BurgerClub

J.G. Melon

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lets eat!

That's rite, the JGM burger, however hard it was for me to order it, put the pub burger back on the map! We're back on those little crowded tables with their checkered and stained table clothes, where you can still press hard on the wood and make it sweat some beer. The JGM rules in this category!
I unfortunately didn't have a lot of time to scrutinise this burger due to some high-level of paranoia and a nervous collapse of the owner on me, but i still had enough time to realise that this patty is super prime quality. Fresh as Luger on its best days. Crispy charred on the outside, while rich and generous in its texture, developping further into nutty buttery flavors when you finally bite it. Moisture is right. This alone makes this burger a top 5 contender for me.
But.....someone might say that 'there's no shame in the game'. Unfortunately, there should be a lot of shame in serving this succulent patty on mere wonder bread bun. This is just not acceptable, and is for me a disappointement comparable to finding the Yanks losing by four against the Devil Rays in the 7th. Yanks pulled it back, the JGM burger gets stuck in this insipid layer of boring roll. The absence of salad and lettuce is debatable, i just assume that a 9 bucks burger should come with it on the side, just in case. Last note, the golden tokens served as 'fries' were just outstanding, reminding you of what real chips should be.
This is an A- at the end, with a definite potential to reach the Grand Cru classification, had JGM dared putting a little care on buns and fixing.

It's back to the basics at JG Melon: checkered tablecloths, snappy service, chalkboard menu--not that you need it--however you choose to order it, your burger will arrive in its purest, most austere form. It's all about the quality of the meat here, and you'll want your senses fully focused on the patty itself--why try to lead them astray by adding bacon, or anything else except the onion and pickles that it comes with? I won't disagree with goldburger that it wouldn't hurt to have the option, but i didn't miss the tomatoes or lettuce for a second. My patty was cooked to perfection--and its rich, buttery flavor permeated every single one of my taste buds. I too was not thrilled with the bun, but I do have to give it credit for making it through to the end without becoming soggy. My burger held together and that is true feat for a burger so juicy. Some believe that the bun is merely a vehicle for the patty, and that the bread should never overshadow the beef, which I agree with to a certain extent, but this guy would only improve with better buns...

Just look at the second to last picture... perfect! All red and juicey in the middle, a big part of the middle, and jet black on the outer edge of the patty... damn, this guy was cooked to perfection!

You've heard it here before... moist, BUTTERY, loose ground that still holds together, and in my opinion, very flavorful. Yeah, there are better burgers out there, but IMHO this J.G. Melon burger comes darn close. I loved the bun, just look at how it wraps itself around the meat like a snug blanket, and still retains all the juices. Sure it could have been a bun like Fanelli's, but this is J.G. Melon, and this is how they do things here. Nice thick crinkle cut pickles and red onions are all you need with this guy... if you want a tomato or some salad, then order it... i'm sure they will bring it to you... just don't show up late and make it look like you cut in front of the other patrons... then Bobby will cut you off

This burger brought so many good feelings back, I had to order a second one... and this guy doesn't make you feel burgerbloated... so there was still room to share the apple sourcream walnut pie!

I proudly gave this place an A-. JG had a big reputation to uphold being that its been rated on the top ten of every single NY burger list Ive seen. The reason why this burger hits such a high mark is because of its delisiously fresh and perfectly cooked patty. The exterior was beautifully charred while leaving the center pink and juicy. The bun, although nothing spectacular, was toasted to perfection. Teamed with the thinly sliced red onion and a few slices of pickle, it all just seemed to work. Nothing gets in the way the tasty patty, just nice combo of salt, spice and crunch contributed by the pickle, onion and nuetral bun. Simply a great burger.

The thin crispy rounds they call fries were a nice treat. Golden brown little morsels an original spin on the french fry.

The atmosphere falls into the classic bar mold shared with the other great ny burger establishments ie. Fanelli and PJ Clarkes.

Love the fries, love the burger. It's like a small version of the Bistro Burger.

like someone else mentioned, I had to try this place because it's on every top 10 list I've ever seen...

needless to say I was not thoroughly impressed....
I would have to say the three main factors that took away from my experience were:
1. The a la carte menu....$19 bucks for a bacon cheeseburger, fried onions, fries, and a soda? outta control for the size of the burger...
2. The grill...I walked by the grill on the way to the bathroom to see a sweaty cook pushing down on like 20 burgers on a griddle in a little hole in the wall kitchen...some people call this "old school", I call it better left unseen. You should only see a kitchen if there is fire coming out of the grill. That is badass.
3. The small ass tables. It was me and two friends and we were practically falling over ourselves and the people at the table next to us. I had to slide in three times. Ambience affects.

Other than that...the burger left me wanting more...the fries were a big redemption factor...cottage fries, crispy and tasty....I could have gone for a second one but didnt....

you must get the fried onions...though theyre not very fried, more like sauteed....but still....you've gotta get em....

say whats up to Bobby if you get a chance...hes the host and the authority on Burgers here and can tell you about some places in NY that were the real deal before our time....he likes Burger Joint but is not really a fan of the flame broiled...this guy knows burgers...

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I would never steer you wrong. I live for good eats.

So this was my first trip to J.G Melons. It was on a bunch of the so called top 10’s so I figured I should check it out.
The joint had an old school classy pubness to it. The wooden walls were covered with paintings and objects with melon designs on them. The kitchen (a small hut just big enough for the 2 cooks) sat directly opposite the bar leaving the grilling hunks of beautiful beef in full view for everybody to drool at.
The burger itself was great High quality beef. Not too much for the bun to handle. Just the right size and thinkness. I hate that whole "meatloaf with a wimpy bun" style some places try to pass off as burgers. I had herd this was a soak through the bun place but this wasnt really the case...It was a little charred on the outside but not at all dried out on the inside. You can tell that the beef was fresh and packed but at the same time it wasn’t sloppy and falling all over the place. A clean eat. (perhaps a first date place if shes really cool haha)
The burger didn’t come with lettuce or tomato only onions. You might be able to get them but I didn’t ask. For the reviews I go with what the regular burger comes with…no deviation to the chiefs creation.
The JG Melon fries were def original and to me seemed just as worth the trip as the burger. They were about the size and width of a pickle slice. Some a little large are more plump while some were almost potato chip crispy thin.

Service was fine. It was still packed for the early dinner / football crowd.

Overall Highly recommended. The burger was significantly better than average and the fries push J.G Melon over the top…could turn out to be a top 10 but we shall see as more places get reviewed.

Price:under 10
Type: Fatty Patty Pub Style
Recomend: Duh

Just had the classic lunch at Melon's- Burger and a Bloody Bull. Both were superb. Burger charred on the outside and soft inside. I actually like the toasted bun there. Don't see a difference between that and the Corner Bistro's.

Ok, I'll admit it. I am a JG junkie. I am a full blown loyalist. I have gotten into fights with people that don't like JG saying they have no taste. I just love it that much that I defend her honor at the drop of a napkin. Now those of you who know me know I am shameless about playing favorites, so I will say upfront that there are obviously some factors that give this place an edge over the competition for me. The fact that it's on the upper east side where I was born and raised my whole life? Yes, I'll admit that helps. The fact that every single upper east side private school preppie kid spent their high school days playing hookie here while drinking beers when they were only 17 and continue to go there now as middle aged yuppies of which I used to be one? You guessed it again, it plays a factor. The fact that they play favorites here and like their own kind and can sniff out the newbies a mile away? I too am an elitist, who am I to judge. However, with all that said, I still stand by the quality of the meat at this place more than any other burger place in the word. I may play favorites, but what's some extra brownie points on what is already considered by me to be the number one burger? It's the least she deserves.

Let me start my discussion as I always do: the meat. Oh my god, the meat. Just sitting here at my little cubicle right now thinking of the smell coming off the teensy little open kitchen when you walk into the door of JG brings a little tear to my eye. Honest to goodness. This meat is just so damn perfect. So juicy, so tasty, the grill that has yet to be changed should be called the official 8th wonder of the world. It's juicy, it's cooked to perfection, it's so pink and beautiful, I could go on raving for hours (and trust me, I have). I will gladly say that this is the only place I have ever eaten a buger that I am just as happy with a plain ole burger hold the cheese as I am with a cheeseburger. In fact, after having did the split a plain burger, split a cheeseburger half and half situation with my fellow BC member/boyfriend, I am going to make the bold statement that I may even PREFER the hamburger. Oh yes kiddies, the meat is that good and tasty, that it needs NOTHING to hide under. No mask to protect it. No need for added grease from the cheese cuz it's just perfect as it. However, I do still need to add, if you opt for the cheeseburger, it's just as perfect. Not too much, not too little, cheddar is just the right taste, melted to perfection. just amazing. Next: the bun. This might seriosuly be the only achilles heel in this entire establishment. While it is your basic backyard bbq little bun (though nicely toasted), they honestly do it for a reason folks similar to burger joint, the meat is just so damn good, who gives a s*** about the bun, right! I mean, yes, it does fall apart a bit, but you will eat this burger so damn fast when you taste how good it is, that unless you are slacking, it normally won't have time to fall apart. Now I know as BC memebers, we all like to go for the crossection but please, proceed with caution. I HIGHLY recommend that you do not alter these burgers in any way, cutting only increases the chance of it falling apart and that's just not fun. Do it once to see how pretty it is inside, take a picture, and then never do it again. Next, the condiments. This place just does it for me. I love me some pickle chips. And I love me some crispy thin onion. JG does both. But if it's tomato and lettuce you want, you gotta ask for it. Honestly, they don't feel the burger needs it, and god knows they are right. But if you just can't let go of that crutch like even I do most of the time, go at your own risk. If you get a real old school upper east side, "I've been at JG for 15 years" waiter, then he is going to hate you for asking for these especially if you are some weekend soccer mom with her three kids down from Jersey for some museum hopping. These guys know the drill. This brings me to my last element, the service and atmosphere. Let me be honest in saying, some people just can't handle it. JG shamelessly parades what they are and make no excuses for it. Love it or leave it (and trust me, if you don't love it, they want you to leave). They like their locals, they like people who eat there regularly, they like Muffy and Buffy and Chip who wear their ascots and kilts and occasionally waltz in their tuxedoes after a museum fundraiser, and within two seconds of sitting down if you don't know exactly what you want and how to order it confidently (FYI the menus are already on the table and if you know what's good for you, don't even bother picking it up) the waiter is going to punish you. Just like a mother who knows when to put her kids on a time out, if you are not prepared when he askes you the famous question "What would you like?", then plan on sitting there for quite a while before he comes back again, parched, waiting for your nice cold tap beer and enviously watching people who sat after you promptly get their burgers. Some may call in obnoxious, I call it funny since I was only on that side of the fence once and plan on never going there again. JG, god help me, I love you and your cottage style fries and your timeless checkered tablecloths (note - I swear at one point in time I feel like these were red but as Dr. Sannwich pointed out to me, they are indeed green and I had accidentally written red when this review first went up showing just how focused on their burger I am)! Hey , nycburgerblog, in reply to your comment that this may be a first date place only if she is cool? I say DEFINITELY a first date burger place cuz if she doesnt like it, don't waste your time and kick her ass to the curb!