Was super cool to knock this place off the master NYC burger list after a long walk thru Central Park. Known as a classic establishment, it's clad in melon memorabilia and cash only. Beer is served in cold glass mugs while you're probably seated behind some bigwig execs on their lunch break. Def try the chili cup to sate your appetito after your 30 min wait to be seated and reward yourself with an unfussy bacon cheese burger. I read more

J.G. Melon - Chili cup without cheese and Mozzarella in Carozza - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Just came back from a lovely dinner at JG Melon with a friend who lives on the UES. Neither of us had tried it before but she had told me about it earlier in the month. Allegedly, it is supposed to be the classic place to get a burger in the neighborhood. From the bright neon sign to the watermelon art covering this cozy restaurant (LOVE a good pun), going to this establishment is definitely a great experience for all people who aspire to gain the title of "New Yorker" or simply want a good burger. The ambiance was definitely present and there were many families enjoying the atmosphere. The burger itself was very simple. I got a cheeseburger cooked medium with cheddar cheese. You could also get mozzarella or some third option. Say cheddar and my brain needs no more. If you live for condiments like I do, the table was well equipped with Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and of course ketchup. Sir Alton Brown taught me to put mayo on my burger buns sometime in the 2010s so I was able to get some pretty quickly after asking. The burger also came with ample pickles and red onion slices. After spending time applying my beloved condiments and the pickles/onions, I bit into my dressed burger and my jaw did drop a little. The burger was thick and had a great sear on it so the outside was crispy, but the inside was wonderfully soft and juicy. Liquid literally dripped down my lips. The burger does *not* come with fries so definitely a little more on the pricey side at around $15, but considering the reputation of the restaurant I was honestly a little surprised that they didn't price gauge because they could definitely get away with it. We did get the fries ($8?) and they were good for two people to share. They came in the shape of crinkle cut chips. As a separate note, my friend cannot eat gluten so the restaurant was able to give her a lettuce wrap as a substitute. They do not have gluten free bread. Which I think is very on brand for a classic burger restaurant to be honest. Our total bill came to $50 including the tip (greater than 15%). Service was good and attentive, but nothing out of this world. I enjoyed my experience and told my friend that this seemed like a great place to become a regular at if you live in the neighborhood. I am normally a $10/meal type of gal when eating out, so you can trust me price wise when I say I think it would be very well worth eating here again : ) It seems like a great place to come with a friend, alone, or with family! Cash only. read more

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Disappointing to see such a classic spot skimp on its burger buns. Fell apart as I was eating.

Service sucks. Waiters are jerks. Wait is approximately 45 minutes every time. Burger is mid and not worth all the hype. Skip it and go to 7th st burgers. You're welcome. Also its cash only, in 2025... read more

My first and last visit to this overpriced, overrated dinosaur. I'd have been happy to wait 45 minutes for properly cooked hamburgers and "cottage fries" that lived up to their overblown reputation. I'd have put up with the nasty server. But then the burger arrived and it was small and overcooked. Since I was a guest of another person I didn't make a fuss. I asked for mayo for the burger. It never arrived. Then came the climax of this dreadful meal. The cottage fries were hard and cold. So we ate our lousy hamburger and terrible fries. Then the server came over and told us to leave as other people were waiting to come over and have a similarly horrible dining experience. J.G. Melon would do the people of the Upper East Side a big favor by closing up shop and let a competent restaurant manager take their place. Operating on the fumes of their former reputation simply hurts whatever legacy they may or may not have had years ago. read more

Came at 11:45am on a Sunday and got seated right away. A good standard burger but underwhelming- do not get the huge hype of this place. read more

J.G. Melon - Outside - American Near Me - New York, New York

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The food is great. Always is. This is always our first stop off the plane. It has been for 12 years now , ever since we have been visiting nyc! However we will prob not keep the tradition going. Although the food is great. The service is just bad. We thought it a little last year but didn't really pay too much attention to it. But this year we did. Our waited acted like it was a huge unconvinced for people to be there. They stood and talked to each other at the bar. Didn't ask if we wanted refills. (We had to get someone to help Us). We got there at 11:30 on a Thurs. it wasn't even busy while we were there. When it came to the bill. After sitting being finished for about 20 min we finally got up and asked if we could get it . Service is just not great and do that reason I think we will try somewhere else next year read more

J.G. Melon - American Near Me - New York, New York

We came for the burgers and that's what we ordered. The burgers came out super quick. They were thick and juicy. Perfectly cooked. The sides and salad - I would not order next time. Just the burger!! It was big enough to fill me up. You order pretty fast- it's popular very small crowded place. read more

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If you come around 3PM/4PM you can generally avoid a long wait. The burger here is great, substantial, and overall CLASSIC. JG Melon has been around forever and definitely has that dive-y old town new york feel. I've found that the only people disappointed by JG are the ones with exceedingly high expectations. It's a solid burger but will not change anyone's life. The chili here is also DELICIOUS. We live nearby so we frequent quite often. We recommend this spot but if I overhype it, people are generally not impressed. Just set your expectations for a fun time with a great burger and you'll love it! read more

I have been here a couple times and the other night was my last ever visit. I was excited to bring my friend from out of town here to this classic spot for a very yummy burger and cool atmosphere. What we were greeted with were the meanest waitstaff in all of New York City potentially. We sat and waited for 5 minutes waiting someone to come take our order or even give us water. In my standards (where I have worked as both a busser and hostess), this is unacceptable. You need to bring water right when they sit down or ask if they want water only a couple minutes after they sit. We asked the hostess if we could order after we waited for so long and she gave us an insane side eye and then said the waiter would be over shortly. Her attitude was actually insane, I made a joke that she hated us and my friend unfortunately agreed. Once the waiter came over (after another 5 minutes), no greeting was made, just a "What do you want?". Which again, I tried to make the situation more polite and asked How are you to the man and he said good, what do you want to eat. Deadpan no smile. Okay then! Civility is out the window. The rest of the meal comprised of us asking for simple things and never receiving them. Waitstaff forgot about us and the lack of kindness really threw me off. We didn't leave much of a tip as we felt treated miserably and I don't think the waitstaff deserved even the couple dollars we left. After getting down a block and a half, a busser chased us down (which by the way I thought I was about to get mugged, heart rate through the effing roof hearing someone come up that quick behind you) with our bill asking why we didn't leave a good tip as it was split between all waitstaff. I felt pretty shocked that we were getting cornered like this. JG Melon is an extremely busy and successful restaurant, so to be chased down over a couple dollars is quite insane to me. When I worked in the restaurant industry, good or bad tip, I had to suck it up and just do better. When you treat people decently, you get your standard tip or more! We explained to him how we had felt disrespected, rushed, and overlooked. He cut us off several times when we tried to explain the specific instances during our time there but he said he would let the manager know after seeing we weren't willing to give any more money. And so yeah, that was my last meal at JG! Time to find NYC's best cheap burger elsewhere. read more

As someone who lives nearby, I often find myself walking in for a table to myself to soak in the old school bar vibe with some good albeit expensive food. It's my favorite burger in the UES. Nicely seasoned and cooked well. It looks small, but is deceptively filling. The chili is great, onions and cheese are a must. Fries are just as good as they look, soft, puffy, and delightful. Service is prompt, but food may take a while if very busy. Don't forget your cash, and bring a lot of it. read more

Don't eat the chili unless you want terrible food poisoning. Everyone at my table was throwing up. Place used to be good but now will never be back. Also, they forgot to put a top bun on my burger. Meat was dry and crumbly. read more

It' was definitely a great great burger! There was a line at 1:30 . It's packed but the food was awesome, definitely worth the wait!!! read more

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This place is tighttttt. And no not the early 200's word that meant cool but, IT IS THAT TOO. It's a tight fit for parties bigger than 3 I would say. I stopped in here in between dental appointments. The smell is what stopped me. I always want to find places through my nose now! It did not disappoint. Shout out to Bobby, what a guy! Thanks for your amazing hospitality. I had a bacon burger, I recommend getting those grilled onions YUMMY! JG loves watermelons from pop art watermelons to an oil rustic oil painting of them. Very cool. There is a tv in here that was showing ESPN but, again, it's tightttt. Hahaaa Hostess at the front was very kind to let the bartenders know I was waiting on seat. Got people moving pretty fast that were stuck in a burger daze I guess. Recommend times 10. Every dentist visit this is my stop when I'm in the neighborhood. read more

Best burger of my entire life and the atmosphere is iconic and brings you back. The burger, fries and chili are incredible.

Classic burger! Also try the sour cream pie! I was very surprised and you dont taste the sour cream at all. Also note it's cash only! The most i've waiting is 10 minutes for party of two. read more

J.G. Melon - American Near Me - New York, New York

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Phenomenal classic American burger. Simple. Pickle and onion. "Chip" fries pair well with the bar's aesthetic. I love the place. Bunch of old timers getting hammered mid-afternoon on a Tuesday. Guys trying to hawk liquor to the bartender. My first and only time there. I'd love to go back one day. If I lived nearby, I'd be there all the time. read more

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Great burger, reasonable pricing. No Guinness (or any dark beer) and they had women's baseball on during a Knicks playoff game. Kind of crazy if you ask me. read more

I really liked this classic old school burger joint. I can't believe how busy it was on a Wednesday night. We only had to wait like 15 minutes. The cheeseburger had an amazing crust and was a beautiful medium rare and was juicy. Honestly the meat could've used more salt. I was surprised that I didn't miss lettuce and tomatoes. The fries are a lot and I could've shared. The were not cooked consistently. Service was quick considering how busy it was. Would definitely recommend. read more

J.G. Melon - American Near Me - New York, New York

I had a tiny bland burger with sharp bits of bacon, a bowl of flavorless stale fries, and a small glass of watered down coke and ice for almost $40. I should've just cooked instead. read more

OMG, worth the 45 minute wait which wasn't even a big deal as I went over to the bar down the street. The chili cup was incredible, it was a little chilly outside but it warmed me up with lots of flavor and happiness. The burger was one of the best I've ever had and the fries TOP. read more

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Loved the vibe of this place -- the ambiance inside is so fun. That said, I felt like our food fell short of our expectations. We ordered three cheeseburgers, and overall it was a decent burger. Our main issue was that my friend ordered a medium burger and was served a burger that was completely raw in the middle, to the point she felt uncomfortable finishing it. Unfortunately the food had already taken a really long time to come out and we didn't have time to send it back and have it remade. We also tried the cottage fries, which I found to be a bit overcooked and underwhelming. If you decide to come here, I'd say come for the vibes over the food. This won't be the best burger you've ever had by any means. Expect slow service and a cramped dining room. Cash only! read more

J.G. Melon - "Medium" burger, which was actually raw - American Near Me - New York, New York

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best burger in nyc since 1972 singularly focused and never tried to be anything but what it is a great bar that serves great food on the UES ambiance is spectacular service holds up their end enjoy read more

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It's consistently good, but it's consistently crowded. It's not cheap, but if you live in the city, I would definitely say it's worth experiencing. read more

J.G. Melon - American Near Me - New York, New York

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J.G. Melon has been on my NYC to-do for a long time. There were four of us and we got sat right around 5pm after a 10-15 minute wait. We each got a burger and 2 orders of the cottage fries for the table. I got a cheeseburger. This isn't a smashburger. They are quite thick. It was perfectly pink inside and there was a nice char on the outside. I'm in. Nothing fancy here but this was absolute burger perfection. I loved the cottage fries as well. If you're looking for a burger on the UES this is it! read more

J.G. Melon - Cheeseburger & Cottage Fried Potatoes - American Near Me - New York, New York

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The original spot! The wait to get a table wasn't bad for 2 people on a Friday evening (30 minutes), but the wait to get our food after ordering? My goodness that was long - a full 45 additional minutes for our two burgers and an order of cottage fried potatoes. We had some beers to sip on to pass the time but whoo that's a long wait. The service is excellent - hospitality is felt throughout, and I commend them on their ability to be patient with folks who are hovering and constantly asking about the wait time. A solid, classic burger, perfectly cooked to order. No complaints. If you go, I highly recommend grabbing drinks and a salad on top of your order - you'll definitely want to munch on something while you wait! read more

Classic New York establishment that lived up to its reputation. I had a burger and a martini that was terrific, and the bartender was great and treated me like family. The kind of place that's a great experience all around. Highly recommend. read more

One Star - Disrespectful, Unprofessional, and Unacceptable My family and I had an extremely upsetting experience at JG Melon, and it's unfortunate because I had been a regular customer for over a year prior to this visit. From the moment we arrived, the service was hostile. The waiter--who later gave two different names, John and David--was rude and abrupt. While seated at our table, my daughter briefly received a phone call, and the waiter aggressively waved his hand in her face, demanding that she "shut it down." This was especially inappropriate given that this is a busy pub environment, where many patrons were loudly talking, on their phones, and socializing without issue. After we paid our check, I calmly asked the waiter why he felt it was appropriate to behave that way toward my daughter. He responded rudely, claiming it was "company policy" not to be on phones. When I asked him to produce this policy, he said they don't have one--"it's just common sense." I then asked to speak with a manager and was told there was no manager on staff and that we needed to leave immediately. When I asked the bartender for a manager's name, a woman named Tess eventually appeared but offered no solution, no empathy, and no attempt to de-escalate. Instead, we were again told to leave. At this point, several patrons began yelling at my family to "go back to your country." We had been speaking Spanish at our table, and it's hard not to believe that played a role in how this situation escalated. The waiter went so far as to tell us we were banned from ever returning, as if he had the authority to make that decision. When I attempted to use the restroom before leaving, he physically blocked me and aggressively told me I had to leave "now," creating a situation that felt threatening. The food itself was subpar and wildly overrated, and the cash-only policy only added insult to injury given the overall experience. I later contacted the owner, Jane, and was deeply disappointed by the complete lack of empathy or accountability. It became clear where this behavior comes from; employees appear empowered to treat guests with disrespect and hostility. This establishment is massively overrated. Manhattan has no shortage of burger pubs and restaurants where customers are treated with basic dignity and respect. I strongly encourage people to read the one-star reviews carefully and spend their money elsewhere. read more

**Cash only!** Finally got to try JG Melon and I recommend the cheeseburger with fries and chili the most. We got the key lime pie which was not my favorite and the turkey club was way too dry, definitely needed a sauce of sorts. Expect a wait even on a Thursday for dinner (we waited 45 mins) and bring cash. Cool experience but service was slow at times especially when just trying to pay and leave. Ambiance in the back area is good for date night like I had with my boyfriend on a Thursday evening. read more

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They make a good burger. There will be a wait and it is cash only. It's classic NY and feels that way with their cozy interior and melon themed art and decor. The pricing is on par with Manhattan burgers ($12-$15 for just the burger) and the cottage fries are great, but the portion is small for about $8. You definitely need to get your own as portions are barely enough for sharing. The burgers are nice and juicy, but you'll still need ketchup for added flavor. It's a great spot if you're in the area and I would say the avg 3.5 stars on yelp is a good assessment of the establishment. read more

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A very vibrant New York experience to say the least. I dropped by for a solo late lunch, and was greeted to a 45min wait for a table or first come first serve for the bar. It's cash only, there are signs in many places! I waited 20min outside then walked in finding a single open seat at the bar! I was so stoked. As soon as you sit, you can enjoy your meal and take your time- a real NY institution. Decorated loudly with various melon decor, you're in for a MEAL! The bartender was energetic, attentive, and kind. I ordered the classic cheeseburger with all the fixings. I would have gotten fries, but I knew I really wanted dessert instead. The burger was fresh, juicy, and I appreciate the abundance of pickles on the plate. I asked for a rec for dessert so I got the apple pie which was absolutely stunning. The thin slices of apple and the maple--almost caramel like crust was soooo good. Not too sweet/overpowering, I loved it. I had a wonderful experience, it's worth the wait, and the folks running JG Melon have a lot of passion for the restaurant and work. Such a big fan! read more

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Delicious food. Shockingly itsy bitsy table space. Extremely efficient wait staff. Waiting outside to get a table for 40 minutes was worth it read more

Cash-only place for juicy burgers! J.G. Melon opened in 1972 and has a casual pub-like atmosphere. My family came here in late December 2023 and arrived here at 11:20am for the opening at 11:30am. After being seated, there was a wait for placing orders, and then another 15-20 minutes for the burgers to arrive. I would strongly recommend the basic cheeseburger ($14) or hamburger ($13) with a tomato and pickle topping. The cottage fries ($7.75) were OK, but the burgers were great. Be sure to order your burgers "medium" and expect a long wait. The cash-only policy can be a surprise unless you know in advance. I would guesstimate $20-$25 per person depending on whether you get the cottage fries or not. When your group is done, be sure to pay quickly and leave so that others in line can enjoy their meal. If you prefer not to wait, I would recommend avoiding peak hours and arriving just before it opens. read more

J.G. Melon - Waiting at 11:20am for the 11:30am opening. - American Near Me - New York, New York

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There was a host working at JG Melon 4/7/2026 who was so unbelievably rude that I will never set foot in that restaurant again. We were meeting a friend there, who had secured a table for five, we went to meet him a little while after he and his friend had been given the table and ordered, and upon arrival we were told we could not join them because we had not all been seated at the same time (although the reason was not made clear to us.) That's a bit ridiculous since there were three vacant seats at the table, but fine, if that's the restaurant policy, I work at restaurants, I understand tables have to be turned over. HOWEVER, the host could have easily relayed that without being vague and a total prick. I told him we were meeting a friend and he basically said no you're not then told us to get out of the doorway. I really haven't ever experienced someone in hospitality as hostile. read more

I had J.G. Melon bookmarked for the longest time as it is one of the most iconic burger places in NYC. Finally had the chance to try it. Even on a weekday it was crowded. Luckily, I was able to be seated at the bar. Ordered a hamburger, medium and some cottage fried potatoes. The burger had a nice Maillard reaction on the outside, super charred and crispy like a smash patty. However, the inside was quite dry. It looked pretty much medium though, so maybe medium rare is the way to go for a juicier burger. I didn't think the patty was seasoned enough either, but it is thick, so possible just needs more salt or time to sit after being seasoned. The fried potatoes were dry but super crispy. You definitely need to pair it with ketchup, or it just gets too hard to finish. I liked that they were crispy all around, but they're not worth half the price of the burgers. Cash only, so make sure you visit an ATM before hand if you don't have cash. I believe they have one in the establishment as well. read more

J.G. Melon - Cottage Fried Potatoes - American Near Me - New York, New York

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This place is nestled in the UES on a busy avenue. It is a cash only place with a very limited menu and they know what they want to do. This is not a bad thing. I will say that I think this place and living off of it's nostalgia. While the inside is very reminiscent of older years and the service was good, the food was just lacking. It was a normal burger that was under seasoned and the fried were mediocre. You 100% come here if this is your vibe. read more

J.G. Melon - Cottage Fried Potatoes - American Near Me - New York, New York

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great burger. service is old school you might have to wait but its worth it! give it a try

Always a good burger & fries. Been going for years. Can be a bit hectic at times but generally good and quick service. Recommend.

We had this on our radar. We all of course had burgers. Mine was cooked to PERFECTION! They are HUGE! Our drinks were very good. Our server was Deidre. She was super attentive to us! read more

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The service is great. Seating is a bit cramped. But the wait staff is on the ball and the food is tasty. We were a party of 4 and had the burgers and we all thought they were juicy and tasty. It was a busy night but we didn't feel rushed. They served us quickly and pleasant. Would try it again. read more