J.G. Melon is not just an institute of the Upper East Side, but that of all NYC. The decor is purposefully dated, and the space is very tight. If you do manage to get a seat inside, don’t let the short menu dissuade you. You know you’ll end up ordering the cheeseburger (or bacon cheeseburger if you’re going all out) and the cottage fries. Don’t forget, the location is cash only so come prepared.
In 1972 the original J.G. Melon opened in the UES. Don’t confuse this location with the other two (Greenwich Village and UWS), which are franchises that just bear the same name. The charm that comes with this location is reminiscent of the old NYC saloons, so it’s expected that the wait service can come with a little extra ‘tude.
Everything you see is what you get. There are no fancy sauces, no fried gimmicks, no #yolkporn or anything of the sort. Yet, it was honestly one of the most juiciest well-flavored burgers we’ve had, probably ever.
The bun was soft yet sturdy enough to hold the burger, the actual burger itself was cooked perfectly and you could tell the meat was of high quality, the melted cheese and crispy bacon and punch from the raw red onions and sweetness from the pickles were just all perfect. I couldn’t have put together a more perfect burger myself.
A true New York City classic and well worth the hype and wait.
Website: jgmelon-nyc.com
Address: 1291 3rd Ave, New York, NY 10021
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