[Photograph: Robyn Lee]

I've been living in New York City for about six years and only tried J.G. Melon for the first time this month. Yes, for shame. And I regret that I hadn't gone sooner—now I'd easily name their cheeseburger ($9.25) one of my favorite burgers in the city. Nick Solares wrote a great review of J.G. Melon back in 2008, but his words still ring true today. Here's an excerpt that accurately describes my experience:

Texturally it is one of the loosest packed patties I have had. It is deceptively airy and flaky. It crumbles easily and has that melt-in-your-mouth sensation that one associates with finer cuts of beef. [...] The pillow-soft white bun is so airy and light that it flattens around the burger yet somehow manages to remain intact.

Besides having a fantastic texture, the burger is also moist and full of sodium-enriched beefy flavor. I wish more burgers were like that. And that they were closer to me than the Upper East Side.

Check out an innards shot after the jump.

I CAN STILL TASTE IT.

J.G. Melon

1291 Third Avenue, New York NY 10021 (at 74th Street; map)
212-744-0585