Your Brake Lights Aren't Working

Whenever I tell someone I'm in a burger club the question is always
"What are your top burger places?" After I say my favs the response is
"I can't believe you haven't been to (insert classic NY burger
location) , you have to go there!" Thing is BCNY has steered away
from some of those places because everyone goes there. Not that we
only seek out obscure up and coming joints, we just don't get excited
about your, say Corner Bistro. But in an effort to set a
"foundation" and get some classic NY burger joints under our belt,
BCNY decided to check out J.G. Melon over the holidays.

First thing we noticed when we walked into the upper east side
location was the line. Well it wasn't so much of a line as people
crowded around the bar and entrance way. The wait was about 45 min. At
one point I was trying to get through the crowd and had to stop
suddenly. The waitress that was following behind me bumped into me and
said "Your brake lights aren't working." Granted, it was a Saturday
during the holidays but something tells me this is like a Burger Joint
or Shake Shack. There is probably only one hour a day that you can
avoid the line.


J.G. Melon looks like an old pub. There is a beautiful old bar at the
front that leads to one room crammed with tables. Hence the wait. But
while we waited we had a great view of the kitchen. And the burgers
being grilled. And being lined up on the counter for the wait staff.
And the smell of the grill. God, the smell. That's when I realized what
I had done. I showed up hungry. "Big mistake. Huge." It was absolute
torture.


Once we sat I couldn't wait to order. And the waitress couldn't wait
for us to order either. I should mention that BCNY was one short. Anna
was out of town so I decided, in her honor to order mine rare. But I
couldn't tell you if it made a difference. All I know is that I was
starving. This is what it was like for me:



But I remember that the burger:bun ratio was perfect. And it comes
with pickles, onions and cheese. And I loved the fries. They come
separately, which annoys some of us here at BCNY but not me. These
fries were shaped liked chips which made them perfect for dipping.
Kinda like waffle fries but not waffled and not as big. I apologize
for not having a better review of the actual burger. That's my bad. I
ate it WAY too fast. All I remember was I loved it.



So if you are prepared for the wait this "classic" burger joint in the
upper east side is great. OK? Happy? Can we go check out White Manna
now??

Roger rates:




Bex:

The burger is no-nonsense with American cheese melted on a thick beef patty with plenty of pickle chips and red onion slices on the side. Although, I would have liked some lettuce and tomato. The bun is generously toasted and there is no sauce whatsoever. Of course I added lots of ketchup! The Cottage fries are a must, thinly sliced rounds fried to a perfect crispiness.




JG Melon
1291 Third Ave.
New York, NY 10021