The JG Melon on the Upper West Side opened Sunday, September 17th at 4pm. Located at 480 Amsterdam, this opening marked a great addition to the Upper West Side burger scene.
JG Melon has a location on the Upper East Side which has been around since 1972, as well as a downtown location at 89 MacDougal Street.
Their burger selection is very basic, with a choice between a hamburger, cheeseburger or bacon hamburger or cheeseburger, but it’s been a staple of the UES since it opened, and I for one am very excited to have JG Melon on the UWS!
The burgers at JG Melon taste like “real burgers”. Like those you’d enjoy at a backyard barbecue.
The cottage fried potatoes are always awesome. Flat and round, and very puffy!
Other popular sides include their chili cup and caesar salad.
JG Melon entrees cover your basic protein needs with omelettes, roasted chicken breast, steak and salmon.
Drinks
JG Melon has a small five beers on tap, currently including Ommegang and Peak Organic’s seasonal brew. Bottled beers include a few premiums, currently including Founders All Day IPA, Left Hand Milk Stout and a Sierra Nevada sour ale.
They have several wines by the glass and bottle, plus hot toddys and a JG Melon’s signature barrel aged Manhattan, pictured below.
Inside JG Melon
The interior is colorful, with red ceilings, pictures of watermelons, and lots of little tchotchke sitting on the bar’s bookshelves. There’s also a really cool and huge bay window looking out onto 83rd Street. The space also has exposed brick walls and charming green and white tablecloths.
JG Melon UWS Reviews:
New to the Upper West Side in September 2017 and a welcome addition! Getting the burger/cheeseburger is a no brainer – it’s simple, no frills, high quality meat, and good portions (no wimpy Shake Shack sized patties). Not greasy. Definitely one of the better simple burgers on the UWS. Decent prices. If it’s warm weather, sit outside on Amsterdam Ave. Order a couple sides of the fries (“Cottage” potato wedges that are sort of like round crinkle cut fries) for your table to share, one order is perfect for 2 people unless you’re super hungry. Servers use digital tablets for placing orders so they go in quickly and service is decently fast.
This was one of my best stops in NYC. Very neighborhood-y, good food and fantastic personal service. Families with kids, lone lunchers like me, all felt welcome. Wish I had this in my home town. I had the Bloody Mary, coffee and small-ish burger. All were very good and the chatty host and bartender added to the pleasant casual experience.
I really enjoyed the new location. The burger was very tasty. It was cooked perfect and had the right amount of juiciness too it. I had a cup of chili. The spice, flavor and textures were right on. The fries were interesting. They were disks. I love thinner long crispy fries however these were cool. The saltiness was good and the crisp was still there. I enjoyed my experience here.
Learn more about JG Melon on their Website.
RELATED: JG Melon receives 2020 NYC Michelin Bib Gourmand!
