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J.G. Melon

The "pub burger" at J.G. Melon is a thick, eight-ounce hunk of ground beef—shaped like a pincushion, sandwiched between a well-toasted standard-issue white bun. All very basic, and all very well executed. The toppings, meanwhile, come on the side, as if to remind you what the real star is: the beef. Melon's—the place gets its name from its dubiously hued interior—beef mixture is ground fresh each morning, with particular attention paid to ratio of meat to fat (i.e., they don't skimp on the latter). This yields a burger that's flavorful, juicy, and yet not prone to becoming a sloppy mess, unlike the preppy crowd that swarms the place on weekends.
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Weight: 8 ounces
Height: 3.5 inches
Bun: Toasted plain white hamburger bun
Cooking method: Griddle
Price: $8.50
Location: 1291 Third Ave. New York, NY, (212) 744-0585