On a sunny day in Long Beach, you might come across a quirky advertisement in front of the historic Laurel Diner: A picture of a beefy cheeseburger inside a glass cage. It's a reference to the Netflix show "You," which features a lover-boy serial killer played by Penn Badgley who is so cunning and likable he's lasted for five seasons. One of the hallmarks of the show is the Badgley's glass cage, a contemporary nod to Hannibal Lecter that his girlfriends and other people always seem to get thrown into. 

But wait, there's more.

When the show's final season came out in April, two episodes featured Long Beach's own Laurel Diner (in addition to a beach house in Point Lookout that they call The Sandbox). This isn't surprising if you've been to the Laurel Diner, a grandiose throwback that looks like the Art Deco movie theater that used to be next door. The space was remodeled in 2014 by current owners Andrew and Peter Loucas, along with their now-retired father, Chris. Eventually the restaurant ended up on a database of friendly places to film, Andrew said. And then in 2024, they got a call from "You's" production team.

If you've seen the show, you'll know that the scenes filmed at the Laurel Diner were relatively minor. The diner's name is used, but it falsely said to be located in Atlantic Beach. The antihero/villain Joe Goldberg attempts to track down his latest muse, Bronte, played by Madeline Brewer, outside the diner. In another scene, you can see Bronte calling Joe on the phone from the front counter, and sitting at a booth with her friend talking. But the interior of the diner is so striking, it makes you proud for Long Island. 

"I was hoping that there would be a murder scene here, it could be almost like a 'Sopranos' ending. But beggars can't be choosers," Andrew joked. "We love Netflix for choosing us, even for the short little bit." 

It's sad when a TV show you've been watching for seven years finally ends. And man, that didn't turn out well. But Andrew found a way to keep it going by creating a promotional cheeseburger in the show's honor. The burger has a catchy name, the Goldburg, after the main character ($26.07 with fries). The over-the-top ingredients don't really seem like something he would eat, but rather, they seek to illustrate his twisted nature.

"We came up with a dark, smoky creation to emulate the vibe of Joe. We took a Pat LaFrieda (Meat Purveyors) 8-ounce burger, and made it into a double smash patty with smoky Gouda cheese," he said. "We came up with a special truffle hot honey sauce, crispy onion strings, romaine lettuce." 

The beefy diner burger is sandwiched between a dark pumpernickel seed bun custom made for the diner. The burger is a little sweet, a little crispy with the onions and has some funk from the melted Gouda. And while some might feel conflicted about the show, the overloaded burger provides a more easy, uncomplicated love. Just don't get too hung up about it.

Laurel Diner, 300 W. Park Ave., Long Beach, 516-432-7728, laureldiner.com. Open 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.