JG Melon
Bar & grill · Upper East Side ·
Iconic pub for burgers, cottage fries, and Bloody Marys
Iconic pub for burgers, cottage fries, and Bloody Marys
"I count JG Melon as a casual, cash-only New York institution with one of the city’s best burgers and a pleasingly vintage feel." - Hannah Towey
"I'm sometimes skeptical of “The One Thing” to order at a given restaurant, but in the case of JG Melon, it holds up. Every time I've been to the (cash only) Upper East Side institution, I've ordered the cheeseburger, and I've not been disappointed. You can get it without cheese, or with bacon; either iteration comes with LTO and pickles. It's no-frills, but in the age of the ever-present smashburger, the depth is a nice return to burgers of yore. Is it annoying that the pillowy cottage fries are not included? Yes, but order a side anyway." - Kat Chen
"When plans for a second location of the classic Upper East Side burger joint J.G. Melon were announced in late 2014, people had mixed reactions. Much like when a classic movie starts production on a sequel decades after the original, excitement was met with a great deal of skepticism. You can’t just re-apply a formula for success with a completely different cast and crew and expect magic to happen. You’ll end up with Dumb and Dumber: When Harry Met Lloyd. Then again, maybe you can. Because as far as we can tell, the new J.G. Melon is an excellent copy of the first. The new spot on MacDougal Street is run by a few seasoned restaurateurs and one longtime manager of the original who licensed both the name and the watermelon trinkets from the 3rd Avenue location. Actually, they seem to have also licensed every other detail, from the burger recipe to the cottage fries to the sweet, dank smell of wet bar towels and stale beer. And after a few visits, we’re happy to tell you that new J.G. Melon looks, feels, and tastes pretty much exactly like old J.G. Melon. So if this is a long overdue sequel, it’s Herbie Fully Loaded. Cinema at its motherf*cking finest. The new J.G. Melon owners are so committed to authenticity, there’s even a bartender named George who will introduce himself to you with a handshake when you sit down. He is either from Staten Island and actually named George, or he’s an actor from Maryland named Trevor. Either way, we’re into it. You will be too. Food Rundown Cheeseburger Looks right, smells right, tastes right. Carry on. Cottage Fries A little bit crispy, a little bit tender. These are also right on the money. Chef’s Salad Here’s the scenario: It’s Sunday, you spent your entire weekend drinking, and now you’re having a burger. Maybe you should think about getting a salad into the mix. Or maybe you have no idea what we’re talking about? Whatever you say. Chili Those who truly know how to do J.G. Melon know that a side of chili is a must, if only to dip your cottage fries in. Bloody Mary That thing we said about how you spent your weekend? Here’s a salad alternative. If you really have some balls, order a Bloody Bull, which is this but with beef broth mixed in." - Chris Stang
"This New York institution with cottage fries and green-checked tablecloths has been serving its simple, classic burgers since TGI Friday's was nothing more than a swinging singles bar down the street. If you haven't been to this iconic burger establishment, there are a few things you should know: it will inevitably be crowded, it’s cash-only, and you need to order the chili and a martini in addition to your burger. And once you’ve been, you’ll think about going back every time you feel overwhelmingly sad, happy, or drunk." - sonal shah, willa moore, will hartman, neha talreja
"Why the cast of Gossip Girl never left the Met steps and made a beeline for burgers and martinis at J.G. Melon we’ll never know. Although it likely has something to do with the fact that they were still in high school. You don’t have to make the same mistake. After the city’s largest museum has thoroughly exhausted you, head to this oh-so-classic New York establishment where the martinis are very dirty, the burgers are all cooked medium-well regardless of what you tell your server, and the cups of chili are always steaming hot. It’s cash only, but there’s an ATM on the corner of 75th and 3rd, which we assume sees a lot of burger- and martini-related transactions." - neha talreja, willa moore, molly fitzpatrick