra Ra Rhino via their website Instagram: @laceyburgerbk, @rararhinonyc
Mervs Address: 266 Irving Avenue (at Menahan Street), Brooklyn, NY 11237 Hours:
- Mervs Café: Daily, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Mervs Bar: Daily, 4 p.m. until close Specials: $10 espresso martinis, Monday $20 burger-fries-martini special, $1 Wing Wednesdays, weekend bottomless mimosa brunch Instagram: @MervsCafe
Note: This article was sponsored by Lacey Burger through Bushwick Daily’s local business partnership program.
